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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
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 | 8 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

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
Reformed Churches Worldwide: A common heritage

The heart of Christian worship remains the same, whether you worship in Ghana, Mexico, China, or Japan, according to worship music expert Emily Brink. A feature story exploring the reformed church around the world.

January 7, 2005 | 12 min read
Japanese Church Music: Reaching back and reaching forward

After the first Catholic missionaries visited Japan in 1549, many people became Christians. But less than a century later, Japan expelled all missionaries and priests, banned Christianity, and cut off cultural contact with former trading partners.

January 7, 2005 | 3 min read