Think Like a Filmmaker: Sensory-Rich Worship Design for Unforgettable Messages

by Marcia McFee

Are you Burned Out, in a Rut, and Frustrated by Sunday Mornings?Then you need to “think like a filmmaker!” In this book, internationally-renowned worship designer and teacher, Dr. Marcia McFee, will give you her time-tested strategies for creating and sustaining sensory-rich worship that offers unforgettable messages each and every week. Insights from art directors, screenwriters, composers, cinematographers and directors, will attract and ignite volunteers as they gain skills for every worship art. Applying these lessons to vital communication of the Greatest-Story-Ever-Told will not only inspire pastors and staff for their work, but will invigorate the congregation’s excitement for Sunday mornings!WITH THIS • Take the stress out of worship planning by adopting one important strategy• Train knowledgeable volunteers that love working on worship• Streamline your efforts by learning a common design vocabulary and process• Do it all through a fun exploration of filmmaking techniques, from conceptualizing the story to dealing with “the reviews!”

296 pages, Paperback

Published June 11, 2016

About the author

Dr. Marcia McFee is an author, worship designer and leader, professor, preacher and artist. Her engaging and interactive style has been called “refreshing,” “inspiring,” and “unforgettable.” Marcia combines her background and experience in professional companies of music, theater and dance with a variety of worship and preaching styles in order to bring a fresh experience of the Gospel to each worship setting. Marcia has provided worship design and leadership at numerous international and regional gatherings.

Marcia’s passion for helping the church to worship God fully is especially directed toward the education of local congregations. She travels extensively in order to teach regional workshops that are accessible to congregational leaders and worship teams. These one-day workshops are usually hosted by a church, underwritten by district or conference bodies or by registration fees, and open to all churches in a particular area. Participants have commented that these workshops are inspirational as well as practical, no matter the “style” of worship practiced or denomination of the participants. Additionally, Marcia has begun a program of continuing education events in her home town of Lake Tahoe as well as other locations around the country and an online subscription service to the Worship Design Studio that offers inspirational and educational help for worship teams featuring a ground-breaking worship design application.

As well as her experience with local church worship, Marcia specializes in designing and leading conference worship. Over the last 20+ years, she has coordinated worship for countless regional and agency conferences. In 2012, she designed and led 29 worship services over a 10 day period for the international quadrennial General Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Dr. McFee received a Master’s of Theological Studies degree at the Saint Paul School of Theology with a concentration in Preaching and Worship, where she recently received the Outstanding Graduate Award from the Alumni Association. She earned a Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies at the Graduate Theological Union with an allied field of Ethics. She has been a guest lecturer and adjunct faculty at twelve seminaries. Marcia is an avid skier and the co-author of “Spiritual Adventures in the Snow: Skiing and Snowboarding as Renewal for Your Soul”.

Reviews

[Susan Storer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Are you Burned Out, in a Rut, and Frustrated by Sunday Mornings?" asks Marcia McFee, then you need to "think like a filmmaker!"

McFee's ideas for worship are presented in a Christian context, and it's an excellent outline for revamping an entire service. Be aware, though, that because author/worship leader McFee does think like a filmmaker, many of these concepts may not be 100% clear until you see them on the internet. The book directs you to her site, but my experience was that I had to sign up for an e-mail list in order to get the links to the videos.

That being said, signing up and going through the videos was worth the effort, because she does show you, step by step, and with real people, how to carry out her vision and yours.

[Marc Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides ideas for redesigning worship. It takes you through a process of worship planning that compares it to film-making. I found it helpful.

[Luke Lindon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long read for church and our worship committee. A very approachable book. Chapter 2 is overwhelming. But a 5 star book otherwise.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty focused on the vocabulary of Christian services, but a lot of the underlying points are ones I've seen used to good effect regardless.

[Hank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full confession: I have a number of books on worship and creativity in my library that I have not yet read.

However, when I attended a spiritual development retreat for pastors of my faith tribe, I saw that an author I respect, Leonard Sweet, endorsed this book. During the same week, I attended a presentation on preaching that included a number of elements shared by this book. Thirdly, I have a bachelor's degree in radio/TV/film, so the title intrigued me. So, with all of these things ringing in my head, I purchased and began reading.


First off, the book presents its tips in a very simple outline, following the various disciplines of the filmmaking industry, and applying them to worship design. The entire concept, that of "designing" worship was not something that was native to my thinking. This was only one of several challenges to my calcified model of preparing for worship each week that I received in the course of reading this book.

I'm not sure if all of the ideas are practical given my current congregation, but I believe that there are several nuggets that can be extracted and implemented that will make worship experiences stronger and more "memorable and meaningful."

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

McFee does her usual excellent, thoughtful work in this book as she defines worship and give a step-by-step outline for worship that includes all the senses and offers excellent advice on how to be considerate of and include those whose "worship style" is different as well as how to develop a team approach to planning worship. I highly recommend this book to all worship planning teams.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the last chapter where McFee discusses why some people are so resistant to change in worship and why different music, etc. resonants in various ways with people. There are physiological differences in how we experience sound.