We've run this course twice now, and enjoyed it so much we're running it again in Feb-April 2026. Feedback from previous courses included:

  • "It's been really great to think about ways of being more creative and allowing worship times to be more imaginative, accessible and interactive."

  • "Excellent course. Was a beautiful balance of challenge and support. 10/10!"

  • “The course enabled me to dig deeper into my understanding of creativity and its role within faith, discipleship and worship. I found it inspiring for working with my own church and encouraging to continue to explore new ways of meeting with God."

This is an online, classroom-sized course on Developing Creativity for Gathered Worship. It is taught by Sam Hargreaves as five 90-minute sessions, spread over ten weeks to allow space in-between for engaging in practical exercises.

Our aims are:

  • To release and equip church leaders into greater creativity.
  • To empower & encourage creative people to craft gathered worship resources.

We will share from our breadth of experience in creating a spectrum of worship resources, including visual arts, poetry, music, digital media and more. We will help each person attending to grow in their own creativity and artistic expression. Participants will then be given skills to shape their artistic talents into vibrant, accessible worship resources for use in church. 

This course will be run on Tuesday mornings, 11.00am-12.30pm (UK time) on Zoom.

The dates will be 24th Feb, 10th March, 24th March, (two weeks off for Easter) 14th April, 28th April.

Capacity - limited to 15 people to ensure space for discussion and feedback.

Cost - £50, £35 unwaged. Includes handouts and links to further reading/viewing.


OVERVIEW 

Week 1 - Developing Creativity (ARTIST)
Intro: bringing together the Artist, Contemplative Liturgist, Designer and Pastor
Hallmarks of growing as an artist
Tools and exercises for developing creativity 

Week 2 - Art as Spiritual Discipline (CONTEMPLATIVE)
Art and your self-image
Filling your artistic tank
Space to be real

Week 3 - Creativity for Gathered Worship (LITURGIST)
Being creative with liturgical movements
Engaging with the seasons 
Encouraging interaction

Week 4 - Honing and Leading Creative Resources (DESIGNER)
Design process for worship resources
Skills for creating resources
Plus: looking at submissions and feeding back

Week 5 - Reviewing and Improving (PASTOR)
Releasing creativity in congregations
Review and critique process
Plus: looking at submissions and feeding back


ABOUT THE TUTOR

Sam Hargreaves has rich experience in both producing creative resources and training others to do so. He is an accomplished songwriter and his work with Engage Worship uses visual art skills, creative writing, digital art and more. As a lecturer at London School of Theology he has taught numerous courses, including Multimedia & Multisensory Worship, for the past 15 years.