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For over 35 years, the Calvin Symposium on Worship has annually gathered together worshipers from many Christian traditions across Canada, the US, and beyond, bringing together people from a variety of roles in worship and leadership, including pastors, worship planners and leaders, musicians, scholars, students, worship bands and teams, organists, visual artists, preachers, chaplains, missionaries, liturgists, council and session leaders, and more. Cosponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary, the Symposium aims to encourage leaders in churches and worshiping communities of all sizes and settings.

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Schedule

Christ Has Died, He Is Risen, He Will Come Again: Proclaiming the Gospel through the Heritage of African American Prayer and Song

James Abbington, Morgan State University
Linda H. Hollies, Women to Women Ministries
Roy Berkenbosch, The King's University College

An evening service led by James Abbington that focuses on the Heritage of African American Prayer and Song, focusing on John 12:20-33 and John 20:11-16.

From the Heart to the Heavens: Hymn Festival

Emily R. Brink, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
David R. Davidson, Highland Park United Methodist Church
John D. Schwandt, Indiana University

The hymn festival handout, which focused on different means of worshiping: from the heart, in the congregation, with Christians of all times, with Christians of all places, and with the heavenly hosts.

Isaiah 60: Arise, Shine!

Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Calvin Theological Seminary
Alison Adam, Iona Community
Cindy de Jong
Matt Ackerman
Asher Mains
Steven Koster, Calvin Theological Seminary
John D. Schwandt, Indiana University
Amy B. Gregory, East Avenue United Methodist Church
Keith Brautigam

A worship service based on Isaiah 60 with Cornelius Plantinga Jr. preaching with Steven Koster as liturgist.

Morning Prayer: based on Psalm 103

Howard Vanderwell, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Norma deWaal Malefyt, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

A handout accompanying a morning worship service based on Psalm 103, conducted by Howard Vanderwell and Norma deWaal Malefyt, walking through the call to praise, in times of need, met by God's compassion, fragility surrounded by love, and ending with praise that seeks to expand.

My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone: A Meditative Noontime Prayer Service

Joyce Borger, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Darlene Meyering
Jana Bos
Anne Mallekoote
Nick Davelaar
Kristine Johnson
Karen Saupe
Craig Broek

A handout for a noontime prayer service centering on Psalm 62. During this service we will have the opportunity to reflect during times of silence. This silence is intended to give us space to meditate on scripture or the words we have sung or to offer silent prayer.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. -Psalm 62:1

Program - Calvin Symposium on Worship and the Arts

The Calvin Symposium on Worship and the Arts aims to bring together worship leaders and planners, pastors, artists, dramatists, and musicians from many church traditions to engage in worship, fellowship, learning, and discussion around preaching, drama, organ and piano music, worship planning, visual art, and congregational song.

The conference program is both ecumenical and Reformed, both principled and practical, both appreciative of a heritage and open to contemporary expression.

In fact, one of our main goals for the conference is to encourage a culture of ongoing learning. We hope that all of us will leave encouraged by what God is doing in congregations across North America and beyond, and with different and better questions to ask about our own worship practices–questions that focus our attention on worship's deepest purpose. We hope that the conference helps to answer down-to-earth, practical questions, but also gives all of us the opportunity to look at the gospel, the church, and the world through wide-angle lenses. Sessions about global worship practices, the history of worship, or about in-depth studies of particular biblical texts help deepen us in ways that ground our practical work. Overall, we hope the conference is roughly 75% practical, hands-on help and 25% perspective-giving, liberal-arts topics. We hope that this kind of approach is the natural outgrowth of our setting at a church-related, liberal-arts college.

Reflecting the Glory: Encouragement and Instruction from Paul's Treatise on Ministry (2 Corinthians 2-5)

James Abbington, Morgan State University
Alison Adam, Iona Community
Steven Garber, Calvin College
Mark Hayes
James C. Ward
John Witvliet, South Bend Christian Reformed Church
Amy Gregory
Timothy Brown, Western Theological Seminary
Jon Garbison, Western Theological Seminary
Jamie Schmeling, Western Theological Seminary
Joyce Borger, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Paul Detterman
Moses Chung, New Life Community Church
Alexis D. Abernethy, Fuller Theological Seminary

A service examining 2 Corinthians 2-5, starting with the fragrance of Christ, from glory to glory, God's work, start to finish, present affliction, eternal weight of glory, and ending with the ministry of reconciliation.

Schedule - Calvin Symposium on Worship and the Arts

A mailer containing instructions on how to register for the 2004 Symposium on Worship.

...using PowerPoint purposefully in worship...preaching to a post-modern congregation...old texts with new tunes...what is media art?...emerging trends in worship...Ancient-Future worship...

Each Symposium brings new themes and topics, but our commitment stays the same: to provide an opportunity for worshippers and worship planners to meet together for worship, study, reflection, and fellowship.

The Immeasurable Riches of God's Grace: A Service based on Ephesians 1-3

Howard Vanderwell, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Norma deWaal Malefyt, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

A handout accompanying a morning worship service focusing on Ephesians 1-3 conducted by Howard Vanderwell and Norma deWaal Malefyt, including adoration, prayer of thanks, a proclamation, and prayers of intercession.

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me - Isaiah 61:1

M. Craig Barnes, Shadyside Presbyterian Church
Kathy Smith, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Naji Umran
Anne Zaki, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Michael Bloss, St. James Cathedral
Mark Hayes

A handout accompanying the morning service conducted by M. Craig Barnes, with readings from Isaiah 61, Luke 4:14-21, and 1 Peter 1:13-16.