Performance?

Some churches are wary of the Sunday congregation becoming a 'performance', or a spectacle. Often this fear is courted in 'low' churches, in misunderstanding of the conduct of the service in 'high' churches. However, it is easy to run into the baby and bathwater error. Sure, we don't want a Hillsong like performance in our congregation; but we also need to avoid sloppiness!

There's no excuse of unrehearsed ministry segments (e.g. choirs), unprepared Bible reading or short talks, disheveled projections, unorganised rambling prayers, or things just let go wrong, get ragged, or look as though no one cares.

Here we should care deeply, exercise our considered creativity, promote order and dignity, respect of those who attend and preparation.