Categorizing The Movements Of Worship

Since movement is a normal part of life it has to be a part of worship forever. However, highlighting or emphasizing actions is the purpose of dance. These articles describe sources and means for utilizing movement more fully in worship. Gestures denote the movements of a part of the body as distinct from the whole. Wagging the ears, shaking the fist, stamping the feet-these are gestures. One can gesture with the fingers (beckon), with the shoulders (shrug), or with the eyes (wink). Smiling too is, strictly speaking, a gesture, since only part of the body is mobile-the face. We clap with the hands, nudge with our elbows, frown with our foreheads, embrace with our arms, kiss with our lips, etc. Gestures are not always easy to interpret. We scarcely need a Hamlet to know that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. The meaning of a gesture may be modified by a posture: I may shake my fist at someone, but if my whole bearing is one of good humour, with a smile on my face, I obviousl…