NEWS FROM THE CALVIN INSTITUTE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP
The recently formed Calvin Institute of Christian Worship aims to promote scholarly study of the theology, history, and practice of Christian worship and the renewal of worship in local congregations (see news story in RW 48). During the coming year, the Institute will sponsor a series of both practical and academic programs: a conference to observe the 35th anniversary of Vatican II and to probe its ecumenical significance, the 12th Calvin Symposium on Worship and the Arts, regional conferences in Ontario and Indianapolis, development of a published music series, courses offered at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary, cosponsorship of COLAM with Reformed Worship (see the enclosed brochure), and much, much more.
For more information about any of these offerings, call 616-957-6822, e-mail choltrop@calvin.edu, or visit http://www.calvin.edu/worship/. The staff of the Institute would love to add your name to our mailing list.
FROM "SO YOU'VE BEEN ASKED" TO "SO YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OUR ... "
Two years ago the Worship Office of CRC Publications released six pamphlets for churches to send to people who were asked to lead some aspect of worship: So You’ve Been Asked To . . .
Develop a Worship Team
Give the Children’s Message
Lead in Prayer
Present a Group Reading
Read Scripture
Sing a Solo
Three more titles will be available this winter:
So You’ve Been Asked To . . .
Design Visuals for Worship
Plan a Worship Service
Lead the Worship Service
In fact, the series has become so popular that CRC Publications has expanded it beyond worship to other areas of ministry in the church. New titles include So You’ve Been Asked To ...
Visit Someone
Be a Mentor
Lead a Small Group
Chair a Committee
Serve in the Nursery
Teach Church School
To order any of the So You’ve Been Asked To pamphlets, call CRC Publications at 1-800-333-8300.
Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church also took that idea a step further and prepared pamphlets for visitors and members: So You’re Interested in Our ...
Worship Life
Music Ministry
If you are interested in that idea for your own church, write them for a copy and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Their address is 3617 Hillcrest, Hudsonville, MI 49426.
CONFERENCES
Fort Lauderdale, FL, January 6-10, 1999
Twenty-fourth Annual Church Music Explosion. Contact: Darryl Miller, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, 5555 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308; 954-771-8841, x192; fax 954-491-7374; e-mail dmiller@crpc.org
Grand Rapids, MI, January 8-9, 1999
Twelfth Annual Symposium on Worship and the Arts at Calvin College. Contact: Department of Music, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49546; 616-957-6253; fax: 616-957-6266.
Sioux Center, IA, July 7-10, 1999
COLAM (Conference on Liturgy and Music) cosponsored by Reformed Worship and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, at Dordt College.
HOW'D IT GO?
Notes from Churches that Used Lent/Easter Resources from RW 46
RW staff often learns informally about the creative ways in which churches adapt RW service resources for their own contexts. Many of those ideas are worth sharing! In fact, if you’ve used any of the Scripture Alive or Noel series dramas and would like to let us know how it went, we’ll spread that word too.
“SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF LENT"(RW 46 : 18)
In our church, rather than spread out all these children’s messages, we did the first five all in a row on the first Sunday of Lent, but we skipped the ones for Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
Harry Boonstra
Grand Rapids, Michigan
“SONGS FOR THE SEASON” (RW 46 : 38)
The first time I sang “On Eagles’ Wings” (p. 40), I was expecting my fourth child, a surprise tag-along to our growing family. The song was so meaningful that I asked whether this song could be scheduled for the baptism service. When that day came, our three older children each read one of the portions of the psalm, with the congregation singing the refrain. Thanks for introducing this song to our congregation and our family!
Gwen Laarman
Grand Rapids, Michigan
"IT IS FINISHED: THE PASSION OF CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN" (SCRIPTURE ALIVE SERIES)
We used this drama for an ecumenical Good Friday service involving a charismatic Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, a Baptist General Conference Church, an Independent Charismatic Church, Assembly of God Church, two Evangelical Free Churches, and our Christian Reformed congregation. It was well received, though we scratched most of the hymns and replaced them with contemporary songs, mime, worship dance, and the like.
Mike Johnson
Missouri City, Texas
Now it’s your turn! If you used a Reformed Worship resource in your church, tell us how it went in your congregation. Send your bulletins, comments, photos, and the like to us at
Reformed Worship
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids MI 49560
fax: (616) 224-0781
e-mail: rw@crcpublications.org