Rev. Joan Van BecelaereDistrict Executive

Ohio-Meadville District

OverviewIntroductionsSession 1

Common Worship – Why and WhatSession 2

Practical Matters - HowSession 3

Practice – Who (You)

Burning QuestionsWhat questions do you want to have

answered by the end of this workshop?

Common Worship – Why & What

Initial QuestionsWhy do we do this? What is worship?

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.

Purpose of Worship – 3 ViewsSacramentalEducationalCelebratory

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.

Practical Matters - How

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

Dictionclear dictionover articulate if you need to do that.

Readingknow your materialmark your materialmake eye contactkeep track – use hand or highlight pointsretype and enlarge as needed

Projectionbreathe before you talkbreathe from the diaphragmpractice breathing and talking

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!

Time to Practice!

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Creating a Service - Application

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

Wrap UpWhat can you take back with you?

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.

Thank You For Coming!!!!!!