Revised and updated, this popular book shows pastors and worship leaders the basics of United Methodist worship. In this straightforward and updated commentary, Hoyt Hickman explains the basic pattern of United Methodist worship within the broader context of Christian worship. Drawing upon five basic principles, the author explains the formative nature of worship and how it can revitalize persons' lives. These principles are: God's Word is primary; active congregational participation is crucial; spontaneity and order are both important; worship should be relevant and inclusive; and worship is communion. This revision will highlight the African-American contribution to UM worship, discuss at greater length what the various worship styles mean for us today, say more about the formative nature of worship, and include updated resources including the Abingdon Worship Annual, the Abingdon Preaching Annual, and WorshipConnection. Explains basic resources for planning and leading worship. Gives the basic pattern of UM worship and its origins. Gives practical suggestions how to renew and revitalize worship. Helps pastors be effective leaders in planning and revitalizing worship. Helps pastors understand and communicate the uniqueness of UM worship. Helps pastors lead their congregation into a deeper and richer experience of God through worship.

"The United Methodist Church is a church is crisis. Since 1962, the church has been losing influence and membership at a dizzying rate...across this seemingly dismal landscape, comes the powerful, hopefuilled rallying cry of And Are We Yet Alive?" Also by the author, publishing in April 2008 The Tie That Binds item number 9780687652082

This book is the official Journal of the Indiana Conference Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Session held in Indianapolis, Ind., June 7-9, 2012.

The official 2011 Journal of the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church with proceedings of the Third Annual Session at Ball State, Muncie, Indiana, June 8-11, 2011.

Enigmas and Powers is a celebration and engagement of the work of the noted author, biblical scholar, peace activist, pastor, speaker, and workshop leader, Walter Wink. Among Wink's numerous influential works are The Human Being: Jesus and the Enigma of the Son of the Man, The Bible in Human Transformation, Homosexuality and Christian Faith, Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way, and The Powers trilogy (Naming the Powers, Unmasking the Powers, and Engaging the Powers). This is the only volume devoted to responses by Walter's colleagues and students to the entire range of his work and its vast impact across disciplines, from biblical studies to peace studies, from theology to psychology. You hold in your hands an unusual book. In it you will find essays, letters, speeches, prayers, toasts, reminiscences, arguments, footnotes, and open-ended conversation. You will find addressed--and by addressed, I mean that the authors are variously talking to these persons/entities--God; the Spirit; Psyche; Walter Wink the person; Walter Wink the essay, book, theory, method, and/or argument(s); and finally, and throughout, you, the reader. Most of all, you will find, I hope, truth. Or, at least, meaningful, productive, and enticing approaches toward truth itself, and toward the world in light of truth. --from the introduction

What is distinctive about ministry in an immigrant community, and how has it changed or remained the same over the last 150 years? What happens to the individual and communal religious identity of immigrants in the process of assimilation into the dominant denominational and social culture? On to Perfection explores a neglected doctrine and a largely forgotten chapter in Methodist history through the eyes of Nels O. Westergreen, a nineteenth-century Swedish immigrant preacher in the United States.