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RSS2‘white noise’ [07.10.00]
this was a ’stations’ service where people are free to visit various prayer/activity stations in the course of worship. we began with a short act of corporate worship, an explanation of the format of the rest of the worship and invited people to visit the stations in their own time. a cafe area served drinks throughout the evening.
the installations take the ‘white noise’ of contemporary life - advertising, radio, television, fashion, fast food, conflicting messages - to prompt thought of how we live our lives as christians in the media-fulled 21st century. they were:
newspaper pages spread out on the floor with pots of paint and brushes
a tv looping current adverts
a mirror
a pair of headphones not connected to anything
a case of pot noodles an a kettle
a computer looping well-known phrases by famous people and spiritual leaders
the altar with lots of candles
booklets were distributed to guide you through the installations.
click here to view/download [pdf file. 25k]
The Service:
Music was playing as people entered the worship area, with distorted noise playing quietly behind it. As the start of the worship approached the noise increased in volume to an unbearable level then cut out completely. In the silence the first of these three meditations was read.
The noise began to build again behind each meditation, eventually drowning out the speaker at which point these words were projected:
in the noise and confusion quietly pray: Hear me Lord.
and then the noise would cut out so the next meditation could be read.
The meditation was also intended to be a form of confession at the start of worship - partly a confession that we find it hard to break through the noise and worship.
I want to be still, find some quiet
but its so hard
so noisy
so difficult to find any kind of peace
even to collect my thoughtsI find it so hard to slow down
to make space
for God,
for myself,
for other peoplethings moving so fast
things spinning round me
distractions
noise..
If only I could make decisions
what to choose
how to spend my time
my moneyhow best to be of worth
to myself
to my family, my friends
my communityBut theres so many options
all that choice
so many paths to take
so much contrasting advice
so many signs claiming to be the right route
so little help in making the decisions
I find it hard to listen
hard to make out one thing from another
take it in
make sense of it
understandI wonder if Im hearing anything at all
just static
just cocophony
wondering if there is anything to listen to
anything of valueare there voices I dont hear?
lost in the noise
do I need to listen harder?I begin to doubt that there is anything to listen for
Am I just wasting my time?
Just let it wash over me?
White noise to be ignored.
at the end of the confession the noise cut out for the last time. the following words were projected:
Be still and know that I am God.
Welcome to HOST.
Relax.
Get comfortable.
Be at peace.
Enjoy this moment of peace in God.
