Worship Symposium archive

Creation Care for Church Facilities

wsymp10 — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:12:13 +0000

There is a rapidly growing cultural expectation that buildings must be crafted to be environmentally friendly and sustainable for future generations. At the same time, many Christians are realizing that environmental issues are not merely political or technological but also spiritual, especially in terms of stewardship and social justice. Churches are uniquely positioned to effectively model a Creation caretaker’s role in the ways they locate, design, build, and manage their facilities. This session attempted to de-mystify Green Design and demonstrate it as a sound investment that makes good sense economically, socially, environmentally, and physically. Churches were given with practical environmental principles to apply immediately to new and existing facility solutions.

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From Blogs to Tweets: Wise Use of Social Networking Technology in Your Worshiping Community

wsymp10 — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:00:22 +0000

Social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter are changing the way we connect, stay in touch, and share ideas and resources. What are the benefits and what are the dangers of these tools for churches and organizations? How can we use these tools to strengthen connections among members, and to reach out to new audiences? This presentation featured examples and guidance based on what some churches are doing.

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Singing the Psalms Against a Backdrop of Persecution: A View from Pakistan

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:15:52 +0000

The Hebrew tune for Psalm 9 is listed as “The death of a son.” Find out how that psalm and others bring hope to suffering Christians in Pakistan and how the psalms can challenge theologians, poets, and musicians around the world to strengthen faith, ministry, and worship. We will listen to Pakistani recordings and also see some pictures of the persecution there this past year.

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Christian Worship in 4th Century Jerusalem: Premodern Wisdom for Postmodern Times

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:14:13 +0000

What might an ancient church have to say for renewing our worship today? We’ll look at how Jerusalem in the 4th century worshiped, including descriptions and resources from that time, to think about new possibilities today.

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Reformed Woship Worldwide, Especially in Africa

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:11:28 +0000

Drawing especially (but not exclusively) from African contexts, this seminar explored how different cultural and social contexts in the Reformed family worldwide impact worship and innovations in worship. The workshop presents these as having both elements that enrich worship and elements that serve as a critical challenge to authentic worship.

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In Other Words: A Conversation on Preaching

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:10:12 +0000

Sermons usually say in other words what Scripture says, and do in other words what Scripture does (assure, warn, encourage, inform, inspire). But they say and do Scripture in a great many ways and they can sound very different from each other depending on the acoustics of time, place, and audience. In this presentation two seminary presidents reflected on what they have learned about preaching through (at least) forty years of listening to sermons, including their own.

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The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:08:15 +0000

This workshop focused on understanding the latest social scientific research on the religious beliefs and practices of young people as they transition to adulthood. Together we will explore the role that Christian commitment plays in this critical phase of the life course, as well as consider the possible roles of the Church in developing spiritual maturity.

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Worshiping the Trinity in Exile: The Prophetic Church with a Post-Era Mission

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:06:23 +0000

In a post-postmodern, high-tech, super-hyped, and anti-institutional world, how should we be Church and how should we be the Church at worship and in mission? How will our means match the ends so that worship is faithful to the Jesus of the cross?

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Feeding the God-Hungry Imagination

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:04:37 +0000

While defenders of Christianity attempt to barge through the front door of reason by arguing the case for Christ, the Holy Spirit has been slipping through the back door of the imagination without the church’s permission or even notice. This session explored the role of imagination and narrative in spiritual formation, and the implications for both worship and education. What if the church saw itself as a “narratable world,” its worship as story, and its leaders as bards?

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The Church for the Sake of the World: Urban Challenges Today

wsymp10 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:02:26 +0000

The church exists for the sake of the world. For the urban church that statement takes on a particular complexion as the church provides hands-on assistance for the elderly, meals to the hungry and homeless, licensed counseling to the marginalized and legal representation to the accused. Perhaps your church is being called to get more involved in practical works of justice and healing. This workshop focused on discerning and acting on the call to integrate worship with ministry in order to be with those who are least and last through the example of LaSalle Street Church in downtown Chicago with a 40 year history in social engagement.