The most impressive thing about Wayne Keller's body of ideas for worship throughout the Christian Year is his boldness. He is bold in demanding that we, his colleagues in liturgical leadership, plan worship that has to do with the reality of our congregations' experience in the world, rather than just leading people through a proper agenda of acts and words that have no bearing on what we do the rest of the week. He is bold in challenging us to bring that real world -- with its pains and its pleasures, its hungers and its feasts, its beauty and its ugliness -- to exposure before the living God. And he is bold in helping us shine the strong, exposing light of the transforming Word on our real lives and on that real world, so that we may move beyond planning worship as a "nice," safe, feel-good routine from which we depart the same people we were when we arrived. We are thrilled by the seriousness and authentic reverence with which this author approaches the planning of worship. Thank God for Wayne Keller and for his deep respect for the central act of the Christian community: the blessed and life-transforming experience of the worship of God. Richard Avery and Donald Marsh Port Jervis, New York Wayne Keller's method creates not only a contemporary appeal, but also effects a congregational involvement so necessary today within the liturgical context. His approach is fresh and practical and yet a reflection consistently of a solid liturgical and homiletical background. Keller has the ability to appeal to the everydayness of congregational experience. Donald Macleod Francis L. Patton Professor Emeritus Princeton Theological Seminary The good humor of Wayne Keller's work helps us feel at home in our imperfect world and feel more empathy for the rough edges of others and ourselves. Wayne's work encourages hope and faith with the way we are. Doug Adams Professor of Christianity and the Arts Pacific School of Religion and Graduate Theological Union A cascade of insights, ideas, suggestions, and plans for stimulating the working pastor's imagination and guiding in worship planning. Robert Coote Professor, San Francisco Theological Seminary Editor, Mustard-Seed Churches Wayne Keller elevates us to an authentic bring-your-warts-and-smiles encounter with the living God... a remarkable year-round resource for the entire worship team. Paul Hackett Former pastor and member, First Presbyterian Church Puyallup, Washington Keller says, "I have seen people bored to death in worship, seemingly because they come to worship as spectators, not as participants. For me no spectators are allowed! Soren Kierkegaard's analogy of worship as drama has guided my thinking and planning." Wayne H. Keller graduated from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He has served pastorates in Pennsylvania, Washington, and Oregon, and has also been the director of a halfway house for recovering mental patients. A member of the Presbyterian Writers Guild, Keller has published several books and numerous articles, and has been a columnist for the Bellingham Herald. He has also appeared frequently on radio and television programs and co-hosted a call-in counseling program and talk show.

If you're looking for ways to add excitement to your Sunday morning services while continuing to follow the lectionary texts, look no further! This remarkably inventive volume includes all the core liturgical elements of worship and introduces your congregation to innovative ventures into the fine arts -- yet everything revolves around each week's assigned lectionary passages. Whether you choose to use the stately calls to worship, litanies, and prayers, or try your hand (and those of your congregants) at dance, art, or drama, all can be done to bring glory to God and a fresh sense of his blessing to your services. There's also a wealth of musical suggestions reinforcing the main themes and ideas of the prayers, including hymns chosen from a wide variety of denominational hymnals, psalm settings, and appropriate anthems for the choir. The Lectionary Worship Workbook is a comprehensive library of creative material that will enable you and your congregation to encounter the living God -- and keep your worship services fresh, passionate, and stimulating. Amy C. Schifrin is currently the interim pastor at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in York, Pennsylvania. A former Seminary Pastor/Dean of the Chapel at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, Schifrin has also served congregations in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona, California, and Saskatchewan (Canada) during nearly three decades of parish and campus ministry. Schifrin holds degrees in music theory and composition from Arizona State University (B.Mus.) and Northwestern University (M.Mus.), as well as degrees from Luther Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley (Ph.D. in the Arts, Worship, and Proclamation). Her published works include hymns and psalm settings as well as articles and book reviews in Currents, Word and World, Dialog, and The Lutheran. Martha Shonkwiler is an artist and former elementary schoolteacher whose work encourages healing through art and spirituality. Her current emphasis is on developing spirituality through walking labyrinths. Shonkwiler is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, where she earned her M.A. degree in Christian ministry, and she has also studied art therapy at Sonoma State University and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Now a resident of Grants Pass, Oregon, Shonkwiler serves as a volunteer chaplain, labyrinth facilitator, and occasional art therapist at Three Rivers Community Hospital. Her artwork is also featured in local galleries.

This volume of the Connections Worship Companion series offers complete liturgies--from the call to worship to the closing charge, with prayers and litanies for every need in between--for all worshiping occasions between Advent and Pentecost of Year C. Part of the Connections commentary series, these worship resources help congregations illuminate the connections between Scripture and liturgical rhythms. A "Making Connections" essay precedes each liturgical season's resources, providing context for worship within the themes and purpose of the season.

Preachers must understand the teaching techniques of parable and hyperbole, not to mention having a good background in systematic theology, in order to understand what the Bible's writers really meant.... But our responsibility is also to reduce the complexities of Bible study to such simplicities that our many listeners, ranging from busy young professional people to aging men and women of failing health to youngsters facing a variety of new temptations, can take away a saving word. (from the Preface) E. Carver McGriff provides the tools preachers need for their daunting task with some of the most timely and thought-provoking research on the lectionary texts ever made available. Included for each scriptural lesson in the lectionary are: - A listing of the applicable Revised Common, Roman Catholic, and Episcopal lectionary texts. - A description of the Psalm of the day. - A prayer for the day. - Commentary that is more than academic exegesis -- McGriff brings to the forefront those points in the lessons that relate most poignantly to our contemporary reality. - Suggested sermon titles for each of the three texts for each Sunday. - Themes and suggested directions for preaching on each text. - Several additional illustrations to enliven your preaching. Known in the Indianapolis community as a preacher with extraordinary gifts, it is no surprise at all that this work by Carver McGriff brings remarkable insights to those who look for integrity in their preaching. Carver looks at the texts with a freshness that is sure to stimulate the thought process.... Careful use of these suggestions will bring serendipities to preacher and congregation. George H. Tooze Senior Minister, First Baptist Church Indianapolis, Indiana One of America's premiere preachers, E. Carver McGriff returned home after earning two Purple Hearts during World War II to earn a degree in business administration from Butler University. Following a career as a salesman and business owner, McGriff entered Garrett Theological Seminary, where he was voted Best Preacher by the faculty and graduated with distinction. During his 26-year ministry at St. Luke's Methodist Church in Indianapolis, McGriff spearheaded his congregation's remarkable growth in membership from 900 to 4,400, with average Sunday attendance increasing from 300 to over 1,850. McGriff received an honorary degree from the University of Indianapolis and the Outstanding Alumnus award from Butler University and was voted the Distinguished Alumnus of the year by Christian Theological Seminary. McGriff was also honored in 1993 by the Governor of Indiana with the "Sagamore of the Wabash." His sermons have been distributed nationwide by the United Methodist Publishing House.

Continuing with her classic and easy-to-use format, Dallas Brauninger has prepared a handy worship tool which provides pastors and worship planners with a worship theme for each of the three scriptural texts for each Sunday and major observance in Cycle C. Also included for each First Lesson, Second Lesson, and Gospel text are: Call To Worship Collect Prayer Of Confession Hymn Suggestions An index lists hymn tunes, hymn titles, and the worship hymnals they are drawn from. Dallas A. Brauninger, a graduate of Albion College, received her Master of Divinity degree and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. A full-time writer, she has served churches in Colorado and Nebraska. She and her husband, both ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ, live in Friend, Nebraska.

Every church, whatever its size, can be more creative and effective in proclaiming, celebrating, and responding to the scripture readings. Here is a remarkably inventive library of liturgical resources that's guaranteed to spark the creativity of anyone planning worship services. Robert Ingram's fertile imagination overflows with inspired ideas for presenting the lectionary epistle lesson, reinforced by visual imagery and recurring references throughout worship. For each Sunday and major occasion during the Christian year, Worship Workbook For The Epistles includes greetings, prayers, suggested hymns and choruses, and possibilities for decorating the worship space (including ideas for projected visuals). There's also a wealth of approaches for creative reading and dramatic presentation of the scripture, including movement, skits, short stories, and puppet plays.Like Ingram's acclaimed Worship Workbook For The Gospels series, this is a must-have volume for pastors, lay readers, musicians, artists, and drama groups -- anyone who contributes to worshipers hearing and responding to the living Word of God.