The little children eagerly “run” down the aisle and kneel in anticipation of a simple grape. | more »
Worship
A choir that includes the very young up to the not-so young can bring energy -- and just plain fun! -- to a worship service.
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How do we encounter that gift of abundant life in times of sickness? | more »
This is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to expand their understanding of the liturgy. | more »
What’s a working preacher to do? | more »
Our prayer gives voice to our longing for God’s grace and shapes our expectations for encountering that grace in our lives and in the world. | more »
Christians around the world gather to remember Jesus’ death and celebrate his resurrection. | more »
And Lutherans keep singing -- grateful to be part of a cultural minority that not only can sit there and listen but also can stand up and sing and sing and sing. | more »
Proclaiming the good news should go beyond sanctuary walls to reach those who don't yet believe. | more »
Shekinah Chapel seeks to inspire youth and young adults through its performing arts and mentoring ministries. | more »
This time of the church’s year is laden with meaning for the Christian life and calls for worship services that can bear that weight. | more »
The feeling of the season is intentionally reflective and pensive. How might your worship practice highlight this feeling?
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Find worship ideas to help with the challenge of a festival that lasts for 50 days. | more »
Stewardship can be summed up as the interplay between God’s grace and our response. | more »
Mid-week worship services are an opportunity to emphasize and expand upon Lenten lectionary themes of God’s mercy and forgiveness. | more »
From prayer breakfasts to brown bag Bible studies and soup dinners, ELCA congregations are changing up their ministries for the 40 days of Lent. | more »
Our language holds the tension between what is unique to each worshiping assembly and what is shared throughout the church. | more »
Here are suggestions that may help establish a long-lasting and better-sounding choir.
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The United States is unique in its practice of allowing clergy to preside at legal wedding ceremonies. In much of the world couples first go to a judge. | more »
"Protestantism isn’t going to cease to be. It will give way to something new," says author Phyllis Tickle. | more »
It was very moving, especially the talk of what the old building had meant — some tears were shed. | more »
When we receive the bread and wine of this meal, we receive Christ’s body and blood. | more »
To truly appreciate Bach’s influence on future generations, his secular and theoretical works must be considered along with his sacred music. | more »
Advent is a time to meditate on the meaning of life and what is in our own hearts and to pray for God’s salvation and wholeness for all. | more »
Here are some ways for the congregation to provide prayer requests and individual prayers during worship. | more »
The readings, prayers, hymns, sermon and traditions reflect hopeful expectation and present the reality of Christ’s tangible presence in a world. | more »
How one congregation uses chancel dramas to connect faith with daily life.
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Unfortunately, the church has often fallen into practices for both worship and evangelism that separate the two.
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Most of us hope that worship materials will serve and enrich the gathering of God's people.
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Music is a wonderful gift we can use to nurture the faith from one generation to another.
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You’re Lutheran, you say? What is that? What does that mean? | more »
This type of service is for those who want a break from the business of life. It offers a quiet time to spend in worship. | more »
Augsburg Fortress launches a Web-based resource designed with the liturgical church musician in mind. | more »
We recognize that gathering with the community of the baptized for worship is essential to our lives of faith. | more »
How we worship reflects our commitment to God's saving mission for the whole world. | more »
This book draws upon a heightened environmental consciousness and explores ways this awareness can come alive in worship.
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Over a period of four weeks, emphasis is placed on God, the creator of all; Christ, the redeemer of creation; and the Spirit, the sustainer of life.
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Within the worship service, the physical gesture of the laying on of hands can be a powerful moment of connection with the love, care and compassion of God. | more »
The 40 days of Lent is a time of simplicity, renewal and preparation in congregations, especially preparation for baptisms that will occur at the Easter Vigil. | more »
A simple piece of wood is changing the way Maurice Webster worships.
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Today we can look to practices of worship employed by previous generations of Christians and employ those practices in a new time and place. | more »
Craig Satterlee's book challenges congregations to consider the motives behind what happens in worship. | more »
There's support for the ways we are an evangelizing church, centered in word and sacrament.
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Children's sermons are an important part of the service, according to Pastor Olin Sletto. | more »
The use of an "Affirmation of Christian Vocation" in worship affirms the varied vocations of the baptized and underscores the common call of the community to participate in God's mission in our daily lives. | more »
Recent Comments
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Charles Oberkehr: “This year, we got 7 foot shimmering red streamers and” | more »
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