Arising out of many years' practical experience in local parishes and on a diocesan liturgical committee, this second volume in a series of three by this creative team of writers will help local churches everywhere make the most of the opportunities presented by couples coming for marriage or a wedding blessing. The wedding industry today is driven by consumer choice. Churches are uniquely placed to offer: real pastoral support at what is often a stressful (and expensive!) time, time out to consider what marriage means and imaginative liturgies that can make a wedding truly memorable. This book is full of ideas that will help make the experience of getting married in church joyous, memorable and meaningful. From giving engaged couples 'Stress-busting gift packs', to creating personalised wedding ceremonies, ideas for church decorating and welcoming couples who have got married in another part of the country or abroad, this is a resource brimming with simple and effective ideas.

Christian initiation takes varying forms in different denominations and for many non-churchgoing new parents, a christening or some other kind of ceremony is important at this landmark time in their lives. Equally, many adults seek baptism in the Church of England and the ancient practice of baptism with confirmation at the Easter Vigil is enjoying a revival. This volume - the third and final volume in the "Creative Pastoral Liturgy" series - offers imaginative ideas and liturgies for all these and many more occasions in the life of a local church which you will not find in official service books. These include: blessings for a house and a new building, thanksgiving liturgies for all who help to run the church, services of blessing for those moving away, for a student going travelling, for a group going on pilgrimage, for an ordinand starting training, and for someone going to serve overseas. As with the companion volumes on marriage and funerals, this invaluable resource ensures that the authorised initiation liturgies are celebrated with imagination and creativity so that pastoral support and care is made clearly visible.

Seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter are among the busiest for clergy and leaders of worship. This addition to the popular Creative Ideas series helps you plan seasonal worship more easily with a range of easy-to-use dramas and ideas to liven up worship, all based on the lectionary readings. It includes: • dramatic readings of lectionary readings and drama sketches for all seasons of the Christian year • short and snappy dramatic dialogues exploring biblical readings from a contemporary point of view • ideas for using our worship space more creatively • ideas for non-lectionary events such as Christingle • how to write creatively for worship • CD-Rom with downloadable resources Seasons covered include Advent, Christmas, Christingle, Epiphany, Lent, Mothering Sunday, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Harvest and Remembrance Sunday.

Ask almost any priest what his or her biggest headache is and the answer is likely to be 'coming up with ideas for including children in worship'. Here is the answer to those prayers - a whole year's worth of activities and ideas complete with artwork and visual aids. These sixty outlines have been developed and used in an Anglican parish church over the last eight years by a professional educationalist, artist and experienced children's church leader. The worship outlines include simple children's liturgies and a complete lesson or story plan that harmonizes with what the adults are doing in church on the same day. Through fun ideas, children encounter a real aspect of the Christian faith focused on a theme to be found in the Gospel of the day. Each outline includes a variety of options which make them workable with small and large groups of children or single groups of mixed ages. Illustrated throughout, the text and artwork appears on the accompanying CD Rom in full colour for downloading and printing or copying.

Sunday worship, baptisms, weddings and funerals are the shop window of the church and there is nothing more important for mission than getting them right. How do we help congregations and occasional visitors encounter God through them? This practical guide draws upon the treasury of the church's tradition and experience to establish good practice and enrich understanding. Part One explores the changing landscape in which we live and the place of worship within it. Part Two asks how our churches can be more welcoming and provides a handy 'worship audit'. Part Three focuses on the main services (CW & BCP Communion, Evensong and the pastoral services) and how to bring these liturgies to life. Part Four helps us to maximise the opportunities offered by the seasons of the Christian year. Part Five focuses on using the non-verbal elements of worship well - liturgical colours, candles, oil, incense, icons etc Part Six is an extensive glossary designed to answer every question you might ever ask about worship and liturgy.

An introduction to the principles and skills of pastoral liturgy. Inter-denominational, this text can be used across different Christian traditions, in both formal and informal contexts and to meet traditional and non-traditional pastoral needs.

Arising out of many year's experience of helping to lead local church worship and counselling work in a children's hospice, this is the first of three new volumes that focuses on the occasions when many non-churchgoers visit a church: for christenings, weddings, funerals, and memorials. These rites of passage present key opportunities for occasional visitors to encounter the Christian faith. If they are imaginatively handled a lifelong interest can be aroused. If they are insensitively done, people can be put of for life. This practical resource offers prayers, forms of words and many tried and tested ideas for creating rituals that give support at a time of great need following a death. It will enable the creation of rites (based on the authorized liturgical texts) that are beautiful, memorable and meaningful. Particular help is given for that most difficult of pastoral challenges, the death of a child and the care of the bereaved family.