Worship
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Lectionary Worship Workbook Series 2 Cycle C
$41.95Add to cartThe most impressive thing about Wayne Keller’s body of ideas for worship throughout the Christian Year is his boldness. He is bold in demanding that we, his colleagues in liturgical leadership, plan worship which has to do with the reality of our congregations’ experience in the world, rather than just leading people through a proper agenda of acts and words which have no bearing on what we do the rest of the week. He is bold in challenging us to bring that real world — with its pains and its pleasures, its hungers and its feasts, its beauty and its ugliness — to exposure before the living God. And he is bold in helping us shine the strong, exposing light of the transforming Word on our real lives and on that real world, so that we may move beyond planning worship as a “nice,” safe, feel-good routine from which we depart the same people we were when we arrived. We are thrilled by the seriousness and authentic reverence with which this author approaches the planning of worship. Thank God for Wayne Keller and for his deep respect for the central act of the Christian community: the blessed and life-transforming experience of the worship of God.
Richard Avery and Donald Marsh
Port Jervis, New YorkWayne Keller’s method creates not only a contemporary appeal, but also effects a congregational involvement so necessary today within the liturgical context. His approach is fresh and practical and yet a reflection consistently of a solid liturgical and homiletical background. Keller has the ability to appeal to the everydayness of congregational experience.
Donald Macleod
Francis L. Patton Professor Emeritus
Princeton Theological SeminaryThe good humor of Wayne Keller’s work helps us feel at home in our imperfect world and feel more empathy for the rough edges of others and ourselves. Wayne’s work encourages hope and faith with the way we are.
Doug Adams
Professor of Christianity and the Arts
Pacific School of Religion and Graduate Theological UnionA cascade of insights, ideas, suggestions, and plans for stimulating the working pastor’s imagination and guiding in worship planning.
Robert Coote
Professor, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Editor, Mustard-Seed ChurchesWayne Keller elevates us to an authentic bring-your-warts-and-smiles encounter with the living God … a remarkable year-round resource for the entire worship team.
Paul Hackett
Former pastor and member, First Presbyterian Church
Puyallup, WashingtonKeller says, “I ha
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Discerning The Spirits
$24.99Add to cartChristian worship in North America has undergone great change in recent years. But change always brings uncertainty _ at times even division _ about what constitutes “authentic worship.” This important book reviews a wide variety of current perspectives and offers a fresh outlook on the contemporary practice of Christian worship.
In order to provide the widest, most insightful discussion on present-day worship practices yet assembled, the authors gathered a team of church musicians, ministers, worship leaders, and educators from eight church traditions. “Discerning the Spirits” is the fruit of their work. Shaped by the wisdom of men and women like Marva Dawn, Justo Gonzalez, C. Michael Hawn, and John Witvliet, this book broadens today’s “worship wars” into a bigger, richer discussion that moves from arguments over musical tastes to good thinking about the overall purpose of worship in relation to church life and God himself. Sidebar articles and quotes are meant to draw readers and study groups into dialogue on these issues.Whether one plays a leadership role in church worship or is simply grappling with questions about it, “Discerning the Spirits” is a must-read.
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Prophetic Song : Gateway To Glory
$15.49Add to cartGod is releasing a new sound in the church worldwide-prophetic song. Prophetic song is spontaneous, given fresh by the Holy Spirit. It is powerful, releasing an atmosphere of God’s presence in the church. It is intimate, drawing us into face-to-face and heart-to-heart encounters with God. This book is broken into four main parts. Part One centers on the sound of many waters, which is released when believers in the church mingle their voices in free worship. Part Two focuses on David and his legacy of prophetic song lyrics in the book of Psalms. Part Three deals with the gift of prophecy in song. And Part Four tells how to give prophetic song its place in the church. Prophetic Song: Gateway to Glory will help pastors, prophets, worshipers, and intercessors fulfill their roles in the new sound God is releasing worldwide in His church.
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Sermons Alive : 52 Short Dramatic Sketches For Sunday Worship
$17.95Add to cart1. All I Want For Christmas
2. Back To Back With Benny
3. A Ball Game
4. The Bible Study
5. The Bonsai Tree
6. Bringing My World To God
7. The Choir Member
8. Christianity Lite
9. The Christian Plant
10. Counting The Cost
11. The Dream
12. Fat Jack
13. The Fisherman Etc.Additional Info
A sketch a week companion to sunday worship services. The 52 3 to 7 minute dramas included in this book are ideal for introducing sermons. These entertaining sketches illustrate prayer,giving,peer pressure,eternal life,dealing with failure and others. Minimal to no props or set pieces required. Right and permission to reproduce sketckes is included. -
Tabernacle Of David
$17.49Add to cartThe Tabernacle of David is a topic that has stirred much interest in recent years. How could such an obscure subject suddenly come to center stage? In this exposition, the author will show clearly how this veil-less tent upon Mount Zion reveals the higher dimension of worship that our God seeks (John 4:24). David’s Tabernacle not only reveals the higher worship of Mount Zion, but it also reveals the New Covenant standard. This veil-less tent housed the Ark of the Covenant. The veiled Ark speaks of the Old Covenant, whereas the unveiled Ark speaks of the New Covenant. David had entered (figuratively) into a dimension that the church is just rediscovering: the reality of the rent veil, the reality of the manifest presence of God, and the qualifications that will allow us to ascent the “Holy Hill.” This commentary will challenge you to be a true worshipper!
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Earth And All Stars
$14.95Add to cartAll ages will enjoy this collection of songs by the author of Earth and All Stars and Love, Love, Love! Herb Brokering, a treasure among hymn writers of our time, has selected 170 of the best of his hymn and song texts for this volume. Includes over forty “Songs to Children’s Rhymes” set to melodies known by young and old. These songs are easy to learn and fun to sing at home, in learning settings, in worship, and wherever God’s people join their voices. Developed with the assistance of Wheat Ridge Ministries.
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Sermon Warm Ups
$12.95Add to cartCould you use an attention-getting introduction to set up a talk or sermon? If so, the brief sketches in this collection are exactly what you need to create living illustrations of scriptural themes that will stick in your audience’s memory. Jesus explained concepts about God’s kingdom through parables utilizing elements familiar to his listeners; likewise, the modern storytelling in these short, easy-to-prepare scenes helps worshipers understand the gospel by depicting the biblical message in the context of our daily lives. And they’re effective. Since drama draws on both our visual and auditory senses, it’s a proven vehicle for increasing learning and retention rates. When you want a change of pace that will really make a difference, these scenes are great for use in place of the sermon or for various types of fellowship programs.
Contents include:
* The Inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14; Mark 6:14-29)
* Cooking With Carol (John 6:24-35, 41-51)
* The Pray-er (James 5:13-20)
* Are You Calling Me? (Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-40)
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Old Wine In New Skins 2
$16.95Add to cartAcross the broad spectrum of the Christian faith, worship services are in transition. There is a richness of expression in traditional worship structures that needs to be maintained, yet there is a vitality and joy in contemporary praise celebrations that is an essential part of the Christian spirit. But whatever the style of service, whether it’s traditional, contemporary, or “blended,” meaningful worship that makes a powerful impact is directly connected to our daily lives, addressing our hopes and fears.
Like the first volume of Old Wine In New Skins, this comprehensive collection provides plenty of resources for strengthening and reinvigorating your worship services. There are two years’ worth (104) of calls to worship in a wide variety of styles that can be used in almost any setting. Each weaves together suggested hymns or praise songs with spoken material utilizing everyday language and images, creating a strong thematic thrust that truly prepares the congregation to stand before the Lord in praise and petition. There’s also a group of brief reflections that can be used as sermon illustrations, theme-setters for the service, or newsletter features.
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Belonging To God
$44.00Add to cart1. Service For The Lord’s Day: Order With Liturgical Texts
2. Proclamation
3. Resources For The Liturgical Year
4. Special Occasions
5. Alternative Settings
6. Book And Music ResourcesAdditional Info
This exciting new resource for Presbyterian pastors, worship leaders, and educators demonstrates how to incorporate the new Belonging To God catechism into worship services-allowing for the full inclusion of children. The book provides prayers, calls to worship, baptismal resources, confirmation resources, graduation rites, and more, all based on the new children’s catechism. In addition, it includes suggestions for using the catechism in sermons-for children specifically and for the entire congregation-and offers bulletin suggestions, and annotated bibliography, and a comprehensive listing of other catechism resources. -
From Silence To Song
$12.00Add to cartPreface
1. The Problem Of Davidic Worship
2. According To The Pattern
3. Some For Priests And Levites
4. Sacrifices Of Praise
5. The Booth Of David
6. The Ends Of Song
Scripture IndexAdditional Info
The debate in many Reformed circles over worship music is only a small part of the larger question of Reformed liturgics. And dancing. All sides admit that the New Testament offers relatively little instruction on liturgy, and so the debate over the regulative principle continues with apparently little hope for resolution. In this study, Peter Leithart’s key insight reveals a prominent scriptural example of a liturgy that interprets God’s commands for worship in ways far more biblically grounded than traditional regulativism allows. King David’s tabernacle worship becomes a rich story, not only in respect to liturgical wisdom, but also to the significance of Zion in the fulfillments of the Christian era. -
Christian Worship In Reformed Churches Past And Present
$48.99Add to cart438 Pages
Additional Info
Worship renewal is now on the agenda of many Reformed churches, as the need for adaptation and new approaches is acutely felt all over. How can the church faithfully worship God in the midst of rapidly changing situations? How can it constructively relate to widely differing cultural contexts? What is its place in the wider ecumenical scene? In preparing a sweeping survey of Reformed worship across time and place, this volume provides some help to those engaged with vital questions like these.Written by theologians and liturgical scholars from a wide range of churches and countries, these chapters explore the history of Reformed worship on every continent from the sixteenth century to the present. Surveying the most significant developments in the growth of Reformed worship, the book identifies the major “ingredients” that make the Reformed worship tradition distinctive and highlights those aspects of Reformed worship that are particularly relevant to present efforts at renewal. Indeed, an important component of this book is the inclusion of “A Common Reflection on Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Today,” the result of a major consultation in January 2001 at the International Reformed Center John Knox.
Revealing the rich variety of forms and diversity of perspectives that have made and do make up Reformed worship worldwide, this volume will be a valuable resource for church and worship leaders both in and outside the Reformed family.
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Lords Service : The Grace Of Covenant Renewal Worship
$25.00Add to cartIntroduction And Acknowledgments
PART I: The Divine Service Of Covenant Renewal: A Biblical AndTheological Orientation
PART II: The Lord’s Service Explained
PART III: Essays On Worship And Liturgical Theology
Finis Coronat OpusAdditional Info
Begun as a practical pastoral guide to worship, this book balances theory and praxis to create a compelling case for a biblical, aesthetic, and covenantal worship service as the place where the Triune God and His people renew the bonds of love and loyalty. Jeffrey Meyers begins laying out a case for a covenant renewal service by means of Old Testament sacrificial liturgics, biblical typology, and covenant theology. He then guides us through the stages of a covenant renewal liturgy, explaining from Scripture the meanings of each step of the service. The final section addresses miscellaneous issues in worship, such as the use of creeds, the “regulative principle,” and ministerial clothing. Jeffrey Meyers provides not only a compelling biblical, theological, and historical case for covenant renewal worship, but also shows that it is beautiful, profound, edifying and liberating.Jeffrey J. Meyers is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary and pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA), St. Louis, Missouri. He has a blog, but we have aesthetic complaints about the length of his URL.
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Gather Into One Print On Demand Title
$33.99Add to cartOne of the benefits of the multicultural nature of Christianity has been the introduction of the Western church to worship music from around the world. However, while many songs from other parts of the world are now available in Western hymnal collections, little has been written to help church musicians and ministers understand, appreciate, and use these songs in worship. “Gather into One” fills this void.
In this volume C. Michael Hawn explores the work of five of the most influential global church musicians found in North American hymnals: Pablo Sosa (Argentina), I-to Loh (Taiwan), David Dargie (South Africa), Patrick Matsikenyiri (Zimbabwe), and John Bell (Scotland). Hawn discusses the biographical background of each of these composers and elucidates the meaning of their music within their respective cultures. Having studied global song himself on site throughout the world, Hawn sees this music as a valuable gift from other cultures to our own sung prayers that can broaden the ways we pray and sing together in corporate worship. His extensive research leads to some intriguing proposals, with Hawn encouraging diverse expressions of worship, endorsing the church musician as a worship “enlivener,” and making a case for “polyrhythmic worship” in our churches.
A unique resource, “Gather into One” demonstrates the spiritual riches to be gained through multicultural worship and makes a concrete contribution toward realizing the worldwide unity of the Christian church.
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To God Alone Be Glory
$57.00Add to cartIn this highly useful text, the fruit of extensive study and research, Harold Daniels tells the fascinating story of the history of Reformed worship in America, from the 1600s to the present. He describes the development and objectives of the Book Of Common Worship and explores how the book itself serves as an agenda for liturgical reform within the church. In a substantive second part of the book, Daniels provides the sources of the prayers and other material used in the Book Of Common Worship. Persons involved in planning, presenting, studying, or teaching about Presbyterian worship will benefit greatly from having a copy of this comprehensive resource in their personal library.
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Let Us Pray
$24.95Add to cartThis practical book for use in Reformed worship boasts a collection of highly engaging prayers written by current Presbyterian pastors and theologians. Unique amidst most prayer books, the language of these prayers is conversational in tone, rather than formal, and their concerns represent a diversity of approaches. Divided into sections by seasons of the liturgical year, Let Us Pray includes prayers of confession, petition, intercession, and thanksgiving, as well as assurances of pardon, litanies, and calls to worship.
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1 Bread One Body
$29.00Add to cartAs a troubadour for global music and an instigator of cross-cultural worship for more than 15 years in a variety of denominational settings, including congregational, national, and international venues, Michael Hawn has observed many faithful people who find that a taste of Pentecost in worship is refreshing and invigorating. In One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship, Hawn seeks to help bridge the gap between the human tendency to prefer ethnic and cultural homogeneity in worship and the church’s mandate to offer a more diverse and inclusive experience. He offers a rainbow vision of the universal church where young and old joyfully and thoughtfully respond to the movement of God’s Spirit in multicultural worship.
Hawn and four colleagues from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas formed a diverse team in ethnicity, gender, academic field of study, and denominational affiliation to study four United Methodist congregations in the Dallas area that are grappling with cross-cultural ministry. Their four case studies illustrate both the pain and the possibilities encountered in capturing the Spirit of Pentecost in worship. Hawn also offers a concise and practical theological framework as well as numerous strategies and an extensive bibliography for implementing “culturally conscious worship.” This book is invaluable for congregations that want to undertake the hard work of cross-cultural worship. Foreword by Justo Gonzalez.
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Serving In Your Church Music Ministry
$19.99Add to cartWorship is a slice of eternity that Christians can participate in on earth, and nothing can facilitate our experience of worship like music. This wise, concise guidebook will help you harness your God-given musical talent as a gift to the body of Christ, in a way that brings joy to both God’s heart and yours. This book discusses words of worship, planning for worship, serving with your voice, and much more.
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Silver Screen Sacred Story
$26.00Add to cartOur culture has undergone a major shift: younger generations have less and less interest in the printed word as they become predominantly image oriented. In response, as congregations increasingly learn to be more sophisticated in using newer electronic technologies, they are finding themselves at different places in the quest to understand, acquire, manage, and benefit from the technology boom. Worship leaders in congregations already using some electronic media are realizing that they could be doing more with it, and are seeking new ideas. Congregational leaders scrambling to catch up with a worship committee that has decided it’s time for a change aren’t sure of the next steps. Or maybe there’s been a gift to the congregation to be spent on electronics, and no one is quite sure how best to use the money.
Michael Bausch’s book grows out of several years’ of conversation, personal experimentation, and experience with multimedia worship in one modest-size, small-town church, while also drawing on the experiences and work of other churches learning to use electronic media in worship.
Bausch balances concern for practical issues, such as finances and architecture, with attention to theological integrity and the challenges of sustaining media-enhanced worship. He skillfully shows how the artistic resources of the world around us can enhance our awareness of God’s presence in worship. Foreword by Doug Adams.
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Great Worship Awakening
$30.00Add to cartIn this helpful (and much-needed) book, author Robb Redman-pastor, consultant, and educator-offers a unique insider’s explanation of the ins and outs of Christian worship trends. The book explores the four major developments that comprise what he calls the “worship awakening”: the seeker service movement, the “praise and worship” movement, the Christian worship music industry, and the liturgical renewal movement. Redman explains that these trends offer important examples and lessons for established churches. The Great Worship Awakening also includes helpful guidance for congregations who are considering making changes to their current worship style.
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Future Of Protestant Worship
$25.00Add to cartOver the past several years churches have engaged in an ongoing debate between two different styles of worship, loosely categorized as traditional and contemporary. Here, professor and longtime pastor Ronald Byars argues that many of the differences between the two styles are superficial–and that ultimately both styles embrace the same anthropocentric worldview that grew out of the Enlightenment. Authentic worship, he challenges, is theocentric, not anthropocentric, and therefore worship can and must be both responsive to contemporary culture and grounded in history and tradition. The answer to the debate is not found in pleasing congregants but in exploring worship that is biblical, that honors our communion with the saints, and that takes seriously the ways that our culture is reshaping us. Byars concludes with a narrative description of a Protestant worship service that is both authentic and postmodern.
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Worship By The Book
$24.99Add to cartToday’s believers gather on Sundays just as they always have—but what should biblical worship look like in the 21st century? The authors explore how creative, biblically sound, and spiritually rewarding worship unfolds in the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition, the liturgical practices of the Anglican/Episcopal church, and the “free church” perspective. Includes sample services.
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Worship In The Melting Pot
$11.99Add to cartNew trends in worship have shaken traditional concepts and attitudes, giving rise to much heart-searching and a flurry of books. Is it all just a matter of generation and taste? Are the traditions of today only the innovations of yesterday?
This lively and clearly reasoned book focuses on four crucial principles of worship laid down by Christ and strongly re-affirmed at the Reformation. These central pillars are rapidly passing out of sight today, yet it is surely by these that all new ideas should be assessed.Here also is a fascinating view of how they worshipped in Bible times, including the Old Testament rules for the use of instruments, and New Testament light on all the elements of worship normative for today.
‘Worship in the Melting Pot’ has instantly become core reading among British evanglical pastors and lay people. Searching and challenging; dealing with principles not personalities.
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Call To Worship
$13.95Add to cartBusy pastors and worship leaders are always searching for worship elements that underline the scripture passages and provide a unifying theme. A Call To Worship answers that need, supplying a range of calls to worship, prayers, and litanies for each Sunday, all based on the readings for Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. A special feature is a weekly “childrens” benediction” that summarizes the day’s theme in a brief phrase that young people can understand and repeat with the congregation. A Call To Worship is a valuable library of resources that you’ll want to have right at your fingertips.
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Lectionary Worship Aids Series 6 Cycle B
$20.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship Sunday after Sunday is a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this all-new edition of a favorite CSS reference. It’s a handy, easy-to-use resource with several passages for every Sunday and major observance in Cycle B of the Revised Common Lectionary. For each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text there’s a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, and suggested hymns. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for greating sincerely reverent, meaningful worship.
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Worship Workshop : Creative Ways To Design Worship Together
$20.99Add to cartBreak out of the traditional worship box with this “seminar in a book.” You and your staff will learn how to evaluate your current services and get more people involved in the planning process; explore liturgical history and various forms of congregational praise; and discover ways of using the arts and artists to create meaningful, memorable worship experiences.
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Worship
$35.00Add to cartHughes Oliphant Old masterfully summarizes the worship of Israel and the early church and traces the development of worship through the period of the Reformation. He provides a sterling historical study that will be highly useful for pastors and church study groups as well as for scholars and students interested in Reformed worship. Old includes chapters on baptism, the Lord’s Day, the ministry of praise, the ministry of the Word, the ministry of prayer, the Lord’s Supper, daily prayer, and alms. His concluding chapter on “Tradition and Practice” focuses on how the Reformed tradition of worship should shape our current practice and on what the Reformed liturgical heritage has to offer American Protestants today. An extensive bibliography of resources for the study of Reformed worship adds to the value of this book
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Soaring Where Christ Has Led
$30.95Add to cartBelieving that Christian worship should be both exciting and stimulating and respectful of God and worshipers and liturgical traditions, Dick Avery and Don Marsh have put their considerable talents together to bring you ideas and music that make worship soar. As you read these groundbreaking ideas tailored to the seasons of the church year, you’ll find yourself saying, “Yes! YES! YES!” — and you’ll be eager to put them in place with your congregation.
Everything Avery and Marsh describe in this remarkable volume has been done successfully in their congregation at the regular Sunday morning service of worship, so you will find no off-the-wall suggestions pushed for mere novelty’s sake or just to “shake things up.” Rather, every principle, every suggestion, every idea has a purpose and goal befitting the Gospel and designed to help worshipers tune in to the mighty Lord of All.
With all of this plus several samples of original Avery & Marsh music, written especially for Sunday morning worship, Soaring Where Christ Has Led is a resource you will use week after week in planning worship services that delight congregations, honor God with momentous expressions of joy, and teach the way of Christ in today’s world.
Nationally renowned for their creative worship celebrations, Richard Avery and Donald Marsh were colleagues in ministry for 40 years at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Jervis, New York, where Avery served as pastor and Marsh as choirmaster (directing 3 choirs) and director of arts (producing 83 major plays and working with educational projects). They have collaborated in composing hymns, songs, and anthems, of which more than 150 have been published. During the last 30 years they have led regional and national church assemblies, conferences, and workshops on worship, music, and drama for many denominations and in virtually all 50 states.
A native of California, Avery is a graduate of the University of Redlands and Union Theological Seminary in New York. Marsh has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston, and worked for 17 years in New York’s music and theater world as a composer, choreographer, pianist, and actor. Avery and Marsh continue their collaboration in composing for the church and in leading special liturgical and musical events while living in retirement in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Worship Aids Series 1 Year 1
$18.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship Sunday after Sunday is a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this handy, easy-to-use resource with several prayers and a worship theme for every Sunday throughout the year. Each week’s material includes three scripture texts, with a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, and suggested hymns relating to each passage. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for creating sincerely reverent, meaningful worship.
“The creative task of a worship leader requires useful resources, both practical and spiritual, for use in public worship as well as personal devotions. This volume provides a source for meditation, prayer, and fellowship with God and the people of God. The genius of the book is couched in the connection Kirkland makes between his own spirituality, the poetry of the biblical texts, and the spiritual quest of the worshiper and the worship leader.”
Ernest S. Lyght
United Methodist Bishop
New York, New York
“Every busy pastor appreciates well-organized and theologically sound help when planning worship each week. Kirkland’s vast pastoral experience and deep spiritual commitment can greatly enhance worship in our congregations. Worship Aids will prove to be a very useful tool in every pastor’s study.”
F. Herbert Skeete
United Methodist Bishop Emeritus
Riverdale, New York -
Age Of The Reformation
$55.99Add to cartHughes Oliphant Old’s survey of preaching throughout the history of the Christian church has been heralded as a monumental achievement. This fourth volume of Old’s history brings the story of preaching up through the Protestant Reformation to the end of the seventeenth century.
This is the pivotal volume in Old’s project because it covers not only what the Reformers preached but also their reform of preaching itself. Luther made a clear break with the preaching traditions of the Middle Ages, while figures like Bucer and Calvin developed a strong expository approach to preaching. Old traces the main events and people involved in the development of distinctly Protestant forms of preaching, giving due attention to how and in what sense preaching was itself an act of worship.
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Public Reading Of Scripture
$20.99Add to cartThe reading of Scripture holds a central place in Christian worship. Every week the Word of God becomes flesh again as the words of the biblical text are read aloud. Those who take on the responsibility of reading Scripture in public do so knowing its importance, but rarely having the change to train in how to do it better. Most readers have never been given the opportunity to consider how each act of public reading of Scripture is an interpretation of the text, nor have they been given the tools for an effective and faithful reading performance. The handbook begins with a brief overview of the meaning and importance of the spoken word in worship. He then goes on to provide practical, detailed instructions on how to understand the text for reading. The book concludes with several appendices, including a pronunciation guide for biblical words and an annotated bibliography that points readers in the direction of further study.
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Symbols Of The Christian Faith
$23.99Add to cartSymbols of the Christian Faith is an illustrated guide to the major visual symbols used by the Christian church throughout history. These stylized illustrations, designed by artist Alva William Steffler, are intended to provide usable, up-to-date resources for contemporary church worship and Christian education. Throughout church history symbols have been used to aid worship and to communicate difficult spiritual ideas. Steffler here collects these symbols, from early Christian catacomb art to the present, offering fresh graphic interpretations of old visual forms. The accompanying text notes the biblical sources for the various symbols and traces their use in church tradition and their links to Greco-Roman culture. Extensive glossaries and indexes round out the book.
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Laity Lifelines
$12.95Add to cart“Help! It’s Laity Sunday! What shall we do?” That panicked call is a familiar one, particularly in small and midsize congregations, on those occasions when lay members “take over” the service. It can be overwhelming for people who aren’t used to the planning and production of an entire service. Laity Lifelines offers four complete, easy-to-produce services that are just what’s needed when worshipers find themselves in charge on Sunday morning. Each imaginative service includes prayers, responses, a children’s sermon, suggested music, and a script for the service with prop lists and staging instructions. There’s even a form for your bulletin! So panic no longer – these “instant” worship experiences allow for maximum participation and celebration with a minimum amount of headache. It’s a great way to build a sense of unity and purpose as members of Christ’s church.
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Worship Innovations 2
$23.95Add to cartIn Worship Innovations: Easy Bible Drama, you will meet Bible persons just outside their recorded stories. Listen to Sarah and Isaac on the evening he returns from Mt. Moriah; watch Joseph (in Potiphar’s jail) confront Satan about whether integrity pays. Agonize with Anne (the mother of Mary) as she sends her daughter off to register for taxes in Bethlehem; hear the private conversation of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea following Nicodemus’ secret meeting with Jesus.
Each of these fifteen sketches raises issues and questions designed to take readers deeper into a study of the Bible story itself. They can form the heart of a dynamic worship service, inspire a sermon, brighten a Bible study, or energize a personal walk in the word of God. Also included is “Everything You Need To Know About Easy Bible Drama,” a chapter of “how-to’s” for any church that wants to initiate the use of drama in worship.
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Faithful Men Of God
$7.95Add to cartThese six monologues are accompanied by a worship service which includes a call to worship, scripture readings, a pastoral prayer, and suggested hymns.
Monologues include:
Noah
Abraham
Joseph
Moses
A Wise Man
ChuzaThe script is fascinating and fast-paced from the start: “I was considered strange at best and at times mentally ill, I suppose.” (Noah)
This series will be useful for any season and in a variety of ways: Lenten services, retreats, summer worship series, or high school or adult education classes.
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Praise And Worship Team Instant Tune Up
$19.99Add to cartWritten for both volunteer and staff church worship leaders and musicians, this easy-to-understand resource provides straightforward, practical advice on ways to upgrade a music team’s sound and ministry. Many churches using contemporary Christian music formats in their worship services (the number of churches is growing every day) are led by highly motivated yet nonprofessional music leaders. They want to re-create the sound, feel, and flow they hear on popular Praise and Worship CDs, but they don’t know how to make that happen. They often feel frustrated with long, unfocused rehearsals that result in a thin, insubstantial sound.
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People Vs Judas Iscariot The Punishment Phase
$11.95Add to cartWritten in an easy-to-present format, this captivating five-part series takes place in a courtroom, as attorneys present evidence based upon the Bible and tradition. Witnesses who are “subpoenaed” to testify include Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene.
The People vs. Judas Iscariot is a captivating five-part series for Lenten worship or group discussion. Detailed worship bulletins with an order of service are provided for each of the five presentations.
The People vs. Judas Iscariot is written in an easy-to-present format (no memorization required) and includes scripture readings that follow carefully defined themes. The homily takes the shape of a court hearing in which Judas undergoes his punishment phase. Prosecution and defense attorneys attempt to sway the judge and congregation with evidence based upon the Bible and tradition. Various witnesses are “subpoenaed” to testify, including Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, and others.
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When Its Twilight Time
$14.95Add to cartThis book offers 30 meditations and complete orders of worship for use by clergy or lay persons at retirement centers. Each service includes and opening prayer, suggested scripture, hymns, easy-to-present meditations and appropriate closings. Along with 26 topically-based services, this volume features worship outlines for Easter, communion, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Worship themes include:
* If We Are Dreamers
* The Best Surprises
* The Larger Design For Living -
18 Special Worship Celebrations
$13.95Add to cartGod is constantly adding ingredients to our life of faith and creating a wonderful mixture of faith, hope and trust in Jesus. (from A Feast Of Worship)
As a quilt wraps us up in the warmth of its cover, we thank God and mothers for the warmth of their love. (from A Special Youth Service For Mother’s Day)
18 Special Worship Celebrations is a collection of worship resources that enhance the life of any congregation. It follows the style of The Weaving Of Hearts, the author’s popular first book of worship resources.
Themes include:
Morning devotional service
Memorial Day observance
Celebration of baptism
Installation of pastor
All Saints’ Day
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Lectionary Worship Aids Series 6 Cycle A
$30.95Add to cartPreparing to lead a congregation in worship Sunday after Sunday can be a formidable and pressure-filled responsibility. That’s why busy worship planners will love this all-new edition of a favorite CSS reference. It’s a handy, easy-to-use resource with several prayers and a worship theme relating to the assigned scriptural passages for every Sunday and major observance in Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. For each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text there’s a call to worship, an invocation/collect, a prayer of confession, an offertory prayer, and suggested hymns. But that’s not all: each day’s material also includes the appointed psalm, words of assurance, a pastoral prayer, and a benediction. This complete collection offers a wide selection of practical aids for creating sincerely reverent and more meaningful worship.
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Lectionary Worship Workbook Series 3 Cycle A (Workbook)
$30.95Add to cartIf you want to make your Sunday morning services come alive, this remarkably inventive volume is exactly what you’ve been searching for. It’s a terrific library of resources that takes the weekly lectionary texts and puts them into the mouths, ears, and hearts of the people. For each week there’s a complete selection of written liturgical material (calls to worship, litanies, prayers, and benedictions) to supplement and strengthen your worship planning — all specifically tailored to the day’s scripture readings. But that’s not all! There’s also a wealth of musical suggestions, including hymns chosen from a wide variety of denominational hymnals, psalm settings, and appropriate anthems for the choir. You’ll even find ideas that draw upon the other creative arts (dance, art, drama) to glorify God and enhance worship. This is an outstanding exegesis of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving and Schifrin’s fertile imagination produces practical worship material that engages the congregation and encourages active participation.
