1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Preachers know that unless they receive fresh input from good resources, sooner or later their weekly output in the sermon will get thinner and thinner. But where are the solid resources on which the preacher can rely? What best practices exist to enrich preaching?
Join with singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken for contemplative songs and liturgical prayers, while making space within this worship service for both lament and joy.
In the age of the internet, we all have access to hundreds of thousands of songs. Hundreds more are written each week. There are dozens of remarkable songs written that are biblically faithful, musically excellent, theologically robust, liturgically fitting, and singable by ordinary people—but they can be hard to find!
This service features the inspiring prayers, songs, and readings from the African American worship tradition, past and present.
In 2017, churches around the world, both Protestant and Catholic, will mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. How we mark this milestone will say as much about us, and our own sense of identity, as it does about the events of five centuries ago.
A worship service from Symposium 2016 led by Frank A. Thomas, preaching, Isaiah 61
Sometimes the Bible rejoices when joined by song and sound! In this workshop, we experience a variety of simple ways music can help us receive the scripture in worship with our heads and our hearts.
Whether we know it or not, as worship leaders, we are pastors. The services we plan and lead have a formative effect on the worshipers with whom we gather weekly. The question is not if people are being formed by our leadership, but how.
Churches have a variety of faith forming activities. It can be difficult to see how they fit together to form the faith of young and older members of the congregation. Worship is one of the few activities that many churches do with all ages.
A discussion-based workshop to work toward establishing a framework for shaping the habits, practices, and formation of young worship leaders.
The remarkable story of Christianity's growth as a world religion has implications not only for mission work in the far corners of the globe but also for ministry in each local congregation.
This workshop presents an ethnographic study describing the experiences of stroke survivors in their church communities and two worship services planned for these participants.
