Worship Weblog
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Reflections on Worship and the Christian Year
Scott Hoezee, director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary, recently presented these reflections on worship and the Christian year to a Seminary course on the Christian year, and agreed to share them here:
This afternoon the three of us speak to you from our varied experiences, a good deal of which ties in with when it was we received our formal education and when we entered the life and work of ministry in the church. In terms of myself, I graduated from CTS in 1990, which means I was here just at the time when the liturgical tectonic plates were starting to grind past one another in the CRC. That is to say, when I was here, the old way of teaching worship and liturgy was in its last days, soon to be replaced by the kind of curriculum that Dr. Witvliet and others brought to this Seminary and, by extension, to the wider Christian Reformed denomination beginning in the mid-1990s.
Over the last two years, I have been working on a history book about the CRCNA that is to be released in conjunction with the denomination’s sesquicentennial (or 150th birthday) next year in 2007. My assignment for that book was to give a little attention to the CRC’s first 100 years but to give primary focus to just the last 50 years from 1957-2007. To put it mildly, this last half-century has been one of tremendous change and upheaval, not least on the liturgical front.
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006
News coverage of grant recipients Zion Lutheran and Third CRC
Two CICW grant recipients have been featured in news articles in the past week:
Zion Lutheran Church:
Church uses dance of praise
The York Dispatch
Third CRC:
Third Christian Reformed focuses ‘UpWords’ for Lent
The Holland Sentinel
and
Artwork leads parishioners to worship
The Grand Rapids Press
(Photo at right: Sculpture by Tim Klynstra, artist at Third Christian Reformed Church of Zeeland, in the Holland Sentinel.)
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Young People at Princeton CRC Report on Vertical Habits
From Betty Grit:
Sunday morning, following worship, I had the privilege of reflecting with twelve young people at Princeton Christian Reformed Church in Kentwood about the words they have heard or used this past week in relationships. Last Sunday we talked about worship and the dialogue in which we are involved as we listen to God, talk to him and speak to one another. We realized that in any healthy conversation it is important to say, I Love You, I’m Sorry, Why, I’m Listening, Help, Thank You, What Can I Do? and Bless You. We considered how we say these things to God and to each other.
Throughout the week the students listened for these words of relationship as people talked to God and to one another. They reported about the vocabulary they heard, in school, at home, in a play many of them had presented Saturday evening, and when we worshiped this morning.
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Monday, March 27, 2006
‘Where 20 or 30 Are Gathered’ Featured in Alban Weekly
This week’s Alban Weekly newsletter features the book Where 20 or 30 Are Gathered, a publication of the Alban Institute and CICW, co-authored by Peter Bush and Christine O’Reilly. The newsletter includes this excerpt from the book.
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Picture prayers from the children at Cornerstone CRC
From a series of “picture prayers” by the children of Cornerstone CRC, a partner with CICW in our Vertical Habits initiative (see earlier). Posted at Cornerstone’s blog.
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Worship at St. Mary Magdalene in Reigate
More pictures from Mary Hulst‘s trip to England (see earlier); above: St. Mary Magdalene in Reigate. Mary writes:
This is the path from the Girdlers’ house to the church. (The Girdler’s hosted me.) Imagine walking this every Sunday…
The Sunday I worshiped with them was “Family Worship,” meaning that all the kids stay in worship and sit on the carpet between the aisles. We sang kids’ songs, heard a message from the youth pastor, and three kids and their mom led the congregational prayer. It was a fun, lively service, and made me understand how much Robert and Cherith loved being a part of this community.
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Rienstra Hymn “Foothold” Wins Fuller Contest
Congratulations to Calvin College English professor and CICW research consultant Debra Rienstra, whose hymn ”Foothold” won a hymn search contest to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. We know Debra as an eloquent essayist, and especially appreciate her vivid words about worship in her latest book So Much More. We also eagerly anticipate her forthcoming book on language and worship. But now we can give Debra her due as a published hymn text writer.
A score and MP3 recording of this hymn are posted at Debra’s (and husband Ron‘s) weblog; contact Debra regarding permission for using this hymn.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Reflections on Worship Renewal Grants Advisory Board ‘06
We’ve just concluded two days of consultations with our Worship Renewal Grants Advisory Board—a hand-picked group of top-notch liturgical leaders and scholars from a variety of backgrounds around the country. After reading each proposal and evaluating it according to the guidelines of the grant brochure, the board members met here at Calvin to go through each of the more than 180 proposals, assign them rankings based on those guidelines, and make a recommendation about whether or not the proposal is fundable.
Sitting in on much of these discussions, I was struck first of all by the commitment of these board members to not only read each proposal, but really try to understand the vision for worship renewal behind each proposal. I was also struck by their sharp insights into the strengths and weaknesses, limitations and potential, of the proposals.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Calvin Theological Seminary reflections on Jubilee 2006
Fiona Baker, Administrative Assistant for Continuing Education and the Making Connections Initiative at Calvin Theological Seminary, traveled to Pittsburgh last month to help represent CTS at Jubilee 2006. She reported to our staff meeting last week, and submitted these written reflections.
As a former staff member of the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), a campus ministry organization based in Pittsburgh, the Jubilee conference was one of my favorite times of the year. So you can imagine my excitement at the opportunity to attend Jubilee 2006 with two other Calvin Theological Seminary colleagues. Jubilee is the signature event of the CCO. The conference allows students to explore specific areas of study or vocation with the belief that as Christians we are to invite Christ into every area of our life—including our studies, college life and vocation. By doing so, we can then have kingdom influence in every sphere of life.
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Monday, March 20, 2006
‘At Play in the House of the Lord’ at CT Library
Earlier this month the newsletter of CTLibrary.com led with an article by Melody Pugh on disputes over worship styles. That piece linked, with an editor’s recommendation, to this article in Books&Culture by CICW’s John Witvliet: ”At Play in the House of the Lord,” a review of four books about worship. We’ve posted the full text of that piece, by permission, at our website. An excerpt:
No other religion in recorded history features such a dazzling variety of ritual practices: everything from elaborate Byzantine vigils to exuberant Methodist frontier camp meetings; from the Dionysian ecstasy of the Toronto Laughter to the Apollonian reserve of a Presbyterian sermon. Everything from the trancelike seizures of Maria Woodworth-Etter to the precise rhetorical patterns of the Book of Common Prayer; from the brilliance of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel to the kitsch of burlap banners. Everything from the serene beauty of a Palestrina motet to the rugged earthiness of an Appalachian gospel quartet; from the sophisticated majesty of Chartres to the folk art that adorns a thatched-roof sanctuary; from the enforced silence of Quaker corporate mysticism to the sustained exuberance of an African American ring shout sermon.
These four books feature a common desire to look at this landscape with a wide-angle lens. After a whirlwind tour that crosses continents and centuries, the thoughtful reader will come away with a deepened sense of the variety and complexity of Christian worship.
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WOWAW 34: A ‘baptismal spirituality’ for Lent
This week’s Words Of Wisdom About Worship:
Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. ... As a period of preparation, Lent has historically included the instruction of persons for baptism and profession of faith on Easter Sunday; the calling back of those who have become estranged from the church; and efforts by all Christians to deepen their piety, devotion, and readiness to mark the death and resurrection of their Savior. As such, the primary focus of the season is to explore and deepen a “baptismal spirituality” that centers on our union with Christ rather than to function only as an extended meditation on Christ’s suffering and death.
-The Worship Sourcebook, p.551-552
• Listen to a reading of this quote
by Nathan Bierma
Earlier: WOWAW 33
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A crisp morning at Kings College Chapel
Mary Hulst‘s photos from her recent visit to Kings College Chapel at Cambridge University in England.
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Monday, March 13, 2006
Reflections on the Second Sunday of Lent 2006
Kent Hendricks‘ reflections on the second Sunday of Lent are now posted at his personal weblog: (Also see Kent’s earlier reflections on the meaning of Lent.)
Came home and pondered the story of the rich man and Lazarus for awhile. I’ve been wrestling with this text in preparation for a sermon for my preaching class in a few weeks. That story is puzzling; I tend to think that the rich man’s problem wasn’t his stuff, it was his ignorance. His problem was his condition, and his condition kills him. And our condition kills us too. continued...
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‘Breadlike Boards’ and the Teaching of Worship
Last week’s Alban Weekly featured an excerpt from Charles Olsen’s book Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders, in which he distinguishes between “stonelike” and “breadlike” boards:
“Breadlike” boards allow for bonding and trust to build as a community of faith is formed. Breadlike meetings are centered and focused by scripture on images of God and the people of God in community. Breadlike meetings take the time to prayerfully discern God’s leading and call. Breadlike boards have farmed out many operational decisions, entrusting them to other people and groups that have been empowered and commissioned to act. Breadlike boards look at the “whole forest” and to its future. Breadlike meetings integrate inspiration with governance and feel more like “worship” than “meeting.” continued...
Olsen offers four specific things breadlike boards do (storytelling, biblical and theological reflection, prayerful discernment, visioning the future). We would humbly submit at least one more: reflecting on the purpose and practice of worship. John Witvliet proposes this in Reformed Worship magazine; more CICW resources for the teaching of worship in congregations are collected here.
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Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Hymnal Consultation
Last week CICW hosted a consultation of hymnal publishers from around the country that included a day-long series of roundtable discussions on song selection, copyright issues, market considerations, and the future of hymnals in an age of multimedia. Among the questions and insights we considered:
- One denominational hymnal editor described his company’s latest hymnal (the culmination of a 6-year process) as a “representative core” that is supplemented by digital and print materials. We found that to be a useful concept, speaking to the need for both stability and flexibility, tradition and innovation in worship music.
- A non-denominational hymnal editor talked about trying to select “contemporary music that had put down some roots” and “would be around in 10 or 15 years.” I thought those were salient and useful phrases. (See CICW’s Vital Worship feature story, Contemporary Worship Music Matures).
- The same editor said his company and buyers had about 15-year cycle for new hymnals; in other words, an edition of a hymnal has a 15-year life span from publication to replacement. Others said 10 years, others 20, others 25, and others 30.
(Song selection, as noted above, has to take into account this time frame. One consultant offered that new music on a printed page usually has a maximum “shelf life” of about 15 years; new music that is used primarily on projection screens, on the other hand, has a shelf life of about 4 or 5 years, he said.)
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