Resource Library

Round Two: Ordination Best Practices for Ministers, Elders, and Deacons

Our first roundup of ordination resources was so popular that we have now consulted five more experts from five more denominations. Their best practices will help you dig beneath the surface when you ordain or install ministers, elders, and deacons.

Feature Story | November 21, 2017

Faith Formation and Worship: A Worship Historian's View from the "End of the World"

Worship is a formative practice: through active engagement in liturgy, Christians are formed in a particular understanding of God, of others, and of themselves, and of what it means to live a Christian life in this world.

Video | June 30, 2017

Medieval Spirituality and Liturgy as a Source for Contemporary Worship

An annotated research guide from the field of history, exploring the relevance of medieval spirituality and liturgy for current worship practices.

Resource Guide | June 26, 2017

Philosophy and/of Worship

An annotated research guide from the field of philosophy, focusing on the 'liturgical turn' in Christian philosophy of religion.

Resource Guide | March 14, 2017

Designing Worship from the Bottom Up: Practical Ethnographic Tools for Worship Leaders

The “Faith and Work” movement has become popular in many churches in North America in recent years. Many have sought to bridge the gap between Sunday worship and Monday work by showing how Christian liturgy and theology affect how we approach our weekday work. But our weekday work also affects how we inhabit Sunday worship in profound ways, and those who lead and craft liturgies do well to be attentive to this reality.

Video | March 07, 2017

Why Youth Need to Be Leading Worship Regularly NOW

When congregations empower teenagers to use their gifts in meaningful ways over time, teens are more likely to imagine themselves as faithful disciples and devoted worshipers for decades to come. Two summer programs in worship, theology, and the arts inspire teens and mentors.

Feature Story | February 09, 2017

Ordination Best Practices for Ministers, Elders and Deacons

Because so many people search our website for ordination resources, we consulted five experts from five denominations. Their best practices will help you dig beneath the surface when you ordain or install ministers, elders and deacons.

Feature Story | February 07, 2017

A Roundtable on Connecting Sunday’s Worship to Monday’s Work

Six pastors and scholars share ideas to help congregations authentically practice God’s vision of shalom in worship and at work.

Conversation | August 23, 2016

The Interplay of Liturgy and Catechism in the Ministry of Martin Luther and John Calvin

Some examples from the Lutheran and Reformed traditions

Article | May 05, 2016

What You Can Learn from Visiting Churches

College and seminary professors offer church observation guides for their students. You can use their insights to learn more when you visit other churches. This process can also help you understand how people experience liturgical practices in your own congregation.

Feature Story | April 13, 2016

Best Resources for Teaching Worship

Seven college and seminary professors list their top short reads for teaching worship and say which resources would be most helpful for church worship and liturgy committees.

Feature Story | April 13, 2016

Jane Rogers Vann on Trusting the Liturgy

Many worship leaders wear themselves out trying to make worship new, fresh, relevant and, above all, different than it was last year or even last week. Maybe they don’t need to change so much and so often.

Conversation | April 12, 2016

Cory Willson on Inhabiting the Liturgy

Maybe you feel like a bad Christian when you catch yourself thinking about work or weekday concerns during corporate worship. But doing so can help you worship more deeply and faithfully.

Conversation | March 21, 2016

How Ritual Training Overflows into Expressive Worship

Lay training in both formative and expressive liturgy helps Catholic adults and youth live out their identity in the universal priesthood of all faithful believers. Protestants can learn from this.

Feature Story | February 09, 2016

Aaron Niequist on Practicing the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

The Practice, a Sunday evening service at Willow Creek Community Church, is finding that weekly confession, communion and silence help Christians live faithfully in an interfaith world.

Conversation | November 16, 2015

Worship that Blesses the Whole Community with the Whole Gospel

Most Christians know that Jesus calls us to love God with all we have and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Canaan Community Church changed its worship to truly follow the Great Commandment.

Feature Story | August 06, 2015

Images and Themes in John Calvin's Theology of Liturgy

John Calvin wrote much about the value, purpose, and nature of Christian liturgy.

Article | November 19, 2014

Four-Fold Pattern of Worship

An explanation on four-fold worship and its place in history.

Article | September 17, 2014

Being a Liturgist

A list of qualities that a liturgist should strive for.