rev. joan van becelaere district executive ohio-meadville district
TRANSCRIPT
OverviewIntroductionsSession 1
Common Worship – Why and WhatSession 2
Practical Matters - HowSession 3
Practice – Who (You)
WorshipOld English: “Woerth-scrippen,” to shape or be shaped by what which is of
worth. to ascribe worth or value to something.
Worshipworship is a human activity. it does not need to have supernatural
implications. we worship when we ascribe worth to some
value, idea, object, person, experience, attitude, or activity.
when we give form or shape to that which we have already found to be worthy.
Common Worshipa group spiritual practice. each element expresses something we value. a deliberate shaping, ordering, or recalling of
the things of worth which we experience individually at various moments in our lives.
shaping happens in the context of a community of persons who share common values, ideas, and attitudes.
Inclusive vs Exclusiveeasy to be exclusive not easy to be inclusiveall of us need to be reminded of others needs
and perspectives
Purpose & Function of WorshipWhat is worthy of worship? What ideals, persons, values, and concepts
are worthy of worship? That which individuals find worthwhile must
be tested in the context of community.
Sacramental Worshipworship as drama of the divine-human
encountersacramental – words and actions participate
in divine realitylives are transformed for service in the world
Educational Worshiprooted in Calvinism, common to most Protestantspurpose is to proclaim and interpret "the Word"
to the congregation readings and sermon are usually central. appeals to the intellect and will rather than the
senses most UU worship is educational and verbalmost UU worship is also thematic expresses an idea or message educates and inspires people to create
community, justice & equality
Educational WorshipUnitarian Fellowship Hymn and Service Book
(Beacon, 1949)Worship defined as educational and thematic:
“A religious service is a diversified and orderly program which culminates in a sermon or address or other event, in which a particular idea or set of ideas is emphasized or clarified and applied to daily life.”
Celebratory Worshipemphasizes the artistic and senses and
feelingdoes not try to create community or teachreflects and celebrates, creative spiritual play
Thematic vs LiturgicalUUs tend to ask what different forms of
worship do to us and for us psychologically rather than ask what has been given through revelation or tradition. how do worship forms help us shape and
celebrate worthwhile experiences and values how do they help us make use of the healing
and transforming forces present in the world.
Thematic Worshipdevelops a single idea or theme through
readings, music, collective acts and a major presentation (sermon, panel,etc.)
can be innovative: might or might not follow a usual order
use of some familiar elements make people comfortable
Liturgical Worship“liturgy"- Greek "the people's work." most of service is read or responded to by the
congregationfamiliarity with elements repeated each
Sundayfocus on universal human needs rather than a
particular theme.
High Quality Worshiphigh-quality worship engages people. thematic or liturgical or some combo can be
done well or poorlyeither can be inclusive or exclusive quality is more than mere performanceengages people and meets their needs
Celebration of LifeWorship as Five Act Drama - Von Ogden Vogt Act 1. Attention/Vision
We state and affirm our ideals and aspirations. Act 2. Humility
We are humbled by the realization that we fall short of our ideals.
Act 3. Exaltation We regain our strength, feel empowered, give thanks.
Act 4. Illumination We consider wisdom from the past and present. (sermon often included here)
Act 5. Dedication We reaffirm our ideals, resolve to act responsibly.
Then a hymn and benediction.
Variation – Celebration of LifeAct 1. Centering
Entrance Song, Call to Celebration, Invocation, Opening Words, Processional Hymn, etc.
Act 2. Embracing the Limitations Acknowledgment of Struggle to be Whole, Poetry or music touching the depths, Reading illustrating human folly, Silent Meditation, etc., followed by Doxology, Words of Assurance, Hymn, Psalm of Praise, Litany of Thanksgiving, etc.
Act 3. Declaring the Possibilities Readings, Sermon, Dramatic presentation, Dance, Dialogue, Panel, etc.
Act 4. Community-building Peace Greeting, Sharing of Concerns, Offering, Covenant, Affirmation, Communion, Signing a Petition or other Social Action Commitment, Hymn, Closing Words, Benediction, etc.
Theory of Psychotherapeutic ChangeEugene Gendlinawareness of the issue at hand. owning one's relationship to the issue.
(reality testing) application of the issue to aspects of living. shifting back to the self with a new sense of
wholeness.
Theory of Pedagogy Applied to WorshipEntering - (Initiation)Joining - (Interaction)Venturing - (Investigation)Returning - (Internalization)
Worship as PilgrimageAct 1. Approach/Call
Gathering together in a particular time and place
Act 2. Connection/Community Realizing our connections with one another and with transcendent values.
Act 3. Return/Thanksgiving Turning back to everyday life as an individual.
Worship as Creative Energy H. Wieman Step 1. Approach
Relaxation -- awe and wonder; awareness of dependency.
Step 2. Vision Calling to mind the possibilities for good in the world.
Step 3. Exploration and Illumination Facing a particular problem.
Step 4. Reflection Self-analysis to find change necessary in mind and action. May even include Confession.
Step 5. Affirmation/Dedication Comprehensive reformulation of what has to be done.
Modelsno one model is the "correct" modeleach involves the individuals as they relate
to:the religious community, transcendent values, their own responsibilitieseach includes an intellectual element. each includes inward, reflective time.
Style, Setting, Moodrole of worship leader regarding style, setting
and mood?give the time due respect – dress, demeanorcheck attitudes and mental preparation for
worshiphelp the service move smoothly and with
grace. minimize confusionother duties????
Dressreflects your view of the servicereflects your regard for the peopleshorts, cut offs, flip-flops- don’t
At the Pulpitshoeswalking to the pulpit – keep track of where
you need to be and whenleaning on the pulpit
Using the Microphonesound check before the serviceknow what the mike sounds like – too close,
not close enough?practice
Readingknow your materialmark your materialmake eye contactkeep track – use hand or highlight pointsretype and enlarge as needed
Other Best Practicesbe on time!!!glass of waterset material before the service beginscough dropskleenexmatches and chalice candle
Color and Dramause of digital projector
creativity countsbe intentionalknow your equipmentpractice! and practice!
hymn lyricsuse large type and spacingfair use if you own the hymnalpractice!
Story and Theatretry different ways to present stories and
sermonsuse pictures with storiestry dialogue in stories and sermons– hey little
antuse videos from online for special
announcements, messages, part of sermon
Adding Alternative Voicesintroduce multicultural hymns (and other
hymns) in context to enhance meaningadd new forms of music when possible – but
be sure it fits with flowwhen using multicultural and alternative
voices for readings or poetry, give some context or background
practice unusual names and titles – no stumbling allowed!
Creating a ServiceTopic
know what the speaker is going to talk about. Walk Through the Hymnal
topical index of readingstopical index of hymns
Resources Handout - WorshipWeb
What Not To Do!Do not:use new songs that are complex or if there is
no time to teach new ones. (impossible songs!)
use overly wordy responsive readings – Emerson as a unison reading! Ouch!
other things that don’t work?
Small Team AssignmentOutline a Service - except the announcements,
sermon and actually singing the hymns Theme – choose one
PeaceEnvironmentUU History
Create the outline of a service. Choose the elementsCome and read those elementsLead us in responsive readings
The Aim of Common Worship(from the WorshipWeb )
The aim of all worship is to help order the religious consciousness in the individual and the group.
It is to help us know and feel how we relate as individuals to ourselves, to the world, to the totality of being.
The aim of common worship is to help us face up to our individual and collective limitations and failures, to open us to sources of creative, healing, transforming, and renewing power. It is to help us discover how that which transcends our narrow individual existence can move us, challenge us, inspire us, stimulate us to think, feel, act, and be. It is to help us declare, celebrate, rejoice in those things we have discovered to be "of worth."
The aim of common worship is to help us reorder, reopen, reshape, and reinterpret our experience and to help us find the power to reaffirm again and again in word and deed what is worthy of our ultimate commitment.