WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 12 (December 2015) This year our elders decided that, for the six Sundays from November 29-January 3, we should combine our Classic and Contemporary Services and all meet together for the Christmas season. (This in response to such positive feedback from combining services about once every two months throughout the year.) It was a challenge, and a lot of work! But it seems to have come […]
Together for Christmas Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 11 (November 2015) God is the almighty Creator of the universe; the Bible calls Him “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:15-16). And yet – wonder of wonders! – this infinite God has condescended to be with us. “God with us” – in the Hebrew “Emmanuel” –
EMMANUEL: God with Us Read More »
Morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday, November 18 during the ETS Annual Meetings (Atlanta, Georgia; more info at etsjets.org)
BIBLICAL WORSHIP section of the Evangelical Theological Society Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 10 (October 2015) HOW GOD IS REPRESENTED IN THE PSALMS God’s Powerful Protection Kenneth E. Bailey (The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament, 35-36) has observed that Psalm 18:1-3 piles up a number of attributes and metaphors that are common throughout the Psalms, all of them what he calls “homeland security” images. Hence: I love you, O LORD, my strength.The LORD is
THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 2) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 9 (September 2015) Psalms are the language we use when we need a voice other than our own.(Cornelius Plantinga & Sue A. Rozeboom, Discerning the Spirits:A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, 160) The Psalms hold a unique place in both Jewish and Christian piety. As has often been pointed out, the full range of human emotions can be found in these 150 songs,
THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 1) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 8 (August 2015) Last month we naturally gave our first and primary focus in our study of congregational readings to “the public reading of Scripture“ (1 Timothy 4:13), and to the priority of letting “the Word of Christ dwell richly among you” (Colossians 3:16). But there are other resources as well (historical and recent) that can be drawn upon and fruitfully used in worship services. 2. CREEDS
SPOKEN WORSHIP: Congregational Readings (part 2) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 7 (July 2015) Participatory worship involves more than singing, of course. The people of God can lift their voices to express their hearts through various types of readings as well. 1. SCRIPTURE Paul’s command to Timothy, “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture” (1 Timothy 4:13) can and should certainly extend beyond the pastoral role. The power of God’s Word read, perhaps even more so
SPOKEN WORSHIP: Congregational Readings (part 1) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 6 (June 2015) The following powerful summary and celebration of the message of the Book of Revelation was presented in word and song at special Palm Sunday services on Sunday, March 29, 2015, with readers, congregation, choir and orchestra at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee. A video recording of the service can be accessed HERE. And the service program can be found HERE. HEAR
ALL THINGS NEW: Revelation Hope Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 5 (May 2015) This Sunday, May 24), is Pentecost Sunday, the great culmination of the Easter season (50 days after Easter Sunday), commemorating the events of Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples, filling them with boldness to proclaim the message of Christ. The effects of Peter’s sermon that day, the conversion and baptism of 3,000 people, has led to the historical designation
THE COMFORTER HAS COME (Pentecost) Read More »
