Intergenerational

From Confirmation or Profession of Faith to Multiple Milestones of Faith

What is confirmation or profession of faith for? Does it certify knowledge, open the communion table, affirm acceptance of baptism, mark a milestone in a continuing faith journey? A feature story exploring the meaning behind profession of faith.

September 2, 2008 | 12 min read
Kids Creating Art for Worship

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” Christ Community Church takes this quote by cultural critic Neil Postman seriously.

September 1, 2008 | 1 min read

Community Worship at Mustard Seed School

How can your Christian school design chapel services that connect with real life? Mustard Seed School in Hoboken, New Jersey, has formed a model called community worship. A feature story exploring worship in one small school in New Jersey.

August 15, 2008 | 10 min read
Faith Formation: What's the trouble with moralism?

Churches are talking about spiritual formation and faith formation because they've seen the failure of information to form faith that changes people's inner lives and outward behaviors. A feature story exploring the switch from moralism to faith formation.

June 5, 2008 | 12 min read
From Pastor-centered to Participative Worship

Many churches are renewing their worship by changing some practices, yet remaining true to their worship principles. A feature story about a congregation exploring renewal through teaching and intergenerational involvement.

April 15, 2008 | 11 min read

Postmodernism and Community Memory

Does your church want to be relevant to postmodern people? If so, how much should your worshiping community connect or disconnect with memory? A feature story exploring Postmodernism and Community Memory.

March 25, 2008 | 12 min read
How to Plan Art Used in Church Worship

Is your church commissioning liturgical art, creating art for cross cultural worship, or designing a new building? A feature story on how to involve more people from your congregation in planning and creating art for worship.

February 29, 2008 | 15 min read
In Praise of Small Churches

Learn how church dynamics shift as congregations change size. A feature story exploring small churches, like All Nations Christian Reformed Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that are making the most of their size.

February 15, 2008 | 13 min read

Healing in Worship: Hospitality that welcomes everyone as they are

Though you might associate "heal" with "cure," healing in worship is broader. Whether through prayer, hospitality, communion, or laying on hands, it helps people become more whole.

February 1, 2008 | 17 min read
Seeing Your Congregation with Expert Eyes: Culture, Race, Ethnicity

In an update from their Symposium session in 2007, five Calvin College social scientists describe what they've learned through in-depth analysis of congregational and worship life.

January 1, 2008 | 53 min listen
Talking About Worship: How to Start and Sustain Faithful Conversations

This session will begin with a brief introduction to anthropological categories for talking about worship--liturgical time, space, environment, action, persons, music, language, etc. Participants will then engage in small group conversations about worship, using a process devised especially for facilitating conversations in congregations.

January 1, 2008 | 51 min listen