Resource Browser Page
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| January 10, 2011 |
Worship PlaylistMusic, media, and the arts Maybe we need the reminder that worship isn’t about our individual preferences and our need for control. In worship God calls us to give our lives into his hands—the hands that are truly in control. Maybe it can remind us to look to God and ask, “What playlist do you have for me this week? What do you want me to hear?” |
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| December 3, 2010 |
Advent and Christmas Songs by Keith GettyMusic, media, and the arts When singing a hymn, it is often interesting to learn which came first, the text or the tune. And if written separately, who put them together? Those who write new songs for congregational worship fall into three main categories. |
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| November 24, 2010 |
Hymnal SurveyMusic, media, and the arts Excellent progress is being made on the development of the new Faith Alive hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, and we’re very excited about its prospects. As we work on fine-tuning some elements of this new hymnal, we could really use your input. Your responses to this short survey will help to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the many different congregations that will be using it. |
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| November 5, 2010 |
A Cloud of WitnessesWorship Protestants don’t like to separate the big-name “official” saints from the ordinary, garden-variety ones. We have our own hymn for the day, and it’s “For All the Saints.” After all, Paul addressed his letter to the Corinthians to the “saints” in Corinth, and then went on to castigate them for their heretical views and divisive behavior. We are all saints because we have been made holy in Christ, not because we have distinguished ourselves with holiness. |
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| October 11, 2010 |
We Are What We Sing: Searching for a Balanced DietPlanning Worship “We are what we eat.” Anyone who’s suffering the cumulative effect of too many ice cream sundaes knows that’s true. But when it comes to matters of spirituality and faith, I’d like to suggest, we are what we sing. |
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| September 7, 2010 |
Celebrating a New Season of NurtureOccasions and Themes, Planning Worship This kid-friendly litany is intended for use at the beginning of a new church school year. |
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| July 30, 2010 |
Remembering Baptisms: Living WetWorshiping Community More congregations are seeing baptism as a sacrament that begins a lifelong pilgrimage. This shift leads them to pay more attention to baptismal living in worship and daily life. |
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| July 16, 2010 |
My Grandmother Saved It, My Mother Threw It Away, and Now I'm Buying It BackMusic, media, and the arts We still need hymns in a postmodern world! In fact, the hymn tradition has tremendous things to offer the emerging generations—things they are really longing for and that are frequently lacking in the praise and chorus music so often marketed as “college worship.” |
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| May 3, 2010 |
How an Image Can MinisterMusic, media, and the arts Picture three people who’ve talked with the same newcomer. One may forget the person’s name but easily describe her appearance. Another will tell you about the woman’s history and who she is related to—but may be unable to recognize her when they meet again. And the third person may talk most about the conversation’s emotional vibes. |
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| May 3, 2010 |
Building a Worship Vocabulary of LamentWorship 101, Worshiping Community Put yourself in their shoes. The parents across the church aisle had no comment when reporters turned up at their door. Other church members had plenty to say (though not to those parents) about their son who died in a drug deal gone sour. |
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| May 3, 2010 |
Photography in Worship: Picturing God's CommunityMusic, media, and the arts, Planning Worship Now that so many church members have digital cameras and so many congregations can project images, the possibilities for using photography in worship have soared.
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| February 8, 2010 |
Sound Engineers: The Hidden Treasure of the Worship TeamMusic, media, and the arts As the church adjusts to changes in the surrounding culture, worship leaders are faced with the challenges of new technology. How is it best used, and who should be the ones using it? Often the person with the keys to the building is put in charge of the new sound system, regardless of his or her musical/technological skills or spiritual gifts. |
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| January 25, 2010 |
A Historic Order of WorshipPlanning Worship The following chart outlines a historic pattern of Christian worship. While most churches don’t use the exact wording found in this chart, there are thousands of churches on many continents that use a version of this pattern. |
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| January 19, 2010 |
Decisions for Lenten Worship PlanningOccasions and Themes, Planning Worship Your Lenten season will likely involve special worship efforts. Therefore, your worship planning will certainly require many decisions that involve advance planning and preparation. In an effort to help you anticipate these decisions, we list a number of questions and issues here. Other material in this archive |
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| January 15, 2010 |
Focus on What, not How, in Planning Worship VisualsMusic, media, and the arts If you’re wondering whether projected technology is all it can be in your congregation’s worship, maybe it’s time to rethink your approach. This is especially true if you’ve been treating the screen as solely the domain of the technology team. |
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| January 15, 2010 |
No Greater Text than Scripture for Worship SongsMusic, media, and the arts You intuitively know that words set to music sink in more deeply than plain text does. They become part of your muscle memory. That’s why the new hymnal Singing the New Testament is important. Its 260 songs directly quote or closely paraphrase Bible passages. |
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| January 15, 2010 |
Following Christ’s Example: Praying Psalms in WorshipPlanning Worship, Worshiping Community What do you say to family, friends, and team mates gathered to mourn a life cut short by cancer at age 16? When Jesse Leimbach died three years after being diagnosed with cancer, the people of Granite Springs Church in Lincoln, California, knew that pious clichés wouldn’t help. So they used the words God has given us all in the Psalms. |
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| January 12, 2010 |
How A Worship Space Affects Lord’s Supper PracticesWorshiping Community Let down and a little lonely. If that’s how you feel after communion, it’s possible that other worshipers in your church might also wonder after the Eucharist, “Is that all there is?” Rather than blame yourself or decide that communion is meaningless, consider whether your worship space sends a visual message that contradicts your theology of the Lord’s Supper. |
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| January 12, 2010 |
Making Baptism MemorableWorshiping Community As Christian Reformed congregations reclaim the importance of baptism, they’re making the sacrament multisensory and helping worshipers “live into” their baptisms. The desire to make baptism memorable can result in families hiring a photographer, choosing schmaltzy music, and catering a brunch. |
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| January 12, 2010 |
CRCNA Website One-Stop Resource IndexPlanning Worship The following is an emerging draft of all of the worship-related resources provided by the Christian Reformed Church and its agencies and educational institutions—and easy place to gain access to the audio files, bulletin covers, liturgies, videos, and publications that worship planners and leaders need to do their work well. We will be updating this document regularly. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| May 15, 2012 |
What Do You See?What about your worship space? Is it inviting? Does it reflect your congregation’s meaning of worship? Or is it “just a space?” |
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| May 1, 2012 |
Technology in Worship - Pros and ConsMusic, media, and the arts We all have technology in worship in some kind or another. What are the pros and cons of technology that we employ in our worship? These are things that I consider "toys in the toybox". What "toys" do you have? |
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| April 23, 2012 |
New Guide for WorshipWorship Hi. I am Kevin Soodsma and I’m the new guide for the Worship Network. I look forward to conversing with you over a few the many theological and practical topics in worship today. I’m excited to begin this opportunity to work and learn with and from you through the Worship Network. |
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| April 10, 2012 |
Avoid The Strike OutPlanning Worship Sometimes my job feels like I'm standing in a batting cage in full gear but Sundays come flying at me so fast and I just don’t know what to do with them. They keep coming regardless of what kind of week I’ve had or what season it is. |
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| March 26, 2012 |
Using Gifts and Planning WorshipPlanning Worship When we worship in community, we are blessed when we can engage the gifts and talents of a variety of people to lead various parts of the service. Some of our churches use multiple musicians, some engage the speaking gifts of liturgists to read scripture. |
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| March 12, 2012 |
Wesley's Method of Singing in ChurchMusic, media, and the arts We've argued for years about what to sing in our churches, but rarely talk about how to sing. Leave it to the Wesley brothers to describe a "method" of how to sing. Since Charles wrote hundreds of hymns and John was a minister, it’s fair to say that they knew a think or two about how to sing a song in church. Here are the singing rules credited to John Wesley: |
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| February 27, 2012 |
What Exactly is High Praise?Worship Several years ago, I heard the concept “high praise” at a prayer gathering, and it was the first time that I could remember that I had heard that term, at least the first time it registered. I tucked that thought in the back of my mind, and every once in a while would reflect on it. |
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| February 13, 2012 |
Worship in a WordOccasions and Themes Can you describe worship in a single word? In a high school class on worship, students were challenged to pick a single word that expresed their ideas of worship. Here’s what one of them said: |
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| January 31, 2012 |
Sharing SymposiumWorshiping Community If you attended Symposium, here is your opportunity to post a quick reflection or share an idea. If you didn't get to go--like me--here's your chance to step up to the bulletin board and read what others in our churches are learning and practicing. Let's learn and grow together! |
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| January 24, 2012 |
Calvin Symposium On Worship - Live WebcastMusic, media, and the arts, Occasions and Themes, Planning Worship The Calvin Symposium on Worship is a three-day conference sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching. This year the symposium will explore praying and worshiping through the psalms. |
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| January 17, 2012 |
On the Potter’s WheelWorshiping Community In our pious haste to assert that worship is all about God and not about us, are we missing out on what the Spirit is trying to do in our lives during times of worship? What does worship have to do with faith formation? |
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| December 26, 2011 |
Taking My PlaceMusic, media, and the arts I wish I could go to the Calvin Symposium on Worship this year. However--for a very good reason--my Elders have asked me to stay in Denver at the end of January. So, since I can't go, why don't you go in my place? Take good notes and post them back here so I don't miss out on this great conference. |
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| December 20, 2011 |
Tears at the MangerWorshiping Community On Christmas morning everyone will be dressed in their festive best, but look closely--the slightly curved lips and muttered “Merry Christmas” won’t disguise the well of tears barely held back. As we prepare to celebrate in worship, let's also bow in a prayer of hope for those who are in pain this season. |
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| December 13, 2011 |
Technology That Redeems DowntimeCommunication Today I'd like to direct you to an article from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship called "Technology that Redeems Downtime." The article gives examples of the ways you and your church can use technology to "support a lifestyle of worship." |
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| November 30, 2011 |
Where Does the Life Come From?Worship 101, Worshiping Community A friend commented on two worship services saying, "One was full of life, the other was not." It made me wonder where the life of worship comes from and how our worship services can be full of life regardless of the style. What brings life to worship and what drains our services |
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| November 18, 2011 |
Seeing the Good NewsPlanning Worship God used words and images to tell the story of his love and presence to his people. In many of our churches, we are comfortable using words in worship, but imagery seems more difficult. What are some of the images that can be used in worship to help convey the message of God |
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| November 7, 2011 |
Behind the Scenes on Christmas EveFaith Tradition, Occasions and Themes Christmas Eve is about… children, costumes, choirs, carols, candles and candy canes. One more ‘c’ word. Coordinators. Behind the scenes of our Christmas Eve pageants or dramas are volunteers or staff who have their own families and personal events to plan. They may have been practicing since September, only to... |
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| November 1, 2011 |
Come, You Thankful People, ComeOccasions and Themes Canadian Thanksgiving is barely passed and US Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Worship planners put so much work into helping other people give thanks during this season, but how good are we at being thankful both to God and to the many people who help us do our jobs? |
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| October 24, 2011 |
A View from the PewAnonymous comment cards that invite people to express their personal preferences in worship are actually encouraging the congregation to indulge in selfishness and sin. We need to find healthier ways to engage in conversation about worship. |
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| October 19, 2011 |
Reforming WorshipOccasions and Themes We CRC folk might hold tightly to our traditions, but one of our most treasured traditions is to change . . . to allow ourselves to be reformed, re-shaped, renewed by God in our personal lives and in our corporate worship. How does your congregation navigate worship changes? |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| February 12, 2010 |
Worship Planning GridsOccasions and Themes, Planning Worship Using these grids as models, you can list the basic sections of worship you use in a given service and articulate the theme of each section in light of a given service's topic or text. |
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| January 25, 2010 |
A Historic Order of WorshipPlanning Worship This link will take you to a brief article that outlines a historic pattern of Christian worship. While most churches don’t use the exact wording found in this chart, there are thousands of churches on many continents that use a version of this pattern. |
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| January 25, 2010 |
CRCNA Website One-Stop Resource IndexWorship The following is an emerging draft of all of the worship-related resources provided by the Christian Reformed Church and its agencies and educational institutions—and easy place to gain access to the audio files, bulletin covers, liturgies, videos, and publications that worship planners and leaders need to do their work well. We will be updating this document regularly. |
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| January 6, 2010 |
Hymnary.orgMusic, media, and the arts Hymnary.org is a new kind of online hymn index. Since its inception in 2007, its depth and power have drawn church musicians, hymnologists, and amateur hymn lovers alike. |
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| January 6, 2010 |
Synodical Faith Formation CommitteeWorshiping Community We are the Faith Formation Committee and we've been asked to study, to serve as a resource, and to engage congregations and classes in dialogue about current practices of baptism, the Lord's Supper, and profession of faith—with an eye toward deepening, revitalizing, and celebrating in community. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| April 28, 2010 |
The Text This WeekMusic, media, and the arts, Occasions and Themes |
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| January 6, 2010 |
Calvin Institute of Christian WorshipWorship The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship promotes the study of Christian worship and the renewal of worship in worshiping communities worldwide. Founded in 1997, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) is an interdisciplinary study and ministry center and partners with congregations, organizations, and publishers to further its mission. |
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| January 6, 2010 |
Ministry Resource CenterPlanning Worship The Ministry Resource Center (MRC) is a collection of practical resources for all aspects of congregational ministry and a permanent collection of Hekman Library. It serves as a collection of biblically and theologically sound resources for Calvin students serving in Christian ministry leadership positions, and for students in several grant-funded programs, as well as for seminarians, Calvin staff and faculty, and church leaders. |
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| January 6, 2010 |
Center for Excellence in PreachingPlanning Worship We've loaded this website with a battery of sermon resources and ideas and we are committed to keep adding new material constantly. Be sure routinely to check the "This Week" section as we will post fresh ideas for the upcoming Sunday as well as for the current season of the church year. |
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| January 5, 2010 |
Reformed WorshipWorship This site features more than 1,700 articles for planning and leading worship - including complete service plans, dramas, litanies, seasonal resources, and more. Browse by issue, subject, season, or search by keyword. |
