For the Expressive Sign/Flag Vocabulary part of the conference, four graduates from the DFH school are going to be teaching some movements to words found in common worship songs. After you learn them, we’ll be doing an ‘activation’ (learn by doing an activity) to sort of put it together creatively.
Here is a list of pairs of words (reading from left to right). You’ll be moving with the people that have the word across from your word.
Example: Holy will move with Spirit; Father will move with Heaven and so on… I’ll explain the activation after the movements will have been shown.
We will break up into Zoom Breakout rooms. Each room or group will be assigned 2 pairs of words like this:
GROUP/ROOM 1 - HOLY/SPIRIT and FATHER/HEAVEN
GROUP/ROOM 2 - JESUS/LORD and KING/GLORY
GROUP/ROOM 3 - HONOR/MAJESTY and DESIRE/SING
If Time...
GROUP/ROOM 1 - WORTHY/PRAISE and PEACE/BLESS
GROUP/ROOM 2 - HALLELUJAH/FIRE and LAMB/BLOOD
GROUP/ROOM 3 - LOVE/NAME
You'll have about 10 minutes to work together with these particular words. I will give specific instructions during the conference. It will be a fun way to creatively learn some expressive movements! If we have more time, we'll do more words.
Related resources that you may appreciate (found in alphabetical order on the page):
We will be breaking up into 3-4 groups (Zoom will randomly pick) and you'll go into the respective breakout rooms. This is a fun way to learn where dance is in the Bible and why we dance before the Lord! We will do at least the first 3 words, but should time allow, possibly more.
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have [a]ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2 NKJV
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute on them the written judgment— This honor have all His saints. Psalm 149:6-9 NKJV
For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV
Team: A group of people working together in a coordinated effort; to join in a cooperative activity; people who individually subordinate personal aspirations and work in a coordinated effort with other members of a group, or team, in striving for a common goal.
Love
An undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he does.
1. Be willing to be spontaneous. Have spiritual acumen (sharpness, or quickness of understanding). During praise and worship, be aware of what is going on around you naturally and spiritually. Leaders—listen to the Spirit of God for changes in the service. Watch for directions from the leadership and worship director. Members—watch for the dance leader’s directives. Be aware and on top of any changes the leader may give you.
Joy
Rejoice, be glad, be joyful. To spin around with intense motion. Dancing or leaping for joy.
2. Don’t get upset when you are chosen to do “just flags” or “just cloths.” It may be a test of your character, or the leader may need more experienced people to make sure that the flag part is done at the right time with good timing. It may be that the flag part is the most important part in the dance.
Peace
Completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, fullness, rest, harmony; the absence of agitation or discord.
3. Dance members, try to avoid helping too much. Let the leader work through the choreography. Sometimes it takes development and time. If you do make suggestions, be mindful of how they are presented. Perhaps seeing the leader after practice would be good.
Patience
Long suffering, lenience, forbearance, fortitude, patient endurance, the ability to endure persecution and ill-treatment. It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.
4. Don’t strive for position or leadership. When it’s obvious that you are striving for it, that is a sure sign to leadership that you are not ready for it. Be humble and submissive and serve genuinely. Be faithful in the little things (set up, clean up, etc.) with a loving attitude and eventually, (through patient endurance) you will be raised up. Check your heart motivation.
Goodness
Kindness in actual manifestation, virtue equipped for action, a bountiful propensity both to will and to do what is good, intrinsic goodness producing a generosity and a God-like state or being. Combines being good and doing good.
5. Be willing to silently bring out or put away props. Will to do good especially without expecting reward or recognition. Offer to fold the cloths or wrap the flags or hang up the costumes. If you have the opportunity, and access, just do it without asking. Surprise your dance leader with a clean and organized wardrobe/prop closet.
Kindness
Love for mankind, hospitality, readiness to help, human friendship, taking thought of others, lovingkindness toward men, goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, affability. The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience. The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control.
6. Show lovingkindness to those team/family members who are, at times, not kind. They may have had a really hard day or life. Your simple act of kindness may crack their shell of insolence and, bring forth the deliverance they need. Don’t wear your “heart on your shirtsleeve.” Declare that: I will not receive an offense for any reason at any time!
Faithfulness
Firmness, stability, fidelity, conscientiousness, steadiness, certainty; that which is permanent, enduring, steadfast. To be firm, sure, established, and steady. Certain, stable unchangingly fixed.
7. If you are an advanced dancer, do not skip practices once you feel like YOU know the dance. Your leader needs you especially, to see how it all fits together. If you miss (and there were changes), then the leader has to spend extra time with you. Leaders, it may be good to set guidelines for required practice times.
Gentleness
A disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. Meekness (power and strength under control). The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well.
8. Work on the part of the dance that you do have. Come at least partially prepared at practice even if you don’t have the whole dance. This avoids confusion and the feeling of being “frazzled“ or loose-ended. Be tranquil. Practice and complete a section during a practice time. This makes the team feel good—like they accomplished something (because they did!).
Self-control
To control of one’s self, or of one’s own emotions, desires, actions, etc.
9. Never question or doubt what your leader says (especially) in front of the other team members. If your question is not answered by the end of practice, then quietly approach your leader on the side and pose the question or suggestion. Do not be offended if your suggestions are not always accepted.
Don’t Just walk on stage haphazardly (cutting up and not standing in ready position).Do Enter in an orderly, reverent manner. Be well rehearsed.
Don’t Make people wait a long time while you get to the platform. Do Be ready to go, so service runs smoothly.
Don’t Show impatience with the sound man (rolling of the eyes, using hand motions to move him along more quickly, Etc.). Do Have patience with the sound person. While waiting for music to begin, hold your position.
Don’t Have a sloppy appearance. Do Have a nice neat appearance with uniformity in dress. Everyone in the dance should have either ballet shoes or bare feet (not some in shoes and some, not).
Don’t Adjust costume, fix hair, or rub eyes, especially while you are waiting in place for the music to begin, as the congregation’s eyes head straight for your movement (however small and insignificant it may seem).Do Make sure your costume is situated before you go on. If a part of the costume should fall off, make the best of it as if it never happened, and the congregation will soon forget there was a problem.
Don’t Chew gum!! It’s distracting and hazardous to your health (should you jump and choke on it). Do Smile from your heart.
Don’t Sing when doing a presentation dance. The congregation will look directly at the person who is singing and may miss the message of the dance. Do Know the song and sing it in your heart.
Don’t Goof and let your face show it, or fix your mistakes in the middle of them. Generally, the congregation will never know you made a mistake unless you tell them with your expression of dismay or by obvious corrections. Do Keep moving and smiling as if nothing had happened.
Don’t Do a solo with more then one person. In other words, having two or more people doing all the same movements all at the same time, all the same way, in the same direction. That is boring. Do Vary your movements.
Don’t Have a sloppy ending. The ending’s value is about almost fifty percent of the dance. The audience wants emotional satisfaction. Do Practice the ending of the dance. It is very important because it is the last thing the congregation remembers! Be sure to work on it extensively as the viewers may forgive and forget mistakes in the beginning and middle if the ending is good.
Don’t Exit by: just walking off and talking to each other; finding your seat; or maybe waving to someone in the congregation, Etc. It’s a good idea to exit while they are still clapping, as it is rather anticlimactic to exit while the church is ready to move on to other things and they’re just waiting for you to get out of the way. Do Plan your exit. Have uniformity and order. Maintain an attitude of worship until you are out of sight.
Ministries
