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Hymn Writing Is Alive and Well

If you think hymns are so last century, and praise songs are totally where it's at now, Carl P. Daw, Jr. begs to differ. A feature story exploring how hymn writing is alive and well today.

April 30, 2005 | 7 min read
Fourteen Tips to Consider Before You Try Writing a Hymn Text

In his lectures and seminars on hymn writing, Carl P. Daw, Jr., executive director of The Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada, offers these tips for beginners.

April 30, 2005 | 5 min read
Getting to Know Each Other: Pastors from two denominations share stories

Christians sometimes think they must water down their identities to find common ground with people from different Christian traditions. Eleazar Merriweather and John Witvliet offer a refreshing alternative. A feature story exploring relationships between denominations.

April 15, 2005 | 12 min read

Seven Ideas for Helping Worshipers Experience Communion More Deeply

Your leeway in celebrating the Lord's Supper will depend on your tradition's liturgical stipulations, doctrines, theology, or church architecture. But chances are that some of these ideas will fit your situation.

April 1, 2005 | 2 min read
Rejoicing at the Lord's Supper

Eucharist, communion, table fellowship. Whatever you call this celebration, ask yourself this: Are you receiving all Christ offers through this meal? A feature story exploring the Lord's Supper.

April 1, 2005 | 7 min read
Equipping Worship Leaders: More important than ever

Equipping people for worship. The priesthood of all believers. Discovering your gifts. Given how many congregations have no pastor, these concepts are more important than ever. A feature story exploring how to equip lay-leaders in the church.

March 18, 2005 | 8 min read

Voicing God's Psalms: How to hear God talking, live, to anyone who will listen

Calvin Seerveld says that Christians take the Psalms for granted. He urges believers to fall in love again with the Psalter. A feature story exploring the importance of the Psalms.

March 4, 2005 | 11 min read
Planning and Leading Worship as a Pastoral Task

We need a new perspective, a way of conceptualizing our roles as worship leaders that will sustain our day-to-day work in our congregations.

February 24, 2005 | 16 min read

Choral Anthems: Fitting great texts to wonderful tunes

It feels off to hear a song about suffering-with upbeat rhythms and in a major key. Other new songs use mixed metaphors or trite emotionalisms. That's why choral directors search for anthems that make a meaningful match between words and music. A feature story exploring fitting texts to tunes in choral anthems.

February 4, 2005 | 8 min read
Designing Worship Together: Advice that really works

The book "Designing Worship Together" shows how to involve more people in worship planning so that congregations pour their hearts into worship. A feature story on how to plan worship as a team.

January 21, 2005 | 9 min read