Resources

Useful Planning Ideas and Concepts

"A generation or two ago most worship services were put together by one person, usually the pastor," write the authors of Designing Worship Together. "That is no longer the case in many congregations. Solo worship planning is no longer the norm; it has given way to a team approach, both to enrich the planning process and to create healthy and broad ownership of worship leadership. Since no one person is able to provide creativity, variety, and freshness on a continuing basis, collaboration with others becomes necessary."

Broad collaboration and lay participation in worship planning can indeed be a route to worship renewal, especially when worship planners are enriched by training, learning, growth, and a shared commitment to the deep meaning and purpose of Christian worship. In addition to the book Designing Worship Together, and sample worship service outlines and worship committee Bible studies available at Leadership, CICW provides these online resources for worship planning.

General
The Nuts and Bolts of Worship Planning
John D. Witvliet
A Crash Course in Collected Wisdom from 100 Congregations
Classic Christian Insights about Worship’s Deep Meaning and Purpose
The Role of Prayer in Public Worship
Reading Scripture in Public Worship
The Worship Planners' Bookshelf
Edward R. Seely and John D. Witvliet
Worship Planning Grids
Guidelines for designing worship services that are structured and unified

Sacraments
Lord's Supper
Baptism

For Children
Worship That Is Friendly to Children - Part 1
Worship That Is Friendly to Children - Part 2

Funerals
"In Times of Death"

Unique Occasions
Worship Resources in a Time of War
Worship Resources in Times of Natural Disasters
Returning Veterans and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Seasonal
Introduction to the Christian Year
collection of links and resources for using the Christian year in worship
Worship during Advent
Worship during Epiphany
Worship during Lent
Passion Week
Worship and the Ascension
An Introduction to Pentecost Season and Summer
Planning for Summer Worship: Constructing Series of Sermons
Thanksgiving Worship
Christ the King Sunday