I-K Synodfest! "Proclaiming the Word: the Drama of Holy Week" Rev. David Schreiber

Drama lies at the heart of liturgical Christian worship. In our Lutheran tradition (at least when we are at our Spirit-led best), the congregation is not a passive audience but an active participant in the unfolding story of God's grace. The liturgy--the "work" of the people--is a participatory drama scripted with actions, songs, prayers, and bold confessions of faith. We encounter the living God in Word and Sacrament, believing that God acts in our ritual drama, making the Gospel happen.




"Theater" in the church is nothing new (witness the medieval mystery plays), although there seems to be an explosion of "drama ministries" these days, with new church design including expensive stage lighting and sound systems. Can drama, however, be more than attention-grabbing skits as a prelude to the sermon, or worse, entertaining diversions?




Holy Week especially provides opportunity where dramatic art, in the context of worship, can be a powerful means for what we Lutherans call true proclamation: the Gospel is experienced as encounter, event, grace happening to the hearer, indeed, to the participant. The workshop dialogue will share resources, scripts and best practices for such dramatic proclamation.

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