Worship in the Early Church
Some of the worship practices of early Christians --100-400 A.D.-- were strikingly different but perhaps more biblical than ours today.
Praying for Christians in Egypt (and elsewhere)
It was just a simple email between friends--but now a Canadian congregation prays for Christians in Egypt. Your church can just as easily make congregational prayers more global. A feature story exploring the inclusion of Global concerns in our congregational prayers.
Presbyterians in India struggle to balance indigenous and received culture
Whether they are drama leaders in a North American mega church or Catholic priests in a Mexican village, Christians everywhere wrestle with how much of culture to appropriate in worship. They debate the difference between yielding to syncretism and following Paul’s desire “to become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some”
Using More Psalms in Worship
Find out why Christians from many traditions are rediscovering the Psalter for singing, prayer, and worship. A feature story exploring the use of the psalms in worship.
Service of Prayer in a Time of War
A service plan for prayer and reflection during a time of war. It is difficult to know what to think during such a time. It is right for the church to gather in prayer and reflection, believing and resting in the belief that our world belongs to God.
What A Friend We Have in Jesus - Service of Prayer for Healing - Isaiah 61, Matthew 11
This worship service plan of prayer for healing was prepared as a pastoral response to a series of deaths, illnesses, and other traumatic events suffered by a local congregation over a short period of time.
Prayer - Psalms 10, 13, James 5
A service plan focused on the paradox in our prayer life. The Bible tells us that God answers prayer, yet we often experience doubts about that in our own prayer life. Part of a series of sermons pairing together some of the seemingly irreconcilable paradoxes in the Christian faith.
Take the Name and Hold if High - Psalm 34, 86, HCLD 47
A service plan from the Lord's Prayer focused on the use of God's name and how we are to honor it in a series on prayer as explained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
Guiding Questions for Planning a Service of Worship During a Time of War
Questions to ask for guiding thoughtful worship planning during a time of war.
Continuing to Pray - Luke 18, HCLD 45
A service plan focused on the necessity of faithful prayer as demonstrated by "The Parable of the Persistent Widow" in a series on prayer as explained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
The Transforming Power of Prayer - Mark 6
A sample service plan from the Calvin Symposium on Worship planned around the theme, "The Transforming Power of Prayer."
Bread for Today - Exodus 16, HCLD 50
A service plan from the Lord's Prayer focused on trusting God for our daily needs and sharing generously with others in a series on prayer as explained in the Heidelberg Catechism.