Worship
Showing 201–300 of 433 resultsSorted by latest
-
Worship Resources For Special Sundays
$12.95Add to cartHere’s a practical collection of thoughtful material to help you celebrate several special occasions during the fall and winter months: Rally Day, Reformation Sunday, All Saints’ Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Youth Sunday. Included are:
* The Saga Of Bobby Wildgoose, a service and sermon specifically tailored for the fall kick-off of Sunday school and commissioning of new Sunday school teachers. The message relates the inspirational story of the beginnings of the Sunday school movement, illustrating the difference that one person can make in the lives of young people.
* Facing The 21st Century With A 16th Century Faith, a message and service for Reformation Sunday that examines what motivated Martin Luther in his disagreements with the established church and suggests that Luther’s ideas about the authority of the Bible, the priesthood of all believers, and justification by faith alone remain the durable bedrock of our Christian faith today.
* Running With The Cloud, a stirring All Saints’ Day sermon and service reminding us that we who are living are only a small segment of the church universal, and noting that we can draw great strength from the lives of the “saints” who have gone before us.
* A Solid Place To Stand, a Thanksgiving message and service that explores how the Bible’s promise of God’s presence with us gives us a firm foundation to base our lives on.
* The Measure Of A Man, A Heart Prepared, Night Watch, and Tidings, a set of four first-person monologue sermons for Advent that tell the old, old story with a twist. We see the birth of the Christ child unfold through the eyes of Joseph, the innkeeper’s wife, a shepherd, and an angel. Key Advent themes such as watching, preparation, and righteous action are raised as each character struggles to make sense of extraordinary events.
* A Youth Sunday worship service with a charming children’s story honoring the presence and participation of the church’s young people. The service celebrates their fresh vision and courage in risking, praying, and creating the future.
-
Lectionary Worship Aids Series 6 Cycle C
$22.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship each Sunday is a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this all-new edition of a favorite CSS reference. It’s a handy, easy-to-use resource with several prayers and a worship theme relating to the assigned scriptural passages for every Sunday and major observance in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary. For each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text there’s a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, an offertory prayer, and suggested hymns. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for creating sincerely reverent, meaningful worship.
-
How Sweet The Sound
$25.99Add to cartIVP Print On Demand Title
Rediscover the profound insights of Christian hymnody with this exploration of the messages of twenty-five hymns of the Christian faith.
You will never sing these hymns the same way again. With careful exposition and thoughtful reflection, the author shows how biblical truths are encapsulated in a hymn’s lyrics, stanza by stanza or even in a single line of a single verse.Some of these hymns are: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God; Holy, Holy, Holy; Great Is Thy Faithfulness; O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; Amazing Grace; Fairest Lord Jesus. Softcover, 190 pages.
-
Lectionary Worship Aids Series 7 Cycle A
$23.95Add to cartLectionary Worship Aids by Frank Ramirez is a lectionary book based on Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Here are some of the topics covered in this lectionary book:
– Worship
– Worship resources
– Worship services
– Worship aids
– Lectionary
– Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary
– Lectionary worship aids
– Lectionary resources
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105 KJV) -
Work Of The People
$17.95Add to cartThe word “liturgy” literally means “the work of the people” — so the active participation of everyone in the congregation should be the goal of Christian worship. Designed to help you attain that sense of full partnership, The Work Of The People provides you with a full year’s worth of eloquent resources for thoughtful, reverent services. It’s a comprehensive collection of liturgical prayers and readings for 52 Sundays, with each week’s material based on a common subject (Freedom, Hospitality, Peace, and Stewardship are just a few examples). Written in everyday language that connects them to our daily lives, the prayers are conceived for congregational reading (either responsively or in unison) — and their thematic unity will lead to reflection and insight in addition to praise and celebration.
The components for each week include:
* call to worship
* invocation
* call to confession
* prayer of confession
* words of assurance
* Psalm reading
* offering sentences
* prayer of dedication
* benediction
* scripture references (as possible texts for homilies based on the theme) -
Lectionary Worship Workbook Series 4 Cycle A
$29.95Add to cartThe church is a wonderful place to use all of our God-given senses, and this inspiring collection of liturgical resources utilizes art, music, drama, silence, and even aromas to retell the marvelous story of God’s covenantal relationships with humankind. As a starting-off place for pastors and worship planners, this innovative workbook is certain to keep the creative juices flowing with new methods of making worship moving and relevant for all your parishioners.
For each Sunday there’s a complete selection of written liturgical material (calls to worship, prayers, choral readings, and benedictions) to supplement and strengthen your worship services — all specifically tailored to the week’s scripture readings. But that’s not all! There’s also a wealth of musical suggestions, including hymns chosen from a variety of denominational hymnals and appropriate anthems for the choir.
By focusing all of the elements of worship in ways that really connect with the people in your pews, these resources will breathe new life into the scriptures. Anyone who contributes to worshipers hearing the Good News — pastors, musicians, artists, lay readers, and directors of drama groups — should have a copy of this must-have volume in their library.
-
Sustained To Serve
$9.95Add to cartThe inspiring prayers in Sustained To Serve open a window into the presence of the living Christ in our ordinary daily activities. Originally created for use during the communion and offering parts of worship services, these heartfelt petitions share deep feelings of awe and wonder at Christ’s sacrificial love and offer thanksgiving for God’s infinite gifts. With material for a variety of seasons and circumstances, this book is much more than just a collection of worship aids — it’s also perfect for devotional reading or just to help bring you closer to the Almighty amidst the bustle of everyday life.
-
Lectionary Worship Workbook Series 2 Cycle C
$41.95Add to cartThe most impressive thing about Wayne Keller’s body of ideas for worship throughout the Christian Year is his boldness. He is bold in demanding that we, his colleagues in liturgical leadership, plan worship which has to do with the reality of our congregations’ experience in the world, rather than just leading people through a proper agenda of acts and words which have no bearing on what we do the rest of the week. He is bold in challenging us to bring that real world — with its pains and its pleasures, its hungers and its feasts, its beauty and its ugliness — to exposure before the living God. And he is bold in helping us shine the strong, exposing light of the transforming Word on our real lives and on that real world, so that we may move beyond planning worship as a “nice,” safe, feel-good routine from which we depart the same people we were when we arrived. We are thrilled by the seriousness and authentic reverence with which this author approaches the planning of worship. Thank God for Wayne Keller and for his deep respect for the central act of the Christian community: the blessed and life-transforming experience of the worship of God.
Richard Avery and Donald Marsh
Port Jervis, New YorkWayne Keller’s method creates not only a contemporary appeal, but also effects a congregational involvement so necessary today within the liturgical context. His approach is fresh and practical and yet a reflection consistently of a solid liturgical and homiletical background. Keller has the ability to appeal to the everydayness of congregational experience.
Donald Macleod
Francis L. Patton Professor Emeritus
Princeton Theological SeminaryThe good humor of Wayne Keller’s work helps us feel at home in our imperfect world and feel more empathy for the rough edges of others and ourselves. Wayne’s work encourages hope and faith with the way we are.
Doug Adams
Professor of Christianity and the Arts
Pacific School of Religion and Graduate Theological UnionA cascade of insights, ideas, suggestions, and plans for stimulating the working pastor’s imagination and guiding in worship planning.
Robert Coote
Professor, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Editor, Mustard-Seed ChurchesWayne Keller elevates us to an authentic bring-your-warts-and-smiles encounter with the living God … a remarkable year-round resource for the entire worship team.
Paul Hackett
Former pastor and member, First Presbyterian Church
Puyallup, WashingtonKeller says, “I ha
-
Discerning The Spirits
$24.99Add to cartChristian worship in North America has undergone great change in recent years. But change always brings uncertainty _ at times even division _ about what constitutes “authentic worship.” This important book reviews a wide variety of current perspectives and offers a fresh outlook on the contemporary practice of Christian worship.
In order to provide the widest, most insightful discussion on present-day worship practices yet assembled, the authors gathered a team of church musicians, ministers, worship leaders, and educators from eight church traditions. “Discerning the Spirits” is the fruit of their work. Shaped by the wisdom of men and women like Marva Dawn, Justo Gonzalez, C. Michael Hawn, and John Witvliet, this book broadens today’s “worship wars” into a bigger, richer discussion that moves from arguments over musical tastes to good thinking about the overall purpose of worship in relation to church life and God himself. Sidebar articles and quotes are meant to draw readers and study groups into dialogue on these issues.Whether one plays a leadership role in church worship or is simply grappling with questions about it, “Discerning the Spirits” is a must-read.
-
Prophetic Song : Gateway To Glory
$15.49Add to cartGod is releasing a new sound in the church worldwide-prophetic song. Prophetic song is spontaneous, given fresh by the Holy Spirit. It is powerful, releasing an atmosphere of God’s presence in the church. It is intimate, drawing us into face-to-face and heart-to-heart encounters with God. This book is broken into four main parts. Part One centers on the sound of many waters, which is released when believers in the church mingle their voices in free worship. Part Two focuses on David and his legacy of prophetic song lyrics in the book of Psalms. Part Three deals with the gift of prophecy in song. And Part Four tells how to give prophetic song its place in the church. Prophetic Song: Gateway to Glory will help pastors, prophets, worshipers, and intercessors fulfill their roles in the new sound God is releasing worldwide in His church.
-
Sermons Alive : 52 Short Dramatic Sketches For Sunday Worship
$17.95Add to cart1. All I Want For Christmas
2. Back To Back With Benny
3. A Ball Game
4. The Bible Study
5. The Bonsai Tree
6. Bringing My World To God
7. The Choir Member
8. Christianity Lite
9. The Christian Plant
10. Counting The Cost
11. The Dream
12. Fat Jack
13. The Fisherman Etc.Additional Info
A sketch a week companion to sunday worship services. The 52 3 to 7 minute dramas included in this book are ideal for introducing sermons. These entertaining sketches illustrate prayer,giving,peer pressure,eternal life,dealing with failure and others. Minimal to no props or set pieces required. Right and permission to reproduce sketckes is included. -
Tabernacle Of David
$17.49Add to cartThe Tabernacle of David is a topic that has stirred much interest in recent years. How could such an obscure subject suddenly come to center stage? In this exposition, the author will show clearly how this veil-less tent upon Mount Zion reveals the higher dimension of worship that our God seeks (John 4:24). David’s Tabernacle not only reveals the higher worship of Mount Zion, but it also reveals the New Covenant standard. This veil-less tent housed the Ark of the Covenant. The veiled Ark speaks of the Old Covenant, whereas the unveiled Ark speaks of the New Covenant. David had entered (figuratively) into a dimension that the church is just rediscovering: the reality of the rent veil, the reality of the manifest presence of God, and the qualifications that will allow us to ascent the “Holy Hill.” This commentary will challenge you to be a true worshipper!
-
Earth And All Stars
$14.95Add to cartAll ages will enjoy this collection of songs by the author of Earth and All Stars and Love, Love, Love! Herb Brokering, a treasure among hymn writers of our time, has selected 170 of the best of his hymn and song texts for this volume. Includes over forty “Songs to Children’s Rhymes” set to melodies known by young and old. These songs are easy to learn and fun to sing at home, in learning settings, in worship, and wherever God’s people join their voices. Developed with the assistance of Wheat Ridge Ministries.
-
Sermon Warm Ups
$12.95Add to cartCould you use an attention-getting introduction to set up a talk or sermon? If so, the brief sketches in this collection are exactly what you need to create living illustrations of scriptural themes that will stick in your audience’s memory. Jesus explained concepts about God’s kingdom through parables utilizing elements familiar to his listeners; likewise, the modern storytelling in these short, easy-to-prepare scenes helps worshipers understand the gospel by depicting the biblical message in the context of our daily lives. And they’re effective. Since drama draws on both our visual and auditory senses, it’s a proven vehicle for increasing learning and retention rates. When you want a change of pace that will really make a difference, these scenes are great for use in place of the sermon or for various types of fellowship programs.
Contents include:
* The Inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 6:14-29)
* Cooking With Carol (John 6:24-35, 41-51)
* The Pray-er (James 5:13-20)
* Are You Calling Me? (Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-40)
… and many more! -
Old Wine In New Skins 2
$16.95Add to cartAcross the broad spectrum of the Christian faith, worship services are in transition. There is a richness of expression in traditional worship structures that needs to be maintained, yet there is a vitality and joy in contemporary praise celebrations that is an essential part of the Christian spirit. But whatever the style of service, whether it’s traditional, contemporary, or “blended,” meaningful worship that makes a powerful impact is directly connected to our daily lives, addressing our hopes and fears.
Like the first volume of Old Wine In New Skins, this comprehensive collection provides plenty of resources for strengthening and reinvigorating your worship services. There are two years’ worth (104) of calls to worship in a wide variety of styles that can be used in almost any setting. Each weaves together suggested hymns or praise songs with spoken material utilizing everyday language and images, creating a strong thematic thrust that truly prepares the congregation to stand before the Lord in praise and petition. There’s also a group of brief reflections that can be used as sermon illustrations, theme-setters for the service, or newsletter features.
-
Belonging To God
$44.00Add to cart1. Service For The Lord’s Day: Order With Liturgical Texts
2. Proclamation
3. Resources For The Liturgical Year
4. Special Occasions
5. Alternative Settings
6. Book And Music ResourcesAdditional Info
This exciting new resource for Presbyterian pastors, worship leaders, and educators demonstrates how to incorporate the new Belonging To God catechism into worship services-allowing for the full inclusion of children. The book provides prayers, calls to worship, baptismal resources, confirmation resources, graduation rites, and more, all based on the new children’s catechism. In addition, it includes suggestions for using the catechism in sermons-for children specifically and for the entire congregation-and offers bulletin suggestions, and annotated bibliography, and a comprehensive listing of other catechism resources. -
From Silence To Song
$12.00Add to cartPreface
1. The Problem Of Davidic Worship
2. According To The Pattern
3. Some For Priests And Levites
4. Sacrifices Of Praise
5. The Booth Of David
6. The Ends Of Song
Scripture IndexAdditional Info
The debate in many Reformed circles over worship music is only a small part of the larger question of Reformed liturgics. And dancing. All sides admit that the New Testament offers relatively little instruction on liturgy, and so the debate over the regulative principle continues with apparently little hope for resolution. In this study, Peter Leithart’s key insight reveals a prominent scriptural example of a liturgy that interprets God’s commands for worship in ways far more biblically grounded than traditional regulativism allows. King David’s tabernacle worship becomes a rich story, not only in respect to liturgical wisdom, but also to the significance of Zion in the fulfillments of the Christian era. -
Christian Worship In Reformed Churches Past And Present
$48.99Add to cart438 Pages
Additional Info
Worship renewal is now on the agenda of many Reformed churches, as the need for adaptation and new approaches is acutely felt all over. How can the church faithfully worship God in the midst of rapidly changing situations? How can it constructively relate to widely differing cultural contexts? What is its place in the wider ecumenical scene? In preparing a sweeping survey of Reformed worship across time and place, this volume provides some help to those engaged with vital questions like these.Written by theologians and liturgical scholars from a wide range of churches and countries, these chapters explore the history of Reformed worship on every continent from the sixteenth century to the present. Surveying the most significant developments in the growth of Reformed worship, the book identifies the major “ingredients” that make the Reformed worship tradition distinctive and highlights those aspects of Reformed worship that are particularly relevant to present efforts at renewal. Indeed, an important component of this book is the inclusion of “A Common Reflection on Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Today,” the result of a major consultation in January 2001 at the International Reformed Center John Knox.
Revealing the rich variety of forms and diversity of perspectives that have made and do make up Reformed worship worldwide, this volume will be a valuable resource for church and worship leaders both in and outside the Reformed family.
-
Lords Service : The Grace Of Covenant Renewal Worship
$25.00Add to cartIntroduction And Acknowledgments
PART I: The Divine Service Of Covenant Renewal: A Biblical AndTheological Orientation
PART II: The Lord’s Service Explained
PART III: Essays On Worship And Liturgical Theology
Finis Coronat OpusAdditional Info
Begun as a practical pastoral guide to worship, this book balances theory and praxis to create a compelling case for a biblical, aesthetic, and covenantal worship service as the place where the Triune God and His people renew the bonds of love and loyalty. Jeffrey Meyers begins laying out a case for a covenant renewal service by means of Old Testament sacrificial liturgics, biblical typology, and covenant theology. He then guides us through the stages of a covenant renewal liturgy, explaining from Scripture the meanings of each step of the service. The final section addresses miscellaneous issues in worship, such as the use of creeds, the “regulative principle,” and ministerial clothing. Jeffrey Meyers provides not only a compelling biblical, theological, and historical case for covenant renewal worship, but also shows that it is beautiful, profound, edifying and liberating.Jeffrey J. Meyers is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary and pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA), St. Louis, Missouri. He has a blog, but we have aesthetic complaints about the length of his URL.
-
Gather Into One Print On Demand Title
$33.99Add to cartOne of the benefits of the multicultural nature of Christianity has been the introduction of the Western church to worship music from around the world. However, while many songs from other parts of the world are now available in Western hymnal collections, little has been written to help church musicians and ministers understand, appreciate, and use these songs in worship. “Gather into One” fills this void.
In this volume C. Michael Hawn explores the work of five of the most influential global church musicians found in North American hymnals: Pablo Sosa (Argentina), I-to Loh (Taiwan), David Dargie (South Africa), Patrick Matsikenyiri (Zimbabwe), and John Bell (Scotland). Hawn discusses the biographical background of each of these composers and elucidates the meaning of their music within their respective cultures. Having studied global song himself on site throughout the world, Hawn sees this music as a valuable gift from other cultures to our own sung prayers that can broaden the ways we pray and sing together in corporate worship. His extensive research leads to some intriguing proposals, with Hawn encouraging diverse expressions of worship, endorsing the church musician as a worship “enlivener,” and making a case for “polyrhythmic worship” in our churches.
A unique resource, “Gather into One” demonstrates the spiritual riches to be gained through multicultural worship and makes a concrete contribution toward realizing the worldwide unity of the Christian church.
-
To God Alone Be Glory
$57.00Add to cartIn this highly useful text, the fruit of extensive study and research, Harold Daniels tells the fascinating story of the history of Reformed worship in America, from the 1600s to the present. He describes the development and objectives of the Book Of Common Worship and explores how the book itself serves as an agenda for liturgical reform within the church. In a substantive second part of the book, Daniels provides the sources of the prayers and other material used in the Book Of Common Worship. Persons involved in planning, presenting, studying, or teaching about Presbyterian worship will benefit greatly from having a copy of this comprehensive resource in their personal library.
-
Let Us Pray
$24.95Add to cartThis practical book for use in Reformed worship boasts a collection of highly engaging prayers written by current Presbyterian pastors and theologians. Unique amidst most prayer books, the language of these prayers is conversational in tone, rather than formal, and their concerns represent a diversity of approaches. Divided into sections by seasons of the liturgical year, Let Us Pray includes prayers of confession, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving, as well as assurances of pardon, litanies, and calls to worship.
-
1 Bread One Body
$29.00Add to cartAs a troubadour for global music and an instigator of cross-cultural worship for more than 15 years in a variety of denominational settings, including congregational, national, and international venues, Michael Hawn has observed many faithful people who find that a taste of Pentecost in worship is refreshing and invigorating. In One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship, Hawn seeks to help bridge the gap between the human tendency to prefer ethnic and cultural homogeneity in worship and the church’s mandate to offer a more diverse and inclusive experience. He offers a rainbow vision of the universal church where young and old joyfully and thoughtfully respond to the movement of God’s Spirit in multicultural worship.
Hawn and four colleagues from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas formed a diverse team in ethnicity, gender, academic field of study, and denominational affiliation to study four United Methodist congregations in the Dallas area that are grappling with cross-cultural ministry. Their four case studies illustrate both the pain and the possibilities encountered in capturing the Spirit of Pentecost in worship. Hawn also offers a concise and practical theological framework as well as numerous strategies and an extensive bibliography for implementing “culturally conscious worship.” This book is invaluable for congregations that want to undertake the hard work of cross-cultural worship. Foreword by Justo Gonzalez.
-
Serving In Your Church Music Ministry
$19.99Add to cartWorship is a slice of eternity that Christians can participate in on earth, and nothing can facilitate our experience of worship like music. This wise, concise guidebook will help you harness your God-given musical talent as a gift to the body of Christ, in a way that brings joy to both God’s heart and yours. This book discusses words of worship, planning for worship, serving with your voice, and much more.
-
Silver Screen Sacred Story
$26.00Add to cartOur culture has undergone a major shift: younger generations have less and less interest in the printed word as they become predominantly image oriented. In response, as congregations increasingly learn to be more sophisticated in using newer electronic technologies, they are finding themselves at different places in the quest to understand, acquire, manage, and benefit from the technology boom. Worship leaders in congregations already using some electronic media are realizing that they could be doing more with it, and are seeking new ideas. Congregational leaders scrambling to catch up with a worship committee that has decided it’s time for a change aren’t sure of the next steps. Or maybe there’s been a gift to the congregation to be spent on electronics, and no one is quite sure how best to use the money.
Michael Bausch’s book grows out of several years’ of conversation, personal experimentation, and experience with multimedia worship in one modest-size, small-town church, while also drawing on the experiences and work of other churches learning to use electronic media in worship.
Bausch balances concern for practical issues, such as finances and architecture, with attention to theological integrity and the challenges of sustaining media-enhanced worship. He skillfully shows how the artistic resources of the world around us can enhance our awareness of God’s presence in worship. Foreword by Doug Adams.
-
Great Worship Awakening
$30.00Add to cartIn this helpful (and much-needed) book, author Robb Redman-pastor, consultant, and educator-offers a unique insider’s explanation of the ins and outs of Christian worship trends. The book explores the four major developments that comprise what he calls the “worship awakening”: the seeker service movement, the “praise and worship” movement, the Christian worship music industry, and the liturgical renewal movement. Redman explains that these trends offer important examples and lessons for established churches. The Great Worship Awakening also includes helpful guidance for congregations who are considering making changes to their current worship style.
-
Future Of Protestant Worship
$25.00Add to cartOver the past several years churches have engaged in an ongoing debate between two different styles of worship, loosely categorized as traditional and contemporary. Here, professor and longtime pastor Ronald Byars argues that many of the differences between the two styles are superficial–and that ultimately both styles embrace the same anthropocentric worldview that grew out of the Enlightenment. Authentic worship, he challenges, is theocentric, not anthropocentric, and therefore worship can and must be both responsive to contemporary culture and grounded in history and tradition. The answer to the debate is not found in pleasing congregants but in exploring worship that is biblical, that honors our communion with the saints, and that takes seriously the ways that our culture is reshaping us. Byars concludes with a narrative description of a Protestant worship service that is both authentic and postmodern.
-
Worship By The Book
$24.99Add to cartToday’s believers gather on Sundays just as they always have—but what should biblical worship look like in the 21st century? The authors explore how creative, biblically sound, and spiritually rewarding worship unfolds in the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition, the liturgical practices of the Anglican/Episcopal church, and the “free church” perspective. Includes sample services.
-
Worship In The Melting Pot
$11.99Add to cartNew trends in worship have shaken traditional concepts and attitudes, giving rise to much heart-searching and a flurry of books. Is it all just a matter of generation and taste? Are the traditions of today only the innovations of yesterday?
This lively and clearly reasoned book focuses on four crucial principles of worship laid down by Christ and strongly re-affirmed at the Reformation. These central pillars are rapidly passing out of sight today, yet it is surely by these that all new ideas should be assessed.Here also is a fascinating view of how they worshipped in Bible times, including the Old Testament rules for the use of instruments, and New Testament light on all the elements of worship normative for today.
‘Worship in the Melting Pot’ has instantly become core reading among British evanglical pastors and lay people. Searching and challenging; dealing with principles not personalities.
-
Call To Worship
$13.95Add to cartBusy pastors and worship leaders are always searching for worship elements that underline the scripture passages and provide a unifying theme. A Call To Worship answers that need, supplying a range of calls to worship, prayers, and litanies for each Sunday, all based on the readings for Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. A special feature is a weekly “childrens” benediction” that summarizes the day’s theme in a brief phrase that young people can understand and repeat with the congregation. A Call To Worship is a valuable library of resources that you’ll want to have right at your fingertips.
-
Lectionary Worship Aids Series 6 Cycle B
$20.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship Sunday after Sunday is a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this all-new edition of a favorite CSS reference. It’s a handy, easy-to-use resource with several passages for every Sunday and major observance in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. For each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text there’s a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, and suggested hymns. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for greating sincerely reverent, meaningful worship.
-
Worship Workshop : Creative Ways To Design Worship Together
$20.99Add to cartBreak out of the traditional worship box with this “seminar in a book.” You and your staff will learn how to evaluate your current services and get more people involved in the planning process; explore liturgical history and various forms of congregational praise; and discover ways of using the arts and artists to create meaningful, memorable worship experiences.
-
Worship
$35.00Add to cartHughes Oliphant Old masterfully summarizes the worship of Israel and the early church and traces the development of worship through the period of the Reformation. He provides a sterling historical study that will be highly useful for pastors and church study groups as well as for scholars and students interested in Reformed worship. Old includes chapters on baptism, the Lord’s Day, the ministry of praise, the ministry of the Word, the ministry of prayer, the Lord’s Supper, daily prayer, and alms. His concluding chapter on “Tradition and Practice” focuses on how the Reformed tradition of worship should shape our current practice and on what the Reformed liturgical heritage has to offer American Protestants today. An extensive bibliography of resources for the study of Reformed worship adds to the value of this book
-
Soaring Where Christ Has Led
$30.95Add to cartBelieving that Christian worship should be both exciting and stimulating and respectful of God and worshipers and liturgical traditions, Dick Avery and Don Marsh have put their considerable talents together to bring you ideas and music that make worship soar. As you read these groundbreaking ideas tailored to the seasons of the church year, you’ll find yourself saying, “Yes! YES! YES!” — and you’ll be eager to put them in place with your congregation.
Everything Avery and Marsh describe in this remarkable volume has been done successfully in their congregation at the regular Sunday morning service of worship, so you will find no off-the-wall suggestions pushed for mere novelty’s sake or just to “shake things up.” Rather, every principle, every suggestion, every idea has a purpose and goal befitting the Gospel and designed to help worshipers tune in to the mighty Lord of All.
With all of this plus several samples of original Avery & Marsh music, written especially for Sunday morning worship, Soaring Where Christ Has Led is a resource you will use week after week in planning worship services that delight congregations, honor God with momentous expressions of joy, and teach the way of Christ in today’s world.
Nationally renowned for their creative worship celebrations, Richard Avery and Donald Marsh were colleagues in ministry for 40 years at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Jervis, New York, where Avery served as pastor and Marsh as choirmaster (directing 3 choirs) and director of arts (producing 83 major plays and working with educational projects). They have collaborated in composing hymns, songs, and anthems, of which more than 150 have been published. During the last 30 years they have led regional and national church assemblies, conferences, and workshops on worship, music, and drama for many denominations and in virtually all 50 states.
A native of California, Avery is a graduate of the University of Redlands and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Marsh has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston, and worked for 17 years in New York’s music and theater world as a composer, choreographer, pianist, and actor. Avery and Marsh continue their collaboration in composing for the church and in leading special liturgical and musical events while living in retirement in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
-
Worship Aids Series 1 Year 1
$18.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship Sunday after Sunday is a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this handy, easy-to-use resource with several prayers and a worship theme for every Sunday throughout the year. Each week’s material includes three scripture texts, with a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, and suggested hymns relating to each passage. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for creating sincerely reverent, meaningful worship.
“The creative task of a worship leader requires useful resources, both practical and spiritual, for use in public worship as well as personal devotions. This volume provides a source for meditation, prayer, and fellowship with God and the people of God. The genius of the book is couched in the connection Kirkland makes between his own spirituality, the poetry of the biblical texts, and the spiritual quest of the worshiper and the worship leader.”
Ernest S. Lyght
United Methodist Bishop
New York, New York
“Every busy pastor appreciates well-organized and theologically sound help when planning worship each week. Kirkland’s vast pastoral experience and deep spiritual commitment can greatly enhance worship in our congregations. Worship Aids will prove to be a very useful tool in every pastor’s study.”
F. Herbert Skeete
United Methodist Bishop Emeritus
Riverdale, New York -
Age Of The Reformation
$55.99Add to cartHughes Oliphant Old’s survey of preaching throughout the history of the Christian church has been heralded as a monumental achievement. This fourth volume of Old’s history brings the story of preaching up through the Protestant Reformation to the end of the seventeenth century.
This is the pivotal volume in Old’s project because it covers not only what the Reformers preached but also their reform of preaching itself. Luther made a clear break with the preaching traditions of the Middle Ages, while figures like Bucer and Calvin developed a strong expository approach to preaching. Old traces the main events and people involved in the development of distinctly Protestant forms of preaching, giving due attention to how and in what sense preaching was itself an act of worship.
-
Public Reading Of Scripture
$20.99Add to cartThe reading of Scripture holds a central place in Christian worship. Every week the Word of God becomes flesh again as the words of the biblical text are read aloud. Those who take on the responsibility of reading Scripture in public do so knowing its importance, but rarely having the change to train in how to do it better. Most readers have never been given the opportunity to consider how each act of public reading of Scripture is an interpretation of the text, nor have they been given the tools for an effective and faithful reading performance. The handbook begins with a brief overview of the meaning and importance of the spoken word in worship. He then goes on to provide practical, detailed instructions on how to understand the text for reading. The book concludes with several appendices, including a pronunciation guide for biblical words and an annotated bibliography that points readers in the direction of further study.
-
Silent Songs Of Worship
$15.99Add to cart19
Additional Info
“For several years prior to beginning this text, I had experienced an inward ‘wince’ over the pride I saw in myself as a trained musician and worship leader. Each time I received praise from others for the work I was doing, my spirit chafed. Just about the time I began to be able to verbalize my interior discomfort, I was assigned to teach a class on Moses’ Tabernacle at a Bible college where I was on staff. In my preparation to teach this class, I began to perceive God’s idea of worship. To my surprise, I found that worship from God’s perspective has nothing to do with musical excellence. God’s ultimate intention for worship has little to do with audible music at all, rather it is to create the music of His Presence within us. God wants you and I to reverberate with His inaudible music. As I studied Moses’ Tabernacle, I began to hear new songs, silent songs. Though previously I had always been the ‘composer’ of my own worship expression to God, I was awestruck to discover that this ‘absent-of-noise’ music being written within me was both from God and to God.” -
Symbols Of The Christian Faith
$23.99Add to cartSymbols of the Christian Faith is an illustrated guide to the major visual symbols used by the Christian church throughout history. These stylized illustrations, designed by artist Alva William Steffler, are intended to provide usable, up-to-date resources for contemporary church worship and Christian education. Throughout church history symbols have been used to aid worship and to communicate difficult spiritual ideas. Steffler here collects these symbols, from early Christian catacomb art to the present, offering fresh graphic interpretations of old visual forms. The accompanying text notes the biblical sources for the various symbols and traces their use in church tradition and their links to Greco-Roman culture. Extensive glossaries and indexes round out the book.
-
Laity Lifelines
$12.95Add to cart“Help! It’s Laity Sunday! What shall we do?” That panicked call is a familiar one, particularly in small and midsize congregations, on those occasions when lay members “take over” the service. It can be overwhelming for people who aren’t used to the planning and production of an entire service. Laity Lifelines offers four complete, easy-to-produce services that are just what’s needed when worshipers find themselves in charge on Sunday morning. Each imaginative service includes prayers, responses, a children’s sermon, suggested music, and a script for the service with prop lists and staging instructions. There’s even a form for your bulletin! So panic no longer – these “instant” worship experiences allow for maximum participation and celebration with a minimum amount of headache. It’s a great way to build a sense of unity and purpose as members of Christ’s church.
-
Worship Innovations 2
$23.95Add to cartIn Worship Innovations: Easy Bible Drama, you will meet Bible persons just outside their recorded stories. Listen to Sarah and Isaac on the evening he returns from Mt. Moriah; watch Joseph (in Potiphar’s jail) confront Satan about whether integrity pays. Agonize with Anne (the mother of Mary) as she sends her daughter off to register for taxes in Bethlehem; hear the private conversation of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea following Nicodemus’ secret meeting with Jesus.
Each of these fifteen sketches raises issues and questions designed to take readers deeper into a study of the Bible story itself. They can form the heart of a dynamic worship service, inspire a sermon, brighten a Bible study, or energize a personal walk in the word of God. Also included is “Everything You Need To Know About Easy Bible Drama,” a chapter of “how-to’s” for any church that wants to initiate the use of drama in worship.
-
Faithful Men Of God
$7.95Add to cartThese six monologues are accompanied by a worship service which includes a call to worship, scripture readings, a pastoral prayer, and suggested hymns.
Monologues include:
Noah
Abraham
Joseph
Moses
A Wise Man
ChuzaThe script is fascinating and fast-paced from the start: “I was considered strange at best and at times mentally ill, I suppose.” (Noah)
This series will be useful for any season and in a variety of ways: Lenten services, retreats, summer worship series, or high school or adult education classes.
-
Praise And Worship Team Instant Tune Up
$19.99Add to cartWritten for both volunteer and staff church worship leaders and musicians, this easy-to-understand resource provides straightforward, practical advice on ways to upgrade a music team’s sound and ministry. Many churches using contemporary Christian music formats in their worship services (the number of churches is growing every day) are led by highly motivated yet nonprofessional music leaders. They want to re-create the sound, feel, and flow they hear on popular Praise and Worship CDs, but they don’t know how to make that happen. They often feel frustrated with long, unfocused rehearsals that result in a thin, insubstantial sound.
-
People Vs Judas Iscariot The Punishment Phase
$11.95Add to cartWritten in an easy-to-present format, this captivating five-part series takes place in a courtroom, as attorneys present evidence based upon the Bible and tradition. Witnesses who are “subpoenaed” to testify include Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene.
The People vs. Judas Iscariot is a captivating five-part series for Lenten worship or group discussion. Detailed worship bulletins with an order of service are provided for each of the five presentations.
The People vs. Judas Iscariot is written in an easy-to-present format (no memorization required) and includes scripture readings that follow carefully defined themes. The homily takes the shape of a court hearing in which Judas undergoes his punishment phase. Prosecution and defense attorneys attempt to sway the judge and congregation with evidence based upon the Bible and tradition. Various witnesses are “subpoenaed” to testify, including Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, and others.
-
When Its Twilight Time
$14.95Add to cartThis book offers 30 meditations and complete orders of worship for use by clergy or lay persons at retirement centers. Each service includes and opening prayer, suggested scripture, hymns, easy-to-present meditations and appropriate closings. Along with 26 topically-based services, this volume features worship outlines for Easter, communion, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Worship themes include:
* If We Are Dreamers
* The Best Surprises
* The Larger Design For Living -
18 Special Worship Celebrations
$13.95Add to cartGod is constantly adding ingredients to our life of faith and creating a wonderful mixture of faith, hope and trust in Jesus. (from A Feast Of Worship)
As a quilt wraps us up in the warmth of its cover, we thank God and mothers for the warmth of their love. (from A Special Youth Service For Mother’s Day)
18 Special Worship Celebrations is a collection of worship resources that enhance the life of any congregation. It follows the style of The Weaving Of Hearts, the author’s popular first book of worship resources.
Themes include:
Morning devotional service
Memorial Day observance
Celebration of baptism
Installation of pastor
All Saints’ Day
and 13 others -
Lectionary Worship Aids Series 6 Cycle A
$30.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship Sunday after Sunday can be a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this all-new edition of a favorite CSS reference. It’s a handy, easy-to-use resource with several prayers and a worship theme relating to the assigned scriptural passages for every Sunday and major observance in Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. For each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text there’s a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, an offertory prayer, and suggested hymns. But that’s not all: each day’s material also includes the appointed psalm, words of assurance, a pastoral prayer, and a benediction. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for creating sincerely reverent and more meaningful worship.
-
Lectionary Worship Workbook Series 3 Cycle A (Workbook)
$30.95Add to cartIf you want to make your Sunday morning services come alive, this remarkably inventive volume is exactly what you’ve been searching for. It’s a terrific library of resources that takes the weekly lectionary texts and puts them into the mouths, ears, and hearts of the people. For each week there’s a complete selection of written liturgical material (calls to worship, litanies, prayers, and benedictions) to supplement and strengthen your worship planning — all specifically tailored to the day’s scripture readings. But that’s not all! There’s also a wealth of musical suggestions, including hymns chosen from a wide variety of denominational hymnals, psalm settings, and appropriate anthems for the choir. You’ll even find ideas that draw upon the other creative arts (dance, art, drama) to glorify God and enhance worship. This is an outstanding exegesis of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving and Schifrin’s fertile imagination produces practical worship material that engages the congregation and encourages active participation.
-
Come Let Us Worship
$21.95Add to cartArranged according to the seasons of the church year, this volume presents several worship aids for every Sunday: a call to worship, and invocation, a ritual of friendship, an offertory sentence and prayer, a benediction, and a pastoral prayer. Each is designed to make the Sunday morning worship experience meaningful and uplifting.
-
Onward Through The Fog
$9.95Add to cartThe Sundays of Lent don’t have to be boring! Follow the lectionary and provide your congregation with exciting worship experiences by using these positive yet sensitive dialogue sermons based on Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Wit and scripture are combined to encourage Christian growth and prod listeners into making a personal commitment. In addition to six sermon dialogues, worship planning aids are included for each Sunday, along with an Ash Wednesday worship service.
In addition to six sermon dialogues, worship planning aids are included for each Sunday, plus an Ash Wednesday worship service with the theme-setting sermon, “Onward! Through The Fog!”
-
Lenten Resources For Worship Leaders
$12.95Add to cartThese field-tested materials represent the creative effort of many denominations. Each includes ideas for preparation, items needed, suggestions for use, number of parts, and the time for best use.
This complete Lenten volume for busy ministers includes:
Shadows Around The Cross: A Tenebrae
A Good Friday Vigil
The Service Of Diminishing Lights — for Sundays in Lent
Justified By Greed: Monologue Of A Pharisee — for Lent
The Passover Haggadah: A Traditional Seder Service
Litany For Forgiveness
Litany For Palm Sunday
Litany For Easter
Meditation: Forgiveness Is Peace
Meditation: You Make The Difference
Litany Of Confession
Litany For Peace -
Advent Conversations
$7.95Add to cartIf you’re looking for a fresh way to make lighting the Advent wreath a meaningful and relevant part of the worship service, this is just what you need. Richard Hull has written brief conversational dialogues that relate the wisdom of the prophets found in the Advent lectionary readings to modern life. In each “conversation” two people reflect on the assigned reading and talk about life and faith, leading to the lighting of the candles. The presentations are accompanied by an informative essay explaining the background and history of the Advent wreath. Covering all three lectionary cycles, this is an excellent resource for any size congregation — and they’re also great for devotional use by families in the home. Best of all, the informal tone of the writing will make worshipers feel like participants instead of observers. Use these dialogues to discover ancient truth in a contemporary setting.
-
Tenebrae For Modern Times
$7.95Add to cartTenebrae For Modern Times combines scripture, contemporary language, and prose poetry in an innovative setting. Within the framework of a standard worship service, short reflections by six apostles are echoed by the musings of six contemporary people with similar concerns. This juxtaposition reveals that little has changed in almost 2000 years – there are still taxes to pay and family situations to deal with. Questions central to our lives are addressed: “How do I find time for my family?” “How can I find time for church work?” and “How can I bring God into my life?” The service does not require a sermon, and there are suggested hymns and choral anthems for the church musician. The format allows for participation by many readers, yet the service is very adaptable for use by small congregations. No props or costumes are required, though the service may be performed in costume if desired. This truly distinctive Good Friday resource combines the past, present, and future into a poignant worship experience. Good Friday is an important day in the lives of Christians, and Marie Asner’s Tenebrae For Modern Times is a powerful way to make that day significant and meaningful in our lives. She causes us to think deeply about our own relationship with the Lord with her references to Jesus’ disciples as well as modern people who struggle. Each of us will be touched and changed by her inspired writings.
-
Attitude Adjustments
$9.95Add to cartThese four playlets treat serious subjects in a thought-provoking yet humorous manner. Each one is followed by a suggested order of worship, prayer, litany, and “meditation.” The subjects covered are: Greed, Pride, Guilt, and Forgiveness.
They are excellent resources for:
Retreats
Seminars
Youth meetings
Men’s or women’s gatheringsThis resource will be helpful in every church library or reference shelf.
-
Every Knee Shall Bow
$7.95Add to cartThe scene for this Christmas play and worship service is a familiar one: a nativity display in a town square. As different individuals or families approach the manger scene they hear the voice of God speaking his words of truth, encouragement, and hope to their own unique needs and circumstances. When the members of your congregation hear God’s message to these individuals, they will hear God speaking to them as well. The service includes the congregational singing of familiar Christmas carols.
-
Chrismons They Point To Jesus
$8.95Add to cartThis book provides patterns, instructions and background information for twenty different Chrismons, or “monograms of Christ.” It also includes a church program for presenting and explaining the meanings of these Christian symbols. The program includes children and adults and incoorporates the singing of the Christmas hymns.
-
Lite Worship Services For Advent And Christmas
$8.95Add to cartPopular CSS author Cynthia Cowen returns with three more imaginative programs that will spice up the Advent/Christmas season for any size congregation. Prepare Your Heart For Christmas is a service of carols and reflections that’s perfect for a midweek Advent program. Designed as a youth program, Advent Bells includes a brief skit with bell ringers and unique chorus songs. We Welcome The Light Of Christmas is a memorable family service for Christmas Eve with a humorous sketch about the Good News and a lost Frisbee which has turned into the Christmas star.
-
Through The Eyes Of A Child
$12.95Add to cartThe dialogues in this resource are designed for use between a youth and an adult (pastor, parent, or youth leader). Six bulletin formats are included with dialogue scripts.
Worship themes are:
Advent Past, Present, and Future
Jesus Came To Earth
Jesus Will Come Again
Lord Jesus, Quickly Come
Through The Eyes Of A Child (Christmas dialogue)
Through The Eyes Of A Child (Epiphany dialogue) -
Creating Gods Family In Christmas
$7.95Add to cartThe traditional children’s pageant comes together with Christmas scripture lessons, hymns, and other elements of a worship service. The program culminates with the completion of a “living” creche, gradually built throughout the ceremony. Among the very practical features this resource offers are “Leader’s Helps” and a sample bulletin format. No memorization of lines is required. The only setting required is a simple backdrop and manger.
Here is a family Christmas worship resource that provides opportunities to involve children from pre-kindergarten on up.
Included are:
Call to Worship
Christmas hymns
The Christmas scripture lessons
Age group presentations from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade
A suggested bulletin layout
Leader’s helps -
Lost In Wonder Love And Praise
$22.99Add to cartThis collection of prayers for public worship provides the worship leader a superb resource for all occasions of prayer in a worship service; everything from calls to worship to prayers of confession and communion are here. Any congregation will be more in tune with the Spirit of God and more positioned to pray with minimal prompting once these prayers from John Killinger have caused its worshipers, over several months, to risk being lost in God.
-
Worship Innovations 1
$22.95Add to cartBeginning with a step-by-step guide for initiating a “Hanging the Greens” celebration, Janet Burton offers nine creative, easy-to-produce programs in which all ages of the church family can participate in the process of decorating worship areas for the Advent and Christmas seasons. She also includes five plans for breathing new life into using the Advent wreath. Best of all, these practical ideas are very flexible and easily adapted to fit the worship style of almost any congregation.
-
2 Good Friday Tenebrae Services
$9.95Add to cartThese services can be used by any number of participants, and include an order of service. Paradoxes Of The Passion examines the circumstances leading up to the crucifixion of an itinerant preacher from Galilee. What Shall I Do, Then, With Jesus Who Is Called Christ? brings us face to face with Pilate’s question that has echoed down the centuries.
Each of the Tenebrae services in this booklet can be used by any number of participants. An order of service for your bulletin preparations is also included.
Paradoxes Of The Passion brings to the worshiping congregation the circumstances leading up to the crucifixion of an itinerant preacher from Galilee who was no less than the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. The seven paradoxes are interspersed with hymns and prayers.
What Shall I Do, Then, With Jesus Who Is Called Christ? To Pilate’s surprise the crowd sought freedom for the murderer Barabbas rather than for Jesus. Pilate then asked the question that has echoed down the centuries to every man, woman, and child who has ever heard the Gospel: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” In this thought-provoking Good Friday Tenebrae service, Douglas Meyer explores how various key characters in the Passion story answered that question. Then he considers how The person in the pew answers that question today.
-
2 Tenebrae Readings And Services
$7.95Add to cartTwo Tenebrae Readings And Services provides pastors and congregations with dramatic ways to remember the Passion of the Lord.
Tenebrae I – 9 reading parts
Tenebrae II – 12 reading partsParts are simple enough for both young people and adults. They are creatively drawn from the Bible narratives and present realistic human responses from those who would be his disciples.
These resources require very little preparation. They were conducted in the author’s congregation by calling the readers together an hour before the service.
-
Carpenters Child
$7.95Add to cartThis Christmas Eve service centers on the story of Leah, a young girl from Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. It is a story of seeming tragedy, despair and restored hope — of a loving daughter, her carpenter father, and the trials they face when he is branded a leper. It could be argued that the title should be The Carpenter’s Children because it refers not only to Leah, but also to the infant Messiah and all people of Christ.
The entire service is about 45-60 minutes in length depending on optional inclusions (such as solos or choir anthems) and can be done very effectively by one liturgist. It can also be split into two or three parts and performed as a readers’ theater, or with characters silently acting out the story as it is being narrated.
A full order of worship, staging instructions, a “children’s moment,” and production and lighting suggestions accompany the story of The Carpenter’s Child.
-
Worship : Discovering What Scripture Says (Student/Study Guide)
$9.99Add to cartWe were born to worship, yet we often feel inadequate to approach an almighty God. These studies will help you understand what the Scriptures teach about worshiping “in spirit and in truth.” You’ll discover that in a real sense, all of life is worship. And worship is the one activity of our lives that will last forever!
-
Journey To Jesus
$29.99Add to cartIn this book, Robert Webber proposes an alternative: a model of worship that emphasizes the fact that those who come to worship are at very different points in their spiritual lives. Rather than ignore these differences or gear all worship to those already established in the faith, Webber argues that churches should openly recognize the stages of faith through which their members are passing, structure their worship and ministry to celebrate these stages, and openly encourage Christians to move from spiriual infancy to maturity in Christ.
-
Handbook For Multi Sensory Worship 2
$36.99Add to cartWidely known for their innovative use of multimedia elements in worship, Kim Miller and worship team of Ginghamsburg Church provide more practical guidance for planning and conducting contemporary worship celebrations. Through the skillful blending of contemporary media such as music, film, and drama with the timeless truths and stories of the Bible, these celebrations help postmodern persons – particularly those who have little or no experience with the Christian faith – experience God’s love and become faithful followers. Included in this second volume are thirty new and complete worship celebrations, each organized around a central metaphor and theme designed to articulate the needs of and connect with the life experiences of the congregation.
-
Let The Whole Church Say Amen
$22.99Add to cartCrafting prayers for Sunday worship, weddings, or secular public events is not as easy as it looks. Stookey takes much of the mystery out of the process, reflects on the nature of prayer—its forms, mechanics, and vocabulary—then provides concrete exercises for editing your own prayers
-
Stones For Bread
$36.00Add to cartWith a proactive and engaging style, Daniel Frankforter explores the consequences of the tendency by many Protestant congregations to adopt new, ” contemporary” styles of worship. With membership and attendance declining, many churches are revamping their worship services to attract or keep participants, but too often the adaptation becomes nothing more than a Spirit-less reflection of popular culture. Stones for Bread presents some of the different programs for “marketing” worship, clarifies the implications for the integrity of a church’s mission and spiritual life, and proposes some alternative means for rejuvenating worship.
-
Beyond The Worship Wars
$28.00Add to cartAlmost every congregation is experiencing tension over worship. Many congregations have been participating in a renaissance of worship known as the “liturgical movement” and have reclaimed worship forms that have served the church for centuries. Yet because the church today is operating in a radically changed cultural environment, many people in our society do not understand liturgical worship and thus we must find language, music, themes, and images that speak to the unchurched, spiritually seeking person.
In Beyond the Worship Wars, Thomas G. Long discusses the nine characteristics of vital and faithful worship practiced by a wide range of “third-way” congregations-all characteristics that make for vital and faithful worship.
-
Reformed Worship
$30.00Add to cart14 Chapters
Additional Info
Pastors, seminarians, and worship leaders often find themselves in a quandary when it comes to worship planning. At one end of the spectrum are congregations that worship in ways that may be amusing, interesting, and entertaining but lack a sense of tradition. At the other end are congregations that go through the motions of repeating inherited patterns of worship, even when those patterns have lost their meaning or are boring or trivial. Finding ways to weave together the tradition inherited from the past and the culture of a particular community can be a difficult task. But the Reformed tradition has, from its beginning, tried to take both tradition and local culture equally seriously.Here, is discussions on the history of Christian worship; baptism; the Lord’s Supper; the Service for the Lord’s Day; music; prayer; the setting for worship; the church year; weddings, funerals, and other special occasions for worship; and worship style, Howard Rice and James Huffstrutler do what no other book does-they explain the Reformed liturgical tradition and give applications to actual settings of worship in congregational life.
-
Blueprints For Worship
$23.99Add to cart165 Pages
Additional Info
This book is intended to provide practical assistance for pastors, musicians, and others who plan and lead worship in local congregations. Based upon the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal, the 1992 United Methodist Book of Worship, and the 1992 Revised Common Lectionary, this book will enable you to create, design, build, and lead effective worship experiences in your local congregation. Through a worksheet format that culls information and references from the sources mentioned above, you’ll be able to more effectively integrate preaching, music, movement, and environment. -
Advent Worship Service
$7.95Add to cartBegin your celebration of the Advent season with this meaningful program that weaves together informative readings, scripture, and familiar hymns with the lighting of the Advent wreath and the “hanging of the greens.” It’s a wonderfully creative way to have members of the congregation participate in decorating the sanctuary while at the same time learning about the symbols of the season. A particularly special touch is the interpretive movement provided for “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The service requires four readers as well as individuals or groups to place the various items.
While it is most appropriate for use in its entirety early in the season, An Advent Worship Service may also be excerpted for use throughout Advent building up to the Christmas Eve service. Worship leaders will find this special program to be a valuable resource in planning services to celebrate the coming of our Savior.
-
Undivided Soul : Helping Congregations Connect Body And Spirit
$25.99Add to cartIn The Undivided Soul: Helping Congregations Connect Body and Spirit, Cheryl Kirk-Duggan offers a worship, study, and sermon planning resource containing meditations, responsive readings, poems, and small-group leaders. This volume is designed as a year-long teaching/learning guide. Each chapter explores various aspects of faith, health, and spirituality. The book can be used as a worship resource for Sunday worship, retreats, or other gatherings; it can be used as a devotional resource for small groups; it can be a study guide for group study or retreats. This resource is designed to help persons and groups explore the relationship between the faith journey, physical bodies, and spiritual discipline.
-
Making Room At The Table
$38.00Add to cart1. Biblical Foundations For Multicultural Worship
2. Theological Foundations For Multicultural Worship
3. Toward Multicultural Worship TodayAdditional Info
The table can be an empowering place for building community; after all, it is at meals that families gather, reunions are held, events are celebrated, and stories are shared. To be excluded from the table often reflects the painful fracturing of a community.Making Room at the Table explores the multicultural challenges facing the contemporary church. Using the image of the table as the central metaphor for worship, the writers strive to make worship more relevant to, and inclusive of, groups that have often been excluded – youth, ethnic minorities, and other marginalized people.
Rather than allow multiculturalism to be a dividing ground form the church today, this book seeks to bridge the gaps and unite all people in worship without threatening their personal or cultural uniqueness. Let the table be open, and let the ensuing conversation across the table transform the community.
-
Real Worship : Playground Battleground Or Holy Ground (Reprinted)
$17.00Add to cartWith 50,000 copies sold, the first edition of Real Worship helped many pastors and worship leaders make biblical sense in the controversy surrounding worship and worship styles. This second edition contains new chapters on taking worship seriously, planning balanced worship, and tradition in worship. A question-and-answer section, a bibliography, and a Scripture index have also been added.
While many books deal with how to worship, they fail to give a definition of true worship. Warren Wiersbe defines what worship is and the four elements it involves: wonder, witness, warfare, and wisdom. As he discusses such controversial issues as art, liturgy, worship styles, and music, Wiersbe keeps the focus on God and demonstrates the balance of worship for which every church should strive.
Real Worship is both biblically based and autobiographical, containing personal testimony, anecdotes, and illustrations from Wiersbe’s pastoral experience.
The first edition of this book was published by Thomas Nelson in 1986.
-
Culturally Conscious Worship
$23.99Add to cartBlack uses shared stories, blended music, and the arts to enliven worship in culturally and linguistically diverse congregations. She provides biblical and theological foundations and practical methods and models for creating culturally-conscious worship.
-
Praying Twice : The Music And Words Of Congregational Song
$52.00Add to cart1. “Through All The Changing Scenes Of Life”: Glimpses Of Congregational Song
2. “Rescue The Holy Pleasure”: Why Congregational Song Is Indispensable
3. “A More Profound Alleluia”: Encouraging The People’s Song
4. “Some Demand A Driving Beat”: Contemporary Worship Music
5. “And Speak Some Boundless Thing”: Assessing The Lyrics Of Congregational Song
6. “Sing Them Over Again To Me”: Refrains, Choruses, And Other People’s Songs
7. “Captured By Gender”: Chant And Ritual Song
8. “Such A Feast As Mends In Length”: Hymns As Poems Of Faith
9. “To Me, To All, Thy Bowels Move”: Why Do They Keep Changing The Good Old Hymns?
10. “Echoes Of The Gospel”: How Hymns Do TheologyAdditional Info
Renowned theologian and hymn writer Brian Wren explores here the theological significance of congregational singing, analyzes the importance of contemporary worship music, and explains the power of tune and text in the life and nurture of a congregation. Wren studies the lyrics of choruses, hymns, chants, and ritual songs, and identifies their importance as both poetry and communal utterances of theology. This is a valuable resource for church musicians, pastors, and other worship leaders. -
What Does The Lord Require
$20.99Add to cartCo-published with the Council for World Mission, this exciting new resource focuses on the theme of mission as it is expressed in worship and worked out in the life of the church. 150 original items from around the world include litanies and symbolic acts
-
Diverse Worship : African American Caribbean And Hispanic Perspectives
$30.99Add to cartIn this book Pedrito Maynard-Reid explores the multiethnic dimensions of worship by looking at three specific cultural contexts for worship–African-American, Caribbean and Hispanic. After surveying worship and culture through history, the author devotes a section to each of these three cultural contexts. In these sections worship traditions are colorfully described and characterized. Historical developement and change are explored. In each section we gain new perspective on what it means to worship God.
