Planning Blended Worship

Planning Blended Worship: The Creative Mixture of Old and New is a guide to planning creative worship for congregations that follow the traditional fourfold pattern of worship (gathering, word, table, and dismissal), or those who prefer a free-church, evangelical style, but who are also interested in the core practices (space, texts, and so forth) that have characterized Christian worship throughout the centuries. Robert Webber designed this volume to show pastors, music directors, and other worship leaders the practical, structural, and theological steps for designing worship services characterized by biblical depth, historical awareness, and contemporary relevance. The author includes charts and forms at the end of each chapter that clearly show how music and other arts can be integrated with liturgical texts.

A practical, user-friendly, and low-budget guide to starting a blended worship service. This volume is ideal for churches poised to explore blended worship - traditional liturgy integrated with fresh, contemporary elements. This practical, easy-to-use guide gives laypersons - an often untapped source of creativity and innovation - the push they need to move from the pews to the forefront of blended worship. With the guide's easy-to-follow text and examples, laypersons will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to go full speed ahead with visuals, graphics, and even videos.

Much more than a "how-to" for worship planners. Drawing on more than two decades of collaborative worship planning, as well as numerous conversations with other worship planners. Pastor Howard Vanderwell and musician Norma de Waal Malefyt lay out a thoughtful, field-tested process for planning, implementing, and evaluating life-enriching weekly worship. Well over a dozen field-tested tools and a selected bibliography round out this invaluable resource for worship planners.

Religion today is in competition with the leisure and entertainment industries. Gen Y, the postmodern generation, is open to spirituality; but most of todays young adults have not been born into faith communities where they feel any lasting allegiance. Studies suggest that for the young, belief in God is an optional matter, a virtual consumer choice. As a result, different trends in worship and worship styles are offered by different churches to suit lifestyles, attitudes, and personal taste.

This volume sensibly examines whether an inconsistency exists between a Canadian Pentecostal denomination’s trinitarian statement of faith and the songs they most commonly sing. Colin Gunton’s trinitarian theology is utilized as a framework for this landmark analysis.

Seeking to push the historical study of the liturgical phenomenon known as “Contemporary Worship” or “Praise and Worship” to a new level, this collection of essays offers an introduction to the phenomenon, documents critical aspects of its development, and suggests methods for future historical study. This multi-authored work investigates topics in both the Pentecostal and mainline branches of this way of worship, looking at subjects little explored by prior work. The provocative issues explored include Integrity Hosanna! Music, James White, charismatic renewal, John Wimber, the development of second services, Black Gospel, overlooked (non-white) sources of worship music, degree programs for worship leaders, and Robert Webber.

A reexamination of the actual practice of worship that goes beyond the merely academic to provide a practical perspective through the eyes of the worship leader and the congregation. The most effective approach to worship is one that blends historical and traditional practices with contemporary elements. Worship Old and New is a scholarly, up-to-date, and thought-provoking resource for anyone serious about exploring worship and how to bring about a worship renewal in the church. Now reformatted and updated for an easier, more logical approach to worship theology, this revised edition is divided into four major sections, addressing: The biblical foundation of worship—found in the Old and New Testaments as well as the early Christian movement. The biblical theology of worship—how worship is an enactment of the Gospel. A brief history of worship—from ancient and medieval, to twentieth-century renewal. An overview of how worship is practiced—from content and structure, to the role of music and art. New information is incorporated into each section to give you a better grasp of the biblical themes of worship, a deeper understanding of Old Testament customs, and a solid grounding in modern-day renewal movements. This book is ideal for ministerial, classroom, and congregational settings.