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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
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
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

The Prophetic Call and First Messages

Mark Labberton will preach “The Prophetic Call and First Messages” based on Ezekiel 1–2. Other worship service participants include Alexis VanZalen, the Grand Rapids Christian High School band, Katie Ritsema Roelofs, Joel Littlepage, Kimberly Williams, Brian Hehn and Justin Fung.

June 17, 2024
God’s Glory Departs from Israel

Led in Korean and English by the Woodlawn Christian Reformed Church Choir, directed by Chan Gyu Jang; the Living Water Church Worship Team, directed by Yohan Lee; and members of the Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary Korean communities. Anne Zaki will preach on Ezekiel 10–11, “God’s Glory Departs from Israel.”

June 17, 2024
The Valley of Dry Bones

Preacher Brianna Parker will focus on the valley of dry bones described in Ezekiel 37 in this service of the word and table that is led by the Calvin University Gospel Choir and Nate Glasper with Ruth Naomi Floyd.

June 17, 2024