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Nurturing Children through Intergenerational Worship and Prayer

Congregations, pastors, and parents/caregivers have many opportunities to join together in worship and prayer practices that more intentionally engage children and help them come to know and love God and grow in faith together. Panelists will discuss ways to intentionally create intergenerational community in which people of all ages, including children, are welcomed as full participants whose participation enriches the community and gives praise to God.

June 30, 2024
Practical Worship Planning for Holy Week

Come and join a conversation with knowledgeable and experienced preachers and worship planners as we talk about our best practices for Holy Week worship planning. Bring your questions and ideas as we share and learn together.

June 30, 2024
Preaching and Peacemaking

What is the role of preaching in situations of deep conflict and division? How can preaching participate in the Christian call to peacemaking? This panel will explore the connections between gospel preaching and peacemaking efforts.

June 30, 2024

Music and Prayer in Worship

Music and prayer are prominent elements in worship liturgy. How does the culture of the worship community influence these worship practices? How should we engage culture and yet be countercultural in our practice of music and prayer? Engage with this panel from four continents as we explore how cultural values form and inform worship practices.

June 30, 2024
Receptive Ecumenism in Neighborhoods, Soccer Fields, and Workplaces

This session will explore how to talk about differences in Catholic and Protestant worship. Every time we talk with a neighbor, teammate, or coworker from a different Christian tradition about what we do in worship and why, we are practicing liturgical theology. When marked by both conviction and humility, these conversations have rich potential for building holy friendships and deepening our worship of God. Yet they can also backfire, perpetuating stereotypes and leaving us unsure about the point of common practices. Come to this session to learn from veteran participants in both formal ecumenical dialogues and informal neighborhood conversations about how we can engage with believers across the Protestant-Catholic divide in constructive and healing ways.

June 30, 2024
Celtic Psalms

As we seek a world of love and mercy, justice and peace, it's essential that we find resources of resilience to help us through the challenges we face. The psalms offer a timeless source of healing and hope. They remind us that God listens to our honest prayers, and they reconnect us with what brings us delight, solace, and joy. In this service of psalms set to soulful Celtic melodies, we will allow a healing space for expressing difficult emotions while also tapping into the hopeful future God envisions for all people. This service will be led by Kiran Young Wimberly, The McGraths, Mary Beth Mardis-LeCroy, and Brian Hehn.

June 17, 2024

International Worship Night

Join this student-led service of praise to God with a focus on Psalm 67, including songs reflecting the worshiping communities of the many places around the globe that Calvin University students represent.

June 17, 2024

Jazz Vespers with Ruth Naomi Floyd

Lament shows us that it takes time to recognize the depth of the brokenness of our souls, families, communities, and world. In the midst of the darkest night, there is Light ever-present and hope in our sorrow. We will express our lament, gratitude, and prayers to God, all carried in poetry, scripture, and the moving language of jazz music shared by Ruth Naomi Floyd and her quartet.

June 17, 2024
Service of Song and Prayer

David M. Cherwien and The Choral Scholars will lead this service of song and prayer centered around the botanical images of Christ and his people found in scripture.

June 17, 2024
A Trickle of Ever-Growing Hope

In this final worship service, Jared Alcantara will preach on Ezekiel 47, “A Trickle of Ever-Growing Hope.” As we dwell with these images of hope after a hard time, we will be led by Calvin University choirs directed by Pearl Shangkuan. Organist David Cherwien will participate as well.

June 17, 2024