Planning Worship

Four Learning Practices for Sermon Engagement

Learning practices have rich application for sermon engagement. Here are four easy-to-implement strategies to allow each sermon to be more formative in our daily lives.

February 14, 2018
A Random, Crazy List or Really Cogent Lections: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary

In this session, the panelists discussed the structure of the lectionary system and the advantages and challenges of its use.

February 8, 2018

Warren Kinghorn on Mental Health and Christian Worship

It is far more common to hear about physical ailments than mental ones in congregational prayers and worship. Psychiatrist Warren Kinghorn explains why mental health issues and people with mental illness should be acknowledged in Christian worship.

February 6, 2018
Round Two: Ordination Best Practices for Ministers, Elders, and Deacons

Our first roundup of ordination resources was so popular that we have now consulted five more experts from five more denominations. Their best practices will help you dig beneath the surface when you ordain or install ministers, elders, and deacons.

November 21, 2017 | 25 min read
A Conversation with David Crowder

View this conversation with pastoral musician David Crowder and Noel Snyder, program manager at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

November 14, 2017 | 27 min video

Reflections from a Charlottesville Church . . .

Isaac Wardell, Director of Worship Arts at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, shares reflections from his experience shepherding their Charlottesville congregation in Sunday worship through the trauma of hatred, bigotry, and violence that took place in their small town less than one day before they gathered for worship.

August 28, 2017
How Worship Change Happened at American Lutheran Church

This once-aging, now-thriving Lutheran congregation became more comfortable with worship changes by using visuals and stories, reading books together, and sharing over meals.

August 18, 2017
Jamie Skillen on Creation Care and Sabbath Rest

Christians often talk about the doctrine of creation as mainly about origins and God’s glory. Jamie Skillen goes deeper by looking at God’s purpose in creation and how that applies to creation care.

August 4, 2017

Ten Ways to be More Inclusive and Welcoming in Worship and Church Life

Here are helpful suggestions for congregations who strive to include people across the full spectrum of abilities in their small group settings and beyond.

August 3, 2017
Faith Formation and Worship: A Worship Historian's View from the "End of the World"

Worship is a formative practice: through active engagement in liturgy, Christians are formed in a particular understanding of God, of others, and of themselves, and of what it means to live a Christian life in this world.

June 30, 2017 | 58 min video
Medieval Spirituality and Liturgy as a Source for Contemporary Worship

An annotated research guide from the field of history, exploring the relevance of medieval spirituality and liturgy for current worship practices.

June 26, 2017