Reasonable Worship Resolutions for 2018

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WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 12  (December 2017) New Year’s resolutions abound every year at this time, and while all are well-intentioned, it’s common knowledge that most of them don’t make it through the middle of January. Below are some suggestions for some steps that could enrich and deepen our corporate practice and individual walk of worship. IN THE SERVICE 1. Read more Scripture. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing […]

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WITTENBERG REPORT: The Reformation at 500

Reformation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 10  (October 2017) I apologize that Worship Notes for October is so late; after taking part in World Reformed Fellowship’s conference “The Global Impact of the Reformation and its Relevance for Continuing Reformation” in Wittenberg, Germany, I continued on to Singapore for a non-stop week of teaching there. I would like to now share some reflections on my time in Wittenberg and on the 500th

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CELEBRATING REFORMATION 500: What, Why, How

Grace, Reformation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 8  (August 2017) “Reformation Day,” and “Reformation Sunday” on the Sunday immediately preceding, is celebrated every year in Lutheran and other churches in commemoration of Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg; this act is commonly seen as setting in motion the discussions, debates and conflicts that resulted in what we now call the Protestant Reformation. This year there

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Thinking Ahead: A Christmas Festival of Lessons & Carols (part 2 of 2)

Christmas, Incarnation, Music, Revelation and Response, Word and Worship

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 7  (July 2017) (original cover artwork by Emily Ozier for our 2010 Festival of Lessons & Carols)   THE ELEMENTS OF A LESSONS & CAROLS SERVICE (continued) 2. THE THEME Obviously the theme is the birth of Christ! But often we have looked at the Christmas story from varying angles, with an overarching sub-theme giving direction and focus to the individual lessons and to the

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Thinking Ahead: A Christmas Festival of Lessons & Carols (part 1 of 2)

Christmas

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 6  (June 2017) Those of us involved in church music ministry know all to be well that it is high time that we were about making plans for our 2018 Christmas services. The publishers know that too: they have already been dumping new issues on us for a couple of months now. My now-grown children are grateful that they no longer have to be subjected

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ASCENDED ON HIGH

Ascension, Christ and Worship, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Majesty

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 12, No. 5  (May 2017) Thursday, May 25 is Ascension Day ( and Sunday, May 28, therefore celebrated as Ascension Sunday), commemorating the physical ascent of the risen Christ to the Father’s right hand in heaven, 40 days after Easter. The cosmic significance of the Ascension is often overlooked, after the joyous celebration of the Resurrection dissipates in the weeks following Easter. But the Heidelberg Cathechism (Question 49) highlights some of its consequences

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Gift of Gifts

Christmas, Incarnation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 12  (December 2016) O Source of all good, what shall I render to Thee for the Gift of gifts,Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,my Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,His self-emptying incomprehensible,His infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp. Herein is Wonder of wonders: He came below to raise me above,was born like me that I might become like Him. Herein is love: when I cannot

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The Wonder of the Incarnation

Christmas, Incarnation

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 11 (November 2016) As we enter this season of Advent and Christmas, I decided I could do not better than to offer these meditations on the Incarnation from figures down through the centuries. I hope your spirits will be refreshed anew as you meditate on these words. A number of them are quite suitable for use as readings, responsive readings and prayers in Christ services;

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The Reformation of Worship

Christ and Worship, Church, Gospel, Music, New Testament, Reformation, Salvation, Word and Worship

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 10 (October 2016) We usually think of the Reformation of the 15th Century in terms of doctrinal renewal. The Reformers were not seeking to bring new or original truths to the Church; rather they were zealous to bring back to the Church the biblical/apostolic teaching concerning salvation, which had been largely lost to the Church. Hence their emphasis on justification by grace alone, through faith

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EASTERTIDE: The Great Fifty Days

Easter, Resurrection

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 11, No. 4 (April 2016) As Michael Farley has written, Easter is a season of celebration. Easter is a time of joyfully retelling and remembering the true story that Jesus was not defeated by death, but rose again from the grave three days later (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)! . . . Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostle Paul wrote,

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