Bible Studies for Worship Committees Copyright 2006 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship en-us Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:05:00 EST http://www.calvin.edu/worship http://www.calvin.edu/worship/images/nameplate_cicw_vert_sm.gif http://www.calvin.edu/worship http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/24.php Discussion of the importance of how worship is ended, as well as the Aaronic and Pauline blessings, five elements that are commonly considered parts of the closing of worship, a helpful anecdote, and tips for discussion leaders. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Mon, 18 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/24.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/23.php Various names for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper are discussed, along with ideas on celebrating communion, music resources, and discussion tips. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/23.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/22.php Foundational pastoral principles for baptism are offered, along with suggestions for remembering and reaffirming our baptism, liturgy ideas, music resources, and discussion tips. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 29 Sept 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/22.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/21.php In corporate worship we are expected to give a response to what God has said and done, usually following the proclamation of God's word in the sermon. The scripture readings offer vivid examples of jubilant praise as a response to God's acts, followed by a variety of response types and discussion starters. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 22 Sept 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/21.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/20.php In Christian worship we find a variety of affirmations and professions that worshipers speak, and identify seven kinds of expressions. By reflecting on these, and perhaps adding others, we will be able to participate in worship more thoughtfully. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Thurs, 14 Sept 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/20.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/19.php Reformed worship is built on the conviction that congregational worship is essentially a conversation with God. We'll examine practices, types and methods of corporate prayer. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 30 June 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/19.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/18.php In our discussion on congregational song, we will examine closely the nature of the Psalm songs and how that can serve as a model for our songs today. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 9 June 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/18.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/17.php Paul, who was a preacher, knew there was a God-designed process for the reading and preaching of God's Word. Romans 10, he lays out the steps of that process: Someone is sent by God to preach the Word; When the preacher preaches, people hear and believe; When they believe, they call on the name of the Lord and are saved. So "faith comes from hearing the message," he says (v.17). Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 26 May 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/17.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/16.php Worship is a conversation (dialog) between God and his children, and the Scriptures are the surest and clearest means through which God speaks. The Scriptures are his voice, and when the Scriptures are read, God is speaking to his people. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/16.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/15.php Vital worship, like a healthy marriage, requires honesty and openness in order to thrive. God longs for our honesty before him. We are deeply in need of his renewing pardon. And so, the second step in our worship journey with God is a time in which we confess our sins, and God answers our confessions with the assurance of his pardon. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/15.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/14.php It's really quite an amazing thing when worshipers gather. They come from a wide variety of locations and experiences when they come into the place of worship. They do this in various ways. Some may wander in quite at random. Some are ushered to their usual pew. In some congregations the worshipers gather around a coffee pot in the fellowship area and noisily catch up on the events of the week until they are called in. In still others the gathering takes the form of clergy and choir solemnly processing down the aisle to their respective places. Stop and take an intentional look at how your congregation gathers. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/14.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/13.php When you stop to think about it, worship is a rather challenging activity. We aim to engage in a dialog with a divine and invisible Being. We aim to meet with someone we are not able to see! It is difficult, therefore, to overstate the importance of adequate preparation for good worship. We can only imagine the opportunities for good worship that never really happened because someone was unprepared. Missed opportunities are all too common. Yet, nothing is quite as satisfying as knowing that our thorough preparation has helped make worship a very rich time in fellowship with God Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/13.php http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/season1.php Season 1 included a series of twelve lessons that dealt with issues and topics of worship planning. During this year we aim to provide lessons that focus specifically on each of the actions within the worship service. With the Scriptural pattern as our starting point, we will explore each part of the liturgy. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship worship@calvin.edu Mon, 13 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EDT http://www.calvin.edu/worship/planning/insights/season1.php