held in Victoria BC this past July offered a variety of opportunities for participants to enter into the theme of the conference, “Responding to Disaster – Prayer, Song, Presence”, through plenary sessions, worship, workshops, and social gatherings. Clergy, laity, Anglicans, Lutherans, ecumenical partners, and all who attended, were challenged by our keynote speaker, Lizette Larson-Miller, an Anglican priest and the Huron Lawson professor at Huron University College of the University of Western Ontario. Chad Fothergill, our conference musician, offered musical insights during our worship, as well as challenging us with the psalms of lament.
Two of the conference attendees offer here their diverse reflections on attending the National Worship Conference. Pastor David Malina touches on the theme, “Are we ready? Are we pastors and worship leaders prepared to offer liturgies and prayers at times of heartbreaking disasters, which help us absorb, process through, and respond to disasters when they eventually happy, both in our personal, individual lives, as well as in our corporate lives.” Rev. Paul Bosch reflects on where tradition plays a role in our worship conferences – both in our liturgies and in the songs and hymns we sing.
Take the time to read through these reflections. Feel free to comment and add your own thoughts. And it is not too early to know that there will be another National Worship Conference coming in 2020. Details will be communicated as they become available.
we have been given in Christ to love our neighbour. The themed session were an exercise in contextual theology as we listened closely to our neighbours inside and outside the church, set within our times of praise and prayer. (Debbie Lou Ludolph, Worship Ministries Director, original quote published in The Eastern Synod Assembly Edition).
Each of the worship missals is attached to this article. You are invited and encouraged to review and use the prayers, songs and bible studies that are provided. At the end of the each missal is a list of permissions and resources. Please credit the original authors for any resource that you are using.
Our thanks to the Worship Planning Team of: Debbie Lou Ludolph, Jonah Bruce, Sherry Coman, Rev. Steve Hoffard, Bradley Moggach, Cherub Philip, Kathryn Smith and Robb Wilson.
Opening Worship – Bishop Michael Pryse with Rev. Rosalyn Kantlah^nta’ Elm presided, National Bishop Susan Johnson preached.
If you have any questions about the missals and or resources, feel contact Kathryn Smith at esworshipblog@gmail.com.
under the “Worship Matters” banner. Being both a book junkie and someone who is passionately interested in liturgy and worship, I just couldn’t resist getting these books. I have found all of them helpful and easy to read and use, but there is one in particular that has proven very beneficial in the area of worship leadership. Leading Worship Matters: A Sourcebook for Preparing Worship Leaders is written for the person training the worship leaders, but includes many helpful handouts and resources for those who will be taking on worship leadership roles.
The book clearly ascribes to the belief that worship leadership is the responsibility of the entire assembly gathered for worship, referring to Principle 8 in The Use of the Means of Grace, a statement on the practice of word and sacrament, adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): “All the baptized share responsibility for the proclamation of the Word and the formation of the Christian assembly.” The introductory pages continue with theological, missional and practical reasons for including lay members as worship leaders. What I appreciate, though, is that at no time do the writers take these roles lightly, but rather emphasize training and reflection. As stated in the introduction,”Leading worship is not, of course, simply a matter of standing up and directing traffic; it is a ministry that requires prayer, thought, and practice” (p. 9). Another important point – there is no expectation that every congregation needs to follow an exact formula. The content of the book is applicable to a broad range of contexts, leadership, and worship styles. For example, in the chapter on Communion Ministers, there is acknowledgement that there are as many ways to distribute communion as there are assemblies, and the emphasis is placed on being gracious and graceful ministers, “caring for this meal as something both precious and familiar” (p. 125). The tips In the “Tips for Communion Ministers”, include: Serve with grace and purpose; Serve with joy; Worship while you serve; Know that you are serving Christ” (p. 133).
has commissioned Where Two or Three Are Gathered: Worship for Small Assemblies, a series of worship outlines for the seasons of the church year using Evangelical Lutheran Worship as the primary resource. Each week’s worship orders include options for Holy Communion and Service of the Word.
The Time or Season of Creation is increasingly being recognized by churches across the world. It is now designated each year between the Day of Creation, September 1, and the festival of Francis of Assisi, October 4. This year there are five Sundays to recognize this seasonal emphasis on the goodness of God’s creation and God’s calling all people to care for the earth and its climate.
Clink on the link Where Two or Three are Gathered for visual and musical suggestions, a simple order for worship, prayer and liturgical choices from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) and other sources.
See last weeks post for additional resources.
to learn about this groundbreaking resource centre. You will hear from some of Toronto’s top song leaders and hymnologists and sing together in a “Big Sing,” celebrating the diversity of the church’s song.
The price is right – FREE – but please register to ensure the venue has enough space for everyone.
The exciting sequel to All Hands In is here! And here’s your chance to learn from composers Mark Burrows and Brian Hehn as they lead this webinar hosted by Sacred Choral Editor Katie Houts. Mark and Brian will show you how to maximize your use of drumming resources in fun and creative ways. Join the session live at noon (central) Thursday, Aug. 30.
Resources are available from many of our ecumenical partners, including those that have been created within the Eastern Synod. Follow the various links to find resources appropriate to your community and context. I encourage to share how your congregation remembered the Season of Creation.
Hymns, Prayers, Studies (including a Blessing of the Animals liturgy), Suggested Activities and links to other ecumenical resources.
Here you will find lectionary notes based on the Revised Common Lectionary, Hymn Suggestions using a variety of hymnal resources (unfortunately not including Evangelical Lutheran Worship), and a Sample Liturgy.
This is the main page for knowing what is happening internationally, and for finding a “Season of Creation” 2018 Celebration Guide, produced in partnership with many of our international ecumenical partners, including Lutheran World Relief and the World Council of Churches. A further explanation of this year’s theme is available, as well as additional worship and prayer materials, and a blessing for pilgrims. The guide is online, and as well there is a downloadable PDF version available.
Sing the Circle Wide: The Inshallah songbook published in 2016 contains a number of songs suitable for using during the Season of Creation, including “The Earth does not belong to us”, “To God our thanks we give”, and “For the Beauty of the Earth,” traditional words set to a Chinese folk tune melody.
Blessing of the Animals: The Season of Creation ends on October 4, The Feast Day of St. Francis. It has been traditional in some communities to celebrate a “Blessing of the Animals” on or around this date. See the posting of May 22, 2018 for a service of Pet Blessing prepared by Rev. Janaki Bandara and a sample certificate that can be used for people to remember the day. In addition, refer to the Blessing of the Animals liturgy mentioned above available on the ELCIC website.
May we grow more mindful of the world we have been entrusted with during this Season of Creation.