The 'Jazz' of Worship Planning
Convictions and suggestions for planning public Christian worship services that welcome and make room for all
January 20, 2022
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4 min read
Jon Terry and Liuan Huska on Liturgies of Restoration
Au Sable Institute developed its Liturgies of Restoration workbook to help university students in summer field science courses connect Christian worship and creation care. Now small groups and churches are using the workbook to cultivate habits of worship, community, earthkeeping, purposeful stewardship, and hope.
January 5, 2022
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8 min read
Brandon Helder on The Gift of the Cross Holy Week Devotional for Children
Brandon Helder's elementary students and his own children responded to tactile Jesse Tree devotionals during Advent, but he couldn't find similar Holy Week resources. To help children and families anticipate Easter, Helder wrote The Gift of the Cross: Celebrating Christ Through Holy Week and designed Resurrection Blocks.
December 9, 2021
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5 min read
Blessed Are You When People Insult You
A worship service led by Darrell Delaney, and Nate Glasper Jr. on Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” We give special thanks to André Thomas for his contributions as a consulting director and his encouragement of our student musicians.
November 17, 2021
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10 min read
Christ the King Sunday Worship Planning
Marking the kingship of Christ makes a healthy transition that leads directly from Ordinary Time into Advent, the Christmas cycle, and the remainder of the Christian year.
November 17, 2021
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11 min read
You are the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World
A worship service led by Kevin Adams and Pearl Shangkuan based on Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
We give special thanks to André Thomas for his contributions as a consulting director and his encouragement of our student musicians.
November 17, 2021
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13 min read
Blessed Are the Pure in Heart
A YouTube Video Premiere worship service led by Mandy Smith based on Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
November 16, 2021
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45 min video
Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted
A YouTube Video Premiere worship service led by Setri Nyomi based on Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
November 16, 2021
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41 min video
Ellen Gadberry on Congregations as Communal Visual Choirs
Many worshipers do not see themselves as creative or gifted in the arts. Yet low-risk opportunities to encounter visual art in worship and participate in making liturgical art can strengthen worshipers’ identities as children of the Creator.
November 3, 2021
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7 min read
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.
November 3, 2021
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9 min read
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap on the Arts as a Climate Tipping Point
Music and the arts have fueled major movements for justice. Evangelical Christians have the potential to shift climate action. That's why Christian leaders and musicians are creating worship songs and candlelight climate vigils to address climate crisis and work toward environmental sustainability.
October 8, 2021
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7 min read
Kyle Meyaard-Schaap on Earthkeeping, the Church, and Generational Differences
Many young Christians despair of finding communities that view environmental sustainability and justice as biblical mandates. Here is advice for helping churches catch a vision for biblical earthkeeping.
October 8, 2021
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7 min read
