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Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue: Principles for Renewing Language in Worship

This workshop offered tools and ideas for creating rich, balanced language in worship. Participants explored principles for and discuss examples of welcoming traditional language gracefully; composing or improvising elements in fresh language; using songs and prayers to worship with the global church; and finding a place for lament. The session was based on the book Worship Words.

January 1, 2008
Space, Time, and Sacraments - N.T. Wright

A seminar led by N.T. Wright on the sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Baptism, discussing the larger questions of space, time and matter within which our understanding of sacraments must be located.

January 10, 2007 | 1 min listen

Symposium 2007 - The Glory of God and Faithful Worship

This session delved more deeply into the conference worship theme by probing key scriptural texts on the theme of divine glory, reviewing contributions of influential theological texts, and then exploring the pastoral dimensions of weaving this luminous theme into everyday ministry back home.

January 1, 2007
What We Can Learn about Worship from Asaph the Psalmist

Asaph is hardly a household name, yet he has been impacting worshipers for 3,000 years. Twelve psalms are attributed to Asaph. Scripture reveals that Asaph was a man of integrity as well as a great artist. This workshop explored the man and his art to glean practical applications for us today.

January 1, 2007

The Poetry of Astonishment: Preaching the Psalms

This session took the Psalms as a case study for considering what it means for the preacher, first, and then the congregation, to be astonished by the biblical text. How might this ancient poetry be surprising, and therefore revelatory, to those who hear it in our contemporary contexts? What sort of preparation is necessary for the preacher who wishes to engage the Psalms as poetry?

January 1, 2007
Providence, Preaching, and Pastoral Care

In this session philosopher John Cooper presented key points in the theology and philosophy that undergirds our understanding of God's providential care in a world where terrible things happen all the time. Why do bad things happen to good people? Scott Hoezee connected these thoughts to the pastoral care that preachers can provide from the pulpit. This session aimed to be both rigorously thoughtful and pastorally practical for the life of the church.

January 1, 2007

Culturally Diverse and Holistic Worship

Worship throughout scripture and history is culturally diverse, not monolithic, reflecting the diversity of God and his creation. True biblical worship is also holistic, involving the soul, the mind, and the body. This workshop explored the culturally diverse and holistic nature of worship, with reference especially to African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic worship.

January 1, 2007
Knowing Our Limits: Job's Wisdom on Worship

This session explored what the book of Job teaches about the meaning and spiritual significance of worship, and offered worshipers both theological insights and some evocative poetic images to guide their approach to worship.

January 1, 2007
Where Then Shall We Live? Location as Fundamental Choice for Christian Discipleship, Worship, and Evangelism

This session raised the question as to whether some, if not all, of the ministries of the church might be enriched if they could be re-integrated around particular geographic locations. Specifically, this session will suggest the possibility that choosing where to live or what ministries of the church to affiliate with based on where one lives can be a fundamental act of Christian discipleship.

January 1, 2007