Approaching a second pandemic Easter

“We are about to mark the first time in the COVID-19 era when we have ‘lapped’ a Christian holiday, having completed one full circuit of the liturgical track,” writes my colleague Gretchen Ziegenhals. Even though this second Easter of the…

Read More

Ashley Goff: The Art of Worship Planning

How we plan worship reflects what we believe worship should be — a transformative, communal experience of observing, trusting, trying, reflecting, and taking chances for the sake of experiencing the Holy One, says pastor Ashley Goff

Read More

Preaching that Matters: Reflective Practices for Transforming Sermons

In Preaching that Matters, Lori Carrell shares answers to that question, drawing on the experiences of thousands of people—preachers and their listeners—whose effort she has studied over many years. As a communication expert, Carrell approaches preaching from a ‘sermon communication’ paradigm. She begins with the task of identifying the spiritually transformative purpose of the sermon and then explores exegeting, organizing, deepening, and delivering the sermon, as well as listening to the listeners and planning for continued transformation. Her own goal is simple: to inspire and equip clergy to make changes that will enhance the transformative power of their preaching.

Read More

Discernment as Worshipful Work

I have found that the many little steps in Discerning God’s Will Together, the corporate discernment process that I know best, mirror the order of worship. So we are literally doing worshipful work: turning our work into worship and our…

Read More

Worship and Education for All

Over the past decade, worship attendance, annual giving, and participation in Christian education have doubled at the United Church of Christ in Norwell, Massachusetts. We have learned that tending to growth requires tending to worship and education for all ages….

Read More