Members of Westminster Presbyterian Church will share items that have artistic and spiritual meaning to them at a first-time event that will replace traditional services Sunday, Oct. 21, at the church. (Seth McConnell/Journal staff)

Visual arts, poetry, painting, quilting, drama, instrumental and vocal music, photography - all those forms of art and more will be the focus this Sunday, Oct. 21, at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

The celebration of the arts will take place in lieu of a more traditional sermon. The theme is "Hope in God." The pastor has suggested a few scriptures to get people started, but it's all open-ended from there.

This is the first time the Rapid City church has taken such an experimental direction for its service.

"I have some license to try new things, as the new guy," said Bob Jacobs, who has been pastor at Westminster Presbyterian for only seven months.

"Our worship is often very word-based, with lots of speaking, which can be good, but we want to let artistic expressions of faith take the lead in our worship service," he explained. "I see it as a way to use the gifts and talents that people have, because I think art expression is a reflection of God's creativity."

Jacobs emphasized that the service is not a talent show, but merely people sharing something with the congregation that grows out of their love for God. The works, whether anonymous or not, should be thought of as offerings rather than performances or exhibits.

"There are things that are beautiful that can become worshipful," he said.

In order to facilitate that transformation, the church will distribute a booklet that includes people's reflections on how their offerings connect with the scriptures or the "Hope in God" theme.

"It will help people reflect on (the offerings) worshipfully," Jacobs said.

Some of the artwork and songs will be expressions of hope that people have experienced or been comforted by, but other artists have taken a different direction.

"Some of the things are really pieces of lament, people desperately aware of their need for hope," Jacobs said.

Congregants of all ages have registered to participate. Among many other offerings, the final display will feature drawings by children, quilts by local artisans and a collection of haiku that the entire congregation has been invited to contribute to.

"The idea is to - instead of an oral sermon - to let reflections on our theme lead us all into a deeper experience of worship," Jacobs said.

He added that part of the reason for the unusual service is to make the church more accessible to the community and open it up to worshiping in a different way.

"I've always been a fan of the arts, and I think that … arts can connect with people in ways that words can't always connect," Jacobs said. "And I think it can be beautiful, and provocative."

Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at 1012 Soo San Drive in Rapid City, has Sunday morning services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., with Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. Go to www.wpcrc.org for directions and to learn more about the church.

Contact Ruth Milne at 394-8329 or ruth.milne@rapidcityjournal.com