Chaos

Overview: spontaneous themed worship, to explore the forces of Chaos.

Theme or Background: Chaos

Materials involved: chalice, readings. E.E. Cummings is a good poet to read from for this worship or as the chalice lighting

Details: Activities in the worship:

Free association: encourage people to say the first word that comes to mind as a word is said. this is not organized or led, the leader only needs to say one word to get everyone started, then anyone says whatever word comes to mind, and anyone else can say what that next word brings to their mind. This could be done going around the circle, but it is much more chaotic to let anyone say whatever comes to their mind in no order at all.

Sounds: Begin by making a sound, can be anything; a hum, a clap whistling, and repeat the sound as other people chime in with whatever sounds they feel compelled to make. People can also say phases that come to them.

Things we don't know: Chaos is the unknown. Allow people to go around and say something that they don't know. example: "I don't know where I will be in 5 years." "I don't know where my keys are." "I don't know how electricity works." Going around a couple of times may deepen the exercise since participants may feel drawn to say something more significant if they get more than one chance to speak.

Feedback: Let people talk about chaos and the unknown in their lives, how it scares them, or how they have become comfortable with it, or how it excites them, or how it feels draining or life-giving to them.