Planning Worship

Bob and Laura Keeley on Lament Psalms and Children

Robert “Bob” Keeley teaches education at Calvin College. He and his wife, Laura Keeley, direct children’s ministries at Fourteenth Street Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan. They write books, curriculum, and plays. Here they talk about making lament psalms accessible to children.

September 20, 2011 | 4 min read
Neal Plantinga on His “God Go Before You” Blessing

Cornelius “Neal” Plantinga Jr, president emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary, often gives a specific benediction that blesses worshipers.

August 22, 2011 | 2 min listen

Ordinary Time Resource Guide

This resource guide for Ordinary Time includes sermon ideas, worship songs and hymns, visual arts, and readings to help you plan “ordinary” worship—times in the church year outside the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. The season’s liturgical color is green, symbolizing a time of growth in the Christian life. This guide also includes ideas for worship on Christ the King Sunday, Thanksgiving, and All Saints’ Day/Reformation Sunday.

July 8, 2011 | 2 min read

Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows

The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. Once a service for the monastic community, Tenebrae later became an important part of the worship of the common folk during Holy Week. We join Christians of many generations throughout the world in using the liturgy of Tenebrae.

April 1, 2011 | 4 min read

Worship Resources in Times of Natural Disasters

Many of these resources, initially created for an immediate response to specific events, may be adapted or may help provide ideas for similar resources for other natural disasters or for services remembering these events.

March 16, 2011 | 3 min read
Introduction to the Christian Year

We are creatures of time. Throughout the history of the church, Christians have in various ways attempted to put Christ at the center of their personal calendars.

March 10, 2011 | 4 min read