We use the term ‘Worship Center’ to mean the space where a church gathers for services to ‘worship God’. Typically such ‘worship’ is centered on music; instruments and songs of praise and adoration. This is what most people think of as ‘worship’ and is certainly consistent with scripture. But there is more. I do not mean living a lifestyle of worship, though that certainly is a valid act as well. Rick Warren in his Purpose Driven Life book recounts ways that different people experience God. For some of us it is in the beauty of his creation that we tend to experience Him most. When I see lofty mountains or waterfalls or a star-strewn sky, I find myself breaking out spontaneously with words of praise and adoration to God. In the same way that music moves many people into His presence, His creation moves me. The first time I went snorkeling over a coral reef, I thought I might rapture. I was so deeply moved, so in awe of God and His phenomenal creative abilities. Seeing the Grand Canyon moved me to tears, caused me to tremble at the majesty of our awesome God reflected in His creative works. For some of us, a beautiful landscaped Environment is a more inspiring Environment to worship than a sanctuary.
Our company recently held its Christmas party at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. For those of you not familiar with Longwood, it is the premier garden in the United States. I went to school there for a two year certificate program in ornamental landscape plants. I would pray there regularly, finding an almost endless variety of spaces in which to find solitude within the 1,050 acres. The term that most people use when they see this place is actually connected to worship: inspiring.
How I see this relating to built environments for churches is in the landscaping. This feature is often neglected due to the initial costs to construct (after the new building budget has already been tapped-out) or due to lack of qualified maintenance personnel. This is truly unfortunate. Walking through a beautifully landscaped Environment to come into a building will have some of us in worship before hearing any music. And putting an outdoor prayer / reflection garden adjacent to the indoor café both embellishes the indoor Environment and provides a place to meet the ‘worship needs’ of those who are so moved.  

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