Resource Search Results

Sociology and Learning about Christian Worship Practices

An annotated research guide from the field of sociology

Resource Guide | October 17, 2016

Thinking Geographically about Congregational Ministries

Maps can help your congregation learn about itself, set ministry priorities and connect to the global church.

Article | August 26, 2016

Strengthening Congregational Life

This presentation set up a series of workshops that focused on 'Strengthening Congregational Life Through Liberal Arts-style Learning.'

Video | July 18, 2016

Understanding Your Congregation's Unique Worship Culture

Each local congregation has its own unique history, geographical and social location, demographic makeup, and mission.

Audio | March 02, 2016

Meg Jenista on The Young Clergy Women Project

Face it. There are still far more male pastors than female pastors. That is why young female pastors support each other in The Young Clergy Women Project.

Conversation | April 21, 2015

Listening to Your Listeners: A Preaching Preparation Process That Changes…Everything!

During this workshop, participants discover how diverse congregations have established and maintained pre-sermon dialogue groups.

Audio | March 11, 2015

More Inclusion = Deeply Meaningful Worship

The lessons learned at two seminaries that renewed their chapel worship services can make a big difference in your congregation.

Feature Story | August 29, 2014

Kendra Buckwalter Smith on Authentic Global Worship

Kendra Buckwalter Smith is the worship coordinator at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PTS has chapel four days a week, and Smith meets with every person or team that plans a chapel service.

Conversation | August 29, 2014

Musician Sally Ann Morris on Seminarians Learning Worship

Sally Ann Morris is the chapel musician at Wake Forest University School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She’s involved with each of Wake Div’s twice-weekly, 45-minute chapel services.

Conversation | August 29, 2014

Combining Two Worship Services Renews Congregation

Lombard Christian Reformed Church in metro Chicago used to have both a traditional service and a contemporary service. Now everyone attends a single, Sunday-morning service. It’s not blended worship. Instead, the worship renewal results from slowly and yet actively responding to the Holy Spirit.

Feature Story | August 04, 2014

C. J. Newendorp on Ancient-Future Church Renewal

C.J. Newendorp is a pastoral intern at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount, California, and an MDiv student, class of 2015, at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Conversation | August 04, 2014

John Huizinga on Worship Change Accountability

John Huizinga is pastor of Lombard Christian Reformed Church in Lombard, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He works to develop leaders within the congregation to take ownership of various church ministries.

Conversation | August 04, 2014

Deepening a Congregation’s Ability to Talk about Worship, Pt.2

We will explore what we can learn from the challenges and gifts of two churches of the recent past, Christ Temple in Jim Crow racism-laced Jackson, Mississippi, and the Anaheim Vineyard Fellowship in the late 1970s.

Audio | February 20, 2014

Deepening a Congregation’s Ability to Talk about Worship, Pt. 1

We will explore what we can learn from the challenges and gifts of two churches of the recent past, Christ Temple in Jim Crow racism-laced Jackson, Mississippi, and the Anaheim Vineyard Fellowship in the late 1970s.

Audio | February 20, 2014

Joyce Borger on Hymnals as Pastoral Care Resources

Joyce Borger, editor of the hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts and the quarterly magazine Reformed Worship, shares how to use a hymnal as a pastoral care resource.

Conversation | December 16, 2013

Lisa De Boer on Creating a Sustainable Church Arts Ministry

Lisa De Boer talks about the more complex step of moving from displaying art in a church gallery to including visual arts in worship.

Conversation | Video | May 30, 2012

Lisa De Boer on Changing Roles of Visual Art in Churches

Lisa De Boer summarizes her research on the changing role of visual arts in North American churches since World War II. Knowing a bit of this history may help you introduce or strengthen the arts in your congregation.

Article | Conversation | Video | May 30, 2012

Writing Content for Congregations

The written communication of your congregation has great potential to bless members, newcomers, and the community. Your congregation has unique stories of the love and care of God. It is worth your while to evaluate and tweak current church content and write new materials. Doing so will help people grow together in becoming more like Christ.

Topic Showcase | May 02, 2012

Alban Weekly on Planning as 'Holy Conversation'

This Alban Weekly article asks how a leader negotiates preferences and opinions to plan worship as a Holy Conversation.

Reflection | April 24, 2012

Bonnie Lee on Sermon-based Small Groups

A conversation with Bonnie Lee on Sermon-based Small Groups

Conversation | January 05, 2012