Sessions

Recording of a breakout session by Keith and Kristyn Getty on writing modern hymns.

Recording of a violin and piano recital featuring sacred music.

Two handouts from a seminar on beauty and the arts.

New York artist Mako Fujimura once asked if a tree is more beautiful in full bloom or just as the pedals begin to fall when a breeze passes by.... What does scripture mean when it speaks of beauty? How does this affect our engagement with the arts in worship? Part of our challenge in congregations is that everyone comes to worship with such a different understanding of what is beautiful and how much it really matters. This day will probe how we might more meaningfully convey the "glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" in this challenging environment.

The 21st century is characterized by people moving and mixing all over the world, trying to fit into new communities that are varied and diverse. That reality is pushing the church to be multiethnic like the church of the 1st century. We'll explore how to plan worship that is inclusive, allowing everyone to feel welcome by including musical gifts from their culture and worship "back home" in their new church home. Session audio recording.

Recording of a choral reading session with Joel Navarro.

In this day we will discover how worship and arts ministries thrive in the cradle of collaboration and teams. From conception to realization of a worship service, the Spirit of God unites individuals and groups for creative, thoughtful, and formative experiences. In these moments community is built, character is formed, competency increases, and our unique callings are affirmed. Pastors, musicians, artists, choral directors, worship team leaders, planners, etc.–all who work collaboratively or desire to develop the collaborative potential of their ministries are encouraged to participate in this seminar.

Throughout history, we've always been concerned about our youth. The reality is, we still are. If we think about it, the question is "why aren't they coming back?" But it's the wrong question. The question should be "why do they leave in the first place?" One of the challenges we face is asking the right questions, as the questions determine where we end up.

This interactive seminar will focus on the use of biblically-based drama in worship. The morning sessions will address the dramatic structure and performance of Psalms and offer ideas for performing Old Testament stories verbatim. "Sioux Center Sudan" will be presented after lunch; this one-hour play is an exemplary interweaving of music and true story, which will spark our discussion of how theatre can be an integral part of worship. Seminar participants may choose from two breakout topics in the later afternoon: (a) dramatic use of Psalms in Old and New Testament narratives, or (b) dramatic use of story within worship and as guide to shaping an entire service.

This workshop is to help us think through some of the larger issues in relationship to pursuing the renewal of our worship through our built environment. Along the way we should think intentionally about hanging onto those artifacts that are working really well that we need to maintain for memory, continuity, and our communities. We also need to maintain a physical location where we can go as community to celebrate together, which is why we also need to consider our geographical location in time and space.

A day of exploring the issues of writing and composing new songs for worship, along with worship planning issues of including new songs in diverse communities of faith. What makes a text fresh today for young and old alike? What makes a tune popular today also nourishing tomorrow? What makes a new tune accessible? How can songs from one culture help those in other cultures to worship? And how can worship planners bless their congregations with generous dips into new currents that will enrich their exploration of the great river of congregational song?

The day will involve exploring songs for Holy Week with presentations by and interchanges among:

• James Abbington, editor of the GIA African American Sacred Music Series, and author of several books on music and worship in the African American tradition;
• Mary Louise Bringle, author of two collections of hymn texts, Joy and Wonder, Love and Longing (GIA, 2002), and In Wind and Wonder (GIA, 2006);
• Keith Getty, Irish song writer and collaborator, who wrote “In Christ Alone” (with Stuart Townend) and many other songs;
• Roy Palavicini, pastor fromCosta Ricain a multiracial church inSouthern California;
• Pablo Sosa, world-renowned composer and teacher fromArgentina;
• Paul Westermeyer, long-time teacher of congregational song and author of many books, the latest being Let the People Sing: Hymn Tunes in Perspective (GIA, 2005)

I wanted to begin just being clear that worship is celebrating the work of God. AT the same time, you cannot ignore gender, as every one of us in this room is a gendered being. In Genesis 1:27, it tells us that God created us as male and female in the divine image. ... Scripture implies but does not spell out that the full image of God requires the action and worship of both male and female. Worship is never carried out by generic human beings.

While there are a number of reasons for instruments in the church, their primary function is to support and lead faith-filled congregational singing. However, there are questions about instrumentation that every wise musician and leader should consider. How many instruments do we use? What kind? Should we use the same instruments every week? Should we play songs the same way each time we sing them? What are the relative benefits of repetition and varied musical expression? What is the place of spontaneous arranging in the worship of God? Is it possible for a song to be over-arranged? What factors affect how instrumentation can support the truths being sung? These are some of the questions that will be discussed during this day-long seminar, designed for instrumentalists, service planners, pastors, and music leaders. Bob will demonstrate many of the principles he covers, suggest helpful resources, and provide time for questions.

Recording of a plenary lecture about images and arts in worship.

Recording of a panel on "worship with the least of these," including worship with children, those with disabilities, and those in prison.

The multiple aims of preaching show didatic, apologetic, formation, persuasion, evangelistic, prophetic, and pastoral. This workshop emphasizes the pastoral care portion of this.

Recording of a panel on "Preaching Evangelistically to Postmodern Audiences."

In this session philosopher John Cooper presented key points in the theology and philosophy that undergirds our understanding of God's providential care in a world where terrible things happen all the time. Why do bad things happen to good people? When a bad thing is averted in someone's life, can we chalk that up to God's providential care? What about people who prayed just as hard but were not spared some hurt or calamity? Cooper addressed these painful and complex issues. Scott Hoezee connected these thoughts to the pastoral care that preachers can provide from the pulpit. How can pastors construct thoughtful sermons that will help members of the congregation see their lives in ways that are both true to Scripture and pastorally comforting? This session aimed to be both rigorously thoughtful and pastorally practical for the life of the church.

Recording of a breakout session on the Psalms in Reformation-era worship.

Today's session is going to focus on worship in the sixteenth century. We're going to be talking about the ways in which worship changed at the Reformation, and what stayed the same, we're going to especially talk about the place of Psalms in Reformation worship, we're going to show off a number of books from our rare books collection, and we're also going to do some Psalms singing.

Recording of a sampler session where each of the authors preview their breakout session.

Recording of a breakout session on social science research related to congregations.

A workshop offered by Joyce Borger discussing how to lead a singing activity, including considerations of how to best make activities good for children, teenagers, and adults.

This workshop discussed how contemporary short stories from writers such as Flannery O'Connor, Doris Betts, and Raymond Carver resonate with New Testament themes and how such stories might help preachers find ways to relate contemporary themes to their listeners.

Recording of a breakout session on "The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship."

4-part recording of a seminar on The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship.

I will be talking with you this afternoon about the complementary roles of personal worship and corporate worship in spiritual formation. Let's define spiritual formation, using my favorite definition, so we can understand where I'm coming from. I like Robert Mulholland's definition: Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others. I want to try and answer the question: how does personal worship develop spiritual formation?

As preachers, do we preach the text or the gospel? The answer is both, but what is the difference? In the last fifty years preaching has become less informational and more conversational, sensitive to language, metaphor, and art; it is more attentive to historical critical dimensions of biblical texts and to listener needs. For all of these strengths it is debatable whether preaching has become more faithful in proclaiming the gospel. Biblical texts often do not contain the gospel and preachers typically assume that in preaching the text the gospel has been proclaimed. Together we will explore creative approaches that may be needed to ensure that the gospel is proclaimed, including: honoring the form and movement of the gospel as a biblical genre in structuring sermons; locating the gospel in and with biblical texts; and treating proclamation as a particular form of preaching.

Dr. Wilson's seminar will include interaction with those who attend this seminar and will conclude with a panel of pastors who will share their experiences in putting Wilson's ideas into practice in constructing sermons.

Recording of a panel about multi-cultural worship.

The goal of what follows is to offer every congregation, every pastor, every worship leader, two or so ideas (o.k., maybe three) that can make your work more joyful, effective, and spiritually edifying... Listen prayerfully, discerningly for what that might be for you in your context...

This session took the Psalms as a case study for considering what it means for the preacher, first, and then the congregation, to be astonished by the biblical text. How might this ancient poetry be surprising, and therefore revelatory, to those who hear it in our contemporary contexts? What sort of preparation is necessary for the preacher who wishes to engage the Psalms as poetry?

Recording of a breakout session by Bob Kauflin.

This workshop reflected on the rise of Alternative Worship in the United Kingdom over almost two decades, which has led at different times to both sublime and ridiculous innovations in worship practice.

While recognizing that a diversity of worship 'tribes' is likely to persist within our churches, Doug Gay argues that alternative/emerging worship practice is a key indicator of the future shape of Reformed worship in both the UK and North America. Audio recording.

This workshop conveys some ideas about where people live. We hear the term postmodernism thrown around quite a bit in church circles and ministry circles - but what does "postmodern ministry" mean? It has a lot of different definitions and nuances, but one aspect often not on the radar is geography. This is key to understanding the movement. We will also look at how geography plays a role in ministry models in general, as well as specifically the postmodern style.

The relationship between churches and the news media is too often one of mutual indifference or mistrust. Having the stories of your congregation or organization told in the news media is an important way to communicate your mission and service to a wider audience and to have a public presence in your community. This session explores practical ways of connecting with local reporters and maintaining healthy and beneficial relationships with the media.

The introductions of Pat Zandstra, Heidi De Jonge, and Darwin Glassford, as well as the opening prayer for this panel. This is not a complete recording.

All congregations experience crises, transitions, and conflicts. Worship will be affected by these difficult times, and can be the place where healing begins and continues. This audio session examines the reactions of congregations to difficult times; explores themes and resources for worship in times of crisis, transition, and conflict; and provides advice for congregational leaders as they guide their congregations through the turbulence of difficult times.