All Tags Resource Type Academic Article Article Audio Bibliography Book Excerpt Conversation Enacted Scripture Feature Story Image News Item Online Discussion Podcast Prayer Reflection Resource Guide Slideshow Topic Showcase Video Website Worship Service Category All Christian Year Daily Prayer/Reflection Dance Drama Grants Interdisciplinary Intergenerational Worship Language Arts/Words Music Preaching Sacraments (Baptism and Lord's Supper) Teaching Technology Visual Arts Worshipers Worship- Leading Worship- Meaning of Worship- Planning Worship- Preparing for Occasion All Funerals Symposium Resources War Lessons and Carols Ascension Hymn Festival Advent Weddings Weekday Services Epiphany Natural Disasters Pentecost Teaching Worship Commissionings Thanksgiving Easter Christ the King Christmas Healing Services Anniversaries Taize Ordination/Installation Heidelberg Catechism Summer Passion Week Lent Dedications Search results 1 - 20 of 23 Sort by: Title | Date Psalms Retreats Invite Vulnerability, Build Hope and Trust When a congregation in Long Beach, California, designed a psalms retreat as part of a worship renewal grant, they had no idea how it would grow and blossom. Engaging with psalms of confession, praise and thanksgiving, lament, and hope and trust has helped hundreds of Christians develop a new language of prayer. Feature Story | September 12, 2023 Keith M. Douds on Creating Safe Space for Church Groups Church retreats, church governance meetings, and church small groups require honesty, vulnerability, and transparency to collectively draw closer to God. Psychologist Keith M. Douds explains how and when to step in with grace and preserve safety so that everyone has a chance to share and be listened to. Conversation | September 01, 2023 Nikki Toyama-Szeto on Hoping in God Despite Injustice Individuals and congregations sometimes despair while working for justice. Sometimes they forget that although God invites us to join in justice work, God remains in charge of changing the world. That’s why it’s crucial for justice seekers to stay rooted in Christian community and worship. Conversation | September 19, 2022 Visio Divina: Sacred Seeing to Encounter God Just as lectio divina invites people to meditate on scripture, visio divina helps people pray with art. Visio divina, which translates as “divine seeing,” uses silence and images to help worshipers reflect and respond to God in ways other than listening to a sermon or singing praise songs. Feature Story | November 03, 2021 Becoming People of Refugia Extreme weather, declining church influence, and environmental protests affect Christians around the world. Debra Rienstra explains why the biological concept of refugia offers a metaphor for seeing the Spirit at work despite deep disturbances in God's creation and among God's people. Feature Story | August 30, 2021 Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. on Sculptor Spirit It is impossible to become more like Jesus on your own. A new book offers five ways to recognize how the same Spirit who worked in Jesus’ life can shape us to be more Christlike. Conversation | December 10, 2019 Tim Shapiro on How Your Congregation Learns Many congregations suspect they need to change but don’t know how. Tim Shapiro’s book describes eight steps that healthy congregations can take to learn together. These learning journey stages have parallels to elements of Christian worship. Conversation | November 12, 2019 Godspeed: Holy Pacing for Faithful Ministry 2019 Calvin Symposium on Worship | Seminar Audio | May 15, 2019 How Worship Change Happened at American Lutheran Church This once-aging, now-thriving Lutheran congregation became more comfortable with worship changes by using visuals and stories, reading books together, and sharing over meals. Feature Story | August 18, 2017 Revelation 21-27: The New Heaven and Earth A worship service held at Worship Symposium 2017 Video | March 13, 2017 L. Gregory Jones on Traditioned Innovation in Worship Worship conversations change when you choose to see tradition as a lively center from which to innovate. This provides common ground between those who fear change and those who overvalue change. Conversation | March 11, 2016 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 Six Tips on Teaching Worship in Seminaries Two seminaries seek the sweet spot among worship classes and chapel services. They aim to produce ministers ready to lead worshipers in full, conscious, active participation. Feature Story | August 29, 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 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 Kathy Smith on Getting the Most from the Calvin Symposium on Worship Kathy Smith is associate director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and manager of grant programs. She speaks at conferences, seminars, and churches around the world. In this edited conversation, she explains how to prepare for, experience, and benefit from the annual Calvin Symposium on Worship. Conversation | November 15, 2012 Coop's Column - Spirit at Work: Power to Make Our Lives Anew When, as part of their Sunday worship, Jesus' followers join to declare, "I believe in the Holy Spirit," they’re saying a mouthful - a large mouthful. Reflection | May 31, 2011 Come to Me and Rest - Psalm 23, Matthew 11 - sermon notes Sermon notes about rest, renewal and restoration. Worship Service | February 24, 2011 Come to Me and Rest - Psalm 23, Matthew 11 A service plan for Lent focused on the message of rest, renewal and restoration in Psalm 23 and also being conscious of the restlessness and agitation that so often mark our lives. Part of a Lenten series focused on "Walking with God through Psalm 23." Worship Service | June 01, 2005 1 2 Next »