Resource Browser Page
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Average Rating | |
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| November 6, 2012 |
Lift Up Your HeartsMusic, media, and the arts, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community Perhaps it's time to expand our definition of hymnal, beyond the traditional thoughts. How about a hymnal on an ipad, on a computer, projected onto a screen in church, and yes, even a book I can hold in my hands, place on my piano at home, or write in as I read the texts for devotions? |
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| September 18, 2012 |
Being Creative Artistically & CollaborativelyMusic, media, and the arts, Worship, Occasions and Themes, Planning Worship, Worship 101, Worshiping Community Creating art is one of those areas in worship that has a tension of either being very good or not so good. And just like music, everyone has an opinion of what is good art. Artists of all kinds like to display everything they have and think it is necessary and great. On the other hand, the viewer (audience, congregation) might think differently. But the idea is that all is to the Glory of God (Soli Deo Gloria). |
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| August 28, 2012 |
The Lord's Supper - A Joyful Occasion?Worship, Occasions and Themes, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community Is the Lord's Supper a Joyful sacrament or a celebration of solemn reflection? Do we celebrate with Silver trays, or Common loaf and cup? Can we celebrate the Lord's Supper differently each time? |
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| July 31, 2012 |
Reading Scripture CreativelyWorship, Planning Worship, Worship 101 God's Word is central in worship, but how do we present God's Word? Is there other ways to read scripture during worship other than the text before the sermon? |
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| July 24, 2012 |
Dropping OutWorship 101, Worshiping Community Sometimes I wonder how much I get in the way during a worship service. Do I play too many notes? Should I let others take the lead? Should we sing acapella (without accompaniment)? A couple of weeks ago, I was playing from the organ, and I slowly dropped out and let the congregation sing. Yes, it is possible... |
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| June 26, 2012 |
Understanding and Participating in WorshipPlanning Worship, Worshiping Community Our “doing” worship involves many things, but essentially, allowing the congregation to participate fully in worship by singing, praying, giving of gifts, etc. What does it mean to be an active participant? Do we as worship leaders understand what the congregation’s role is in worship? |
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| June 19, 2012 |
RecyclingPlanning Worship What do people think when they pass by your church and happen to glance in the recycling bins or dumpsters? Say they picked up a bulletin. What would they think about the church upon first glance? Look over your order of worship with new eyes and see how it might appear to an un-churched person or someone ... |
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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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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| May 7, 2013 |
Time for An UpdateMusic, media, and the arts, Worship, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community Technology has a keen way of "updating" our life. A new and better program, an updated version of an old application, or a new device has come into the marketplace and has found a use in the world of worship. |
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| April 9, 2013 |
Theology and WorshipWorship Every week as worship planners, we look for the perfect songs, prayers, litanies, artwork, etc, that match or enhance the scripture text or sermon theme. But is that always necessary? Do we work too hard at being thematic? |
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| March 14, 2013 |
The Old Rugged CrossPastors There is, in a church we've been attending, a fairly significant chunk of history in the pew, two versions of the denomination's Psalter Hymnal. Still, yesterday, when we sang "The Old Rugged Cross," a hymn that must rank among the most popular of the 20th century, the pastor had to import it into the bulletin because neither Psalter had it. Weird, I thought. I wonder why not? |
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| March 5, 2013 |
Worship and DisabilitiesWorship, Worshiping Community Lately in our congregation, there have been many conversations about how we should respond to our members and guests who have a disability, both physical and mental. |
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| February 25, 2013 |
Creative Worship Visuals - Free Webinar, New BookMusic, media, and the arts Even though more than half of us are visual learners, much of our worship is still word-based. What will it take for you and your visual arts team to change that? Money? Time? Someone's approval? A little encouragement? We've got a webinar and book that will help you with at least one of these... |
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| January 29, 2013 |
Open Mic on the Worship SymposiumMusic, media, and the arts, Worship, Worshiping Community What are some of your thoughts if you attended this year's Worship Symposium? |
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| January 8, 2013 |
Take Time...Music, media, and the arts, Worship 101, Worshiping Community Taking time is easier said than done. Especially in the weekly life of worship, ministry, and leadership. |
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| December 18, 2012 |
Do We Hear Christmas Bells in Our Culture?Worship, Occasions and Themes, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community We in the United States are preparing and celebrating the season in the midst of fear, sorrow, and despair for our nation and our culture. Many are familiar with the Carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” it has a “ring” to it that invokes the spirit of the season. When we read the poem itself without the music, it lends us to believe that the author has a difficult time at this particular time of the year. |
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| December 4, 2012 |
Preparing for ChristmasWorship This season is like no other. The rush and hurry of preparing Advent and Chrsitmas services seems to go faster and faster. I seem to make the commitment of "starting earlier" next year in prepraring, but other things seem to get in the way. |
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| October 16, 2012 |
A Utility ManPlanning Worship Usually, a utility man is a player who does not get much attention as they are not great players who pile up gaudy stats. Indeed the phrase “jack-of-all trades, master of none” could be used. However, a utility man's value comes in their ability to fill in wherever needed. |
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| October 2, 2012 |
Working With OthersWorship, Occasions and Themes, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community Sometimes worship leaders get caught up in worship so much that we don’t look around us to see what else is going on in the life of the congregation. I’ve done that. I’ve had the attitude that worship is about God (which it is) but nothing else should interfere with that particular thing. There are other ministries in the life of the congregation that we need to emphasize or recognize in worship. |
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| September 4, 2012 |
How Cultural Are You?Worship, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community We live in North America. Therefore, our worship should only include the culture of North America, right? |
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| August 14, 2012 |
Celebrating BaptismWorship, Occasions and Themes, Planning Worship, Worshiping Community Does a baptism service become a "family service" where the participation comes from the family only and the congregation becomes spectators to an event.? Do we as a congregation have any part of the service? |
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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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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. |
