Worship Weblog
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Friendship Ministires on ‘What can I do to make large-group prayer more meaningful?’
From Friendship Ministries(pdf):
If you’ve ever asked this question, you’ve probably asked another: “What is prayer?” The answer may be simple–prayer is talking with God–but of course this simple answer raises even more questions! And perhaps your old answers to these questions have changed as you’ve experienced prayer with people for whom spoken communication is difficult or impossible. In the context of so much intriguing mystery, we would like to share some practical ideas to consider as you seek to enhance group prayer:
The newsletter goes on to provide 12 helpful pointers for leading prayer with those with disabilities--check it out(pdf)
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Christina Saj’s ‘Six Days of Creation’ at New Brunswick Theological Seminary
From christinasaj.com (as featured in Image Update):
New Brunswick Theological Seminary is pleased to present “SIX DAYS OF CREATION” an exhibition of paintings by Christina Saj. This exhibition is located in situ at the Seminary Chapel on their New Jersey campus adjacent to the Rutgers University. The works, inspired by Genesis, are six 52” X 100” panels depicting the six days of creation. The series was conceived specifically for installation in the chapel, a modern, 50’s vintage, circular worship space, spartan in it’s décor, with seating that is moveable and conforms to the needs of the community using it. Outside seminary worship, the space is utilized on Sundays by nonresident congregations. The show is augmented by the inclusion of a number of Saj’s other works inspired by icons, such as Transfiguration, a five foot rendering of a silver cross which dominates the Lobby outside the chapel.
“Six Days of Creation” illuminates the Seminary Chapel. Saj is the current artist in residence at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. The appointment of artists in residence enriches the community. Saj, a practicing artist with an established record who will present programs and/or workshops throughout the year for the purpose of helping students think about, experience, and experiment with an artistic practice in the context of ministry and especially to the worship life of the church. Saj is also teaching a workshop about sacred space this semester. Her exhibition will run thru the end of May.
Interdisciplinary Application • Liturgical Arts • News • (0) Comments • Permalink
B&C on Charismatic Christianity in South America
Years of skilful interviewing by David Smilde of the men in two churches in dangerous parts of Caracas, Venezuela, conducted during the period just before Chavez, confirm what investigations have shown from Kingston, Jamaica, to Accra, Ghana, and points east. Evangelical, charismatic, and in particular Pentecostal Christianity offers visions and revisions of lives changed for good, spiritually, morally and (so far as may be, given the changes and chances of life) materially. Of course, some fall by the way, because things don’t to work out as hoped, or else they are pulled back into old ways by boon companions. Most encounter experiences which try them “as gold in the fire,” and getting right with God may turn out easier than getting right with a wife or partner. All the same, there is enough evidence of some betterment affecting all the interlinked dimensions of life to vindicate Providence in the eyes of believers rather than the influence of fortuna and fate. Even when sorely tried, Pentecostals turn to ancient, indeed biblical, ways of searching out the ways of God: for example, that he is teaching his children through adversity, that his ways are not as their ways, that their way of life has somehow been displeasing in his sight, and that the goods of this world corrupt our treasure in heaven.
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Alban Weekly on ‘Congregational Web Sites: Our New Front Door’
Jonathan, 28, believes Web sites functions like a “front page” for organizations. He notes that his generation surfs the Internet continuously, both during the work day and during leisure hours, and that they would almost never visit a church or other organization without first checking out its Web site. Whether or not Jonathan can speak for an entire generation, organizational Web sites are certainly proliferating. More congregations are establishing Web sites and more congregational leaders are realizing how helpful, even strategic, Web sites can be.
Related Resources
Using Your Website to Enrich Worshipers
Working With Your Local Media as a Worshiping Community
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CIRT review of ‘Jesus of Africa’
Review of Diane Stinton’s Jesus of Africa: Voices of Contemporary African Christology by Diane B. Stinton from Conversations in Religion & Theology
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Corwin Smidt on political cues during worship
A belated link: CSR’s blog links to a draft of a working paper co-authored by Corwin Smidt of Calvin College as part of a research initiative supported by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
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Gerardo Marti on ‘fluid ethnicity’ in JSSR
Gerardo Marti, whose research we’ve been blessed by (see this and this), has a paper in the current issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion:
Fluid Ethnicity and Ethnic Transcendence in Multiracial Churches
Gerardo Marti
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 47 (1), 11–16Abstract
Assumptions of racial essentialism lead to inadequate analysis of multiracial churches. Instead, acknowledging ethnic identity as a negotiated phenomenon encourages a richer investigation of how congregational participation stimulates and redefines a person’s racial and ethnic identity. The malleability of ethnic identity is such that it is often obscured in favor of other aspects of self. Ethnographic analysis of two multiracial churches, Mosaic and Oasis, indicates that particularistic ethnic affiliations recede when otherworldly, value-rational interests are emphasized. Ethnic transcendence occurs when members adopt a shared identity based on a uniquely congregational understanding of what it means to be a properly religious person (a proper “Christian,” “Jew,” “Muslim,” “Buddhist,” etc.). In short, the distinctive accomplishment of multiracial congregations is the cultivation of an inclusive religious identity that overrides divisive aspects of ethnic identity. Moreover, recognizing the varying salience of racial and ethnic identity evokes greater caution regarding what can be assumed when researchers apply the label “multiracial” to congregations.
(We may be able to make a copy of this paper available to your church by request.)
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Planning Ahead: July/August 2008
Here’s an overview of the calendar for planning worship for July/August 2008. For our complete planning guide, see Planning Ahead: Worship in July and August.
Overview of July/August 2008
The Sundays during these months this year are July 6,13,20,27, and August 3,10,17,24,31.
There are no major holidays on the church calendar for these months. Some churches choose to mention or commemorate the following occasions in their worship:
July 1 (Tues.) - Canada Day (more information and related article)
July 4 (Fri.) - U.S. Independence Day (related article)
July 20 (Sun.) - Seventeenth of Tammuz, Jewish day of fasting (more information)
August 6 (Weds.) - Feast of Transfiguration (more information and resources)
August 6 (Weds.) - Hiroshima Day (information and resources)
Aug. 10 (Sun.) - Tisha B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning (more information)
August 29 (Fri.) - Beheading of John the Baptist (more information and resources)
Note: External links are provided for reference only, and do not necessarily imply endorsement of the content of any particular website.
Printable Calendars
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Lectionary Readings
Find the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for these Sundays from the Vanderbilt Lectionary Project
Find resources for these readings from the Revised Common Lectionary from TextWeek.com
Planning Ahead: July/August
More Planning Ahead
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Report from National Ministry Summit
Above: Betty Grit talks with Michael Cymbala of GIA Publications.
From Betty Grit:
This past weekend’s Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership National Ministry Summit in Orlando, Florida, provided a unique opportunity to meet with old friends and introduce others to the work of CICW. One pastor told me that he is on our website frequently. He finds insights and resources valuable for sermon preparation. Another stopped our CICW exhibition table to say that she knows several grant recipients and appreciates what has been accomplished through Worship Renewal Grants. Dolly Sokol, project director for grants to the Office of Worship and Christian Initiation of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, thanked us for the grants and said that she is “spreading the word” about the grants.
We were grateful to talk with Bill Johnston, a member of the Worship Renewal Grants Advisory Board. He had sent us information about this conference and encouraged us to be here to introduce conference participants to CICW and the grants.
A highlight of the conference was a conversation with Father Tom Willis, project director of the 2007 grant to the Diocese of St. Augustine Office of Liturgy. This project brought together 18 parish musicians to study music and liturgy. Father Tom told me that the first time the group gathered for a retreat and learning, some participants were in conversation with Kathleen Harmon, the facilitator, until 3 AM. The eagerness to learn has been evident throughout the year. Pastors reported to Father Tom six weeks later that already there was evidence of renewal in worship. The participants have now met with Kathleen twice and recently gathered to reflect and celebrate. Father Tom notes that the learning process has been marked by trust and affirmation. Participants have shared newly composed music and made revisions based on thoughtful input by other participants.
A final workshop of the grant year is planned for May. An extensive evaluation process will include participants, pastors and others in the congregation such as choir members. The leadership team is eager to assess the learning that has spread throughout the parish. We are most grateful for the vision and leadership that is creating a model for training local musicians in liturgy and music.
Previous Report: Visit to El Buen Vecino Presbyterian
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Report from El Buen Vecino Presbyterian
From Betty Grit:
It was Sunday morning and the leadership team of El Buen Vecino Presbyterian Church had gathered in their new worship space in Kissimmee, Florida, to tell me about their grant year. Led by Pastor Sandra Luciano-Andujar, they had offered classes in music, dance, visual arts and drama for worship. The previous week participants and members of several congregations had come together to see what had been learned, to celebrate, fellowship and worship concluding with the Lord’s Supper.
The leadership team includes adults and children with many gifts. One young girl, Lauren Marie, told me that she loves being involved in drama and visual arts. We were shown a video of the learning workshops as well as pictures of the recent celebration.
Later today the congregation will worship in a nearby church. Some of the learning through the grant year will be a part of this service that will include a baptism. It is their prayer that construction permits will soon be in place to allow them to worship in their new space.
We are reminded of the privilege of partnering with this young congregation as they develop the gifts of their members for worship. Should we have the opportunity to visit again in four or five years, it is our prayer that we would find fruits of the grants flourishing to provide vital worship in this growing Hispanic community.
Next Report: Report from National Ministry Summit
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
Easter Visuals at First Reformed in Pompton Plains
The picture and below note were sent to us by Roy Okma and are posted here with permission:
I am a Calvin graduate and I recently attended your Worship Symposium as a representative of the First Reformed Church in Pompton Plains, NJ. I have attached a picture of our first experiment of using visual arts within the church as a way to enhance the worship experience. I just want to thank-you and the staff at Calvin for an excellent conference and I wanted you to see some of the impact that you are having around the country.
Our church has been around since 1736 and the worship style is more traditional.
Looking at the picture, we made the following changes for our Easter Sunday service:
1) Built and stained the wooden cross in front of the church
2) Ran drapes of white fabric from the cross spreading over top of the entire congregation
The visual effect on Easter was unbelievable as the sunlight played off of the fabric making for an inspiring visual effect. The project was so successful that we are starting a visual art team in our church and also adopted the idea of displaying art work through out the church.
I just wanted to write you an e-mail to share with you and the Calvin staff some of the results from all of your work. As you stated in the conference it is not at all about the ”grant money”; these ideas can be implemented by anyone.
Regards,
Roy Okma
Related Resources
Eyes to See: Grassroots Discoveries on Worship and the Visual Arts
Worship and the Visual Arts
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Prayers for Blacksburg - one year later
Today we remember and pray for people in Blacksburg, Virginia, on this first anniversary of the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech University. We got to know several worship leaders in Blacksburg through a Worship Renewal Grant; their collaboration and spirit of gratitude have been a real witness. Anne Campbell of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church sent us this picture shortly after the shootings last year, showing some of the outpouring of support for the VT community.
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Blog reports from Transforming Culture conference in Austin
Blog reports from Transforming Culture, which featured Eugene Peterson, Jeremy Begbie, Barbara Nicolosi, Andy Crouch, David Taylor, and CICW director John Witvliet:
- Two Days After from David Taylor
- Day 3 Panel Discussion from doulos2k.net
Events • Interdisciplinary Application • Liturgical Arts • (1) Comments • Permalink
Monday, March 31, 2008
Planning Ahead: Worship in May and June 2008
Here’s an overview of the calendar for planning worship for May and June 2008. For our complete planning guide, see Planning Ahead: Worship in May and June.
Overview of May and June 2008
The Sundays during these months are May 4,11,18,25 and June 1,8,15,22,29.
Ascension Day is May 1. Pentecost is May 11. Trinity Sunday is May 18. Some churches also choose to mention or commemorate the following occasions in their worship:
June 24 (Tues.) - Birth of John the Baptist (more information)
June 29 (Sun.) - Martyrdom of Peter and Paul (more information)
Note: External links are provided for reference only, and do not necessarily imply endorsement of the content of any particular website.
Printable Calendars
-
Lectionary Readings
Find the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary for these Sundays from the Vanderbilt Lectionary Project
Find resources for these readings from the Revised Common Lectionary from TextWeek.com
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Christian worshippers attend Easter Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, in Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday, March 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Ahikam Seri,Pool)
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