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Worship and Spirituality Ministry Team:
Resources for Worship and Spirituality
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 STAYING CONNECTED WITH GRADUATES
By Pastor Jira Albers, Trinity Lutheran Church, Towanda
PA How can your church stay connected with the faith of your
graduating seniors as they go off to college or into the job force?
Purchase a quality study Bible for the students and allow members of the
congregation the opportunity to highlight their favorite verses (putting
their names next to the verses). Also, invite members of the congregation
to write notes of encouragement, thanks, and support in the cover of the
Bible. In this way, the students can carry a piece of their congregation’s
faith as they venture out in life.
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NIGHTLY FAMILY WORSHIP
By Pastor Jira Albers, Trinity Lutheran Church, Towanda
PA
Everyone knows that God is with us more often than one hour a week on
Sunday morning. God is with us at all times. So why shouldn't we worship
God more often than one hour a week?
Worship is a natural expression of our love for God. One place that
worship fits naturally is in the home. If you are like most people,
however, you may be hesitant to start such a family ritual.
 Thankfully,
one family has overcome the hesitancy. By inviting other people to
participate in their family worship, many of their friends and family have
discovered that family worship is a wonderful time of bonding and fun.
Before the nightly worship began, the couple explained that they had
always wanted to include God in their family life. Talking about God in
the home was not something that they experienced while growing up. They
did not want their children to grow up with the same experience.
The following worship pattern is what they started as soon as their first
child was born.
Nightly family worship was held in the living room after the children had
gotten ready for bed. It began with a Bible story from an age-appropriate
Bible, one with colorful pictures and easy-to-understand language. (As the
children grow older, the type of Bible will change.)
 One
of the children was asked to choose the story to be read for the night. As
the family read the story together, the children naturally asked questions
about the story. These questions led to great faith discussions.
Following the Bible reading, it was time for singing. The songs were
familiar children’s church songs; however, the family made it a time for
bonding by adding action and bouncing (lots of bouncing!). The songs
usually fell apart with laughter, and that was the point. Numerous times
the kids climbed up on the lip of the fireplace (as if it were a stage)
and taught the family a new song that they had leaned in Sunday school.
(It is true that children can teach the faith to adults.)
The evening always ended with this prayer: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I
pray the Lord my soul to keep, guide me safely through the night, and wake
me with the morning light. God bless Mom and Dad and Tim and Chris and
Mark (the three children) and Grandma Paula and Aunt Kim and Spot (the
family dog) and...” The children were allowed to include additional people
in their nightly prayers. After finishing the prayer with the Lord’s
Prayer, the children were ready for their goodnight kisses.
The children weren’t always happy about having the worship time, but
worship was done anyway. “God deserves to be worshiped whether or not we
feel like it,” the children were told. Besides, what is a ritual if it
does not happen consistently?
Hopefully this family's example is helpful to other young families. And
for older adults, please do not forget to invite and teach these things to
younger parents. Remember, the faith is “caught” more than it is “taught.”
This family understood that well. They allowed others to catch their faith
by inviting them to be a part of their nightly family worship. Back to Top
WORKSHOP ROTATION MODEL — IS IT FOR YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL?
By Cheryl Statham, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Johnsonville,
PA
Late spring is a time when many Christian education and Sunday school committees take time to evaluate how the year went and what changes, if any, they want to make: What worked, what didn't, how was the curriculum, and do we want to keep it?
Another consideration for some congregations might be whether to stay
with the traditional style of Sunday school, whether to try the new rotation
workshop model, or whether to do a combination of both.
First, what is the Workshop Rotation model?
With this Sunday school model, students spend several weeks learning
the same lesson, but learning it in different ways through a variety of
workshops. One week a student might watch a video, the next week he or she
might act out the Bible story, the third week the student could be in the
computer room or playing a game.
This style of learning allows all of the students to learn the story in
a way that best matches their learning style. It works best with children
in first through sixth grades, with students in kindergarten and younger
doing better in a more traditional classroom setting.
One lesson lasts for three to five weeks, depending on holidays and
church festivals. Teachers commit to teaching for the length of a rotation
rather than for the entire school year, although they are more than
welcome to teach for the entire time if they wish.
The benefit of the rotation style is that it allows more congregation
members to participate in the Sunday school even if they are unable to
commit for an entire year. It also allows the Rotation Team to use more of
the gifts their congregation members possess, because you need people who
are good in crafts, cooking, science, woodworking, drama, and also, of
course, traditional classroom teaching.
What are some factors that lead a Sunday school to try the
Workshop Rotation model? I can only speak for my own congregation, but in our case,
it was desperation! Teacher frustration and burnout was high, discipline
problems were equally high, and student enthusiasm was at an all time low.
The situation was dire enough that we were ready to try anything. A
workshop on the Rotation style of learning came along at just the right
time. It gave us another option to try even though we knew it would take
us the entire summer to rearrange the Sunday school room for this new
style of teaching and learning.
We are now completing our fourth year using the Workshop Rotation
model. Was it the right decision for us? Yes. Congregational participation
has increased, discipline problems have dropped dramatically, and the
students are having fun while they learn. The process has not been without
its growing pains and we are still fine-tuning the process even after four
years, but it is not an understatement to say that this new style has
saved our Sunday school.
Intrigued? Interested? Please feel free to contact Prince of Peace
Lutheran Church, Johnsonville, at 610-588-6713 for more information.
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Worship Space
By Pastor Charles Grube, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dallas,
PA
When
the British House of Commons was destroyed in a bombing raid May 10, 1941,
members debated the design on which the new house would be constructed.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill wanted to convince the members that the
new House should be built exactly according to the plans of the previous
house, so he declared in a speech October 28, 1943, ãWe shape our
buildings, and afterward our buildings shape us.ä Churchill knew that
altering the design of the House would have the power to alter the house
membership.
 Churchill
was right, not only about the British House of Commons, but about all
architectural spaces, including churches. We are shaped by the space in
which we
worship. Worshiping in a space with the characteristics of a living
room, like padded furniture, paintings on the wall, and carpeted floor, is
different in character, acoustics, sight lines and intimacy than
worshiping in a space defined with a high, arched ceiling, stone walls,
and tile floor, which is different again from an outdoor tryst among trees
around a rough wood podium. Each of these contribute to our faith
formation.
The beauty of remodeling a worship space is that a congregation has the
wonderful opportunity to critique the space for how it has formed the
congregation and its worship, and design a space according to how it wants
to be formed, defining more clearly spaces for the word, meal, baptism,
and gathered community. Changing the space for worship really does change
the worship in that space.
But whether or not a congregation is remodeling its space, every
congregation can critique its space for how it serves and shapes the
ministry and worship of the congregation.
Look into your worship space from the entry and, as objectively as you
can, determine what appears to be most important in that room. Is it the
place for the Lord's Supper, the place for the proclamation of the word,
the place for baptism, the place for the community, or some other place or
object? Or is it too cluttered to tell?
Can all worshippers see the speaker or the presider at the meal? Is there
a stylistic unity to the space, or does it look like Alfred Lord
Tennyson's Ulysses: ãI am part of all that I have metä? How accessible is
it to children, or to those struggling to walk with a cane or walker? Is
it an easy and enjoyable space in which the congregation can sing ö one of
the particular characteristics of our Lutheran worship ö or is it like
singing into your pillow?
There are many important qualities, preparations, dimensions, and
components to planning and celebrating worship. One which is often
neglected is the architecture, design, and decoration of the space itself.
Do yourself and your worship a favor and take a critical look at your
space for worship, and see if renewing worship might be aided by a visit
by an outsider or liturgical consultant with some suggestions for shaping
your worship space so it can shape you.
Want more information? Contact Pastor
Charles Grube or another member of the Worship and
Spirituality Ministry Team.
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Baptismal Boxes
By Pastor Laura Csellak, member of the
Worship and Spirituality Ministry Team
About four years ago, United Church of Christ interim pastor Kim Moor brought an exciting idea to the confirmation program of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Easton:
As the confirmands prepare for their confirmation day, each is presented with a box from their parents filled with mementos from their baptism day.
The idea took hold. Now each year, at the spring retreat for Year Two
confirmands, baptismal boxes are presented to each confirmand. It is a joy to see the look on each face as the boxes are opened—a young man smiles as he holds up the tiny gown from his baptism day; a young woman sheds tears as she reads the letter her parents wrote to her.
 We ask the parents to keep the box a secret from their child. The boxes are collected by confirmation teachers before the retreat. In the instructions sent to parents, we suggest these mementos for the box: the child’s baptismal certificate, baptismal outfit, photographs, the bulletin from the worship service, and anything else the parent would like to add. Sometimes a candle is included or even a copy of the pastor’s sermon from the day.
 We also invite the parent to write a private letter to their son or daughter and describe the events and emotions of the baptismal day. If possible, the child’s godparents write a letter, too. The letter(s), together with the mementos, are then placed in a gift-wrapped box.
This program has provided an important and meaningful link between baptism and the affirmation of baptism at Confirmation.
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Leadership Program for Musicians
The Leadership Program for Musicians Serving Small Congregations (LPM) is a two-year program taught and administered by capable local clergy and musicians and related to the local diocese (the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem) and synod (the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod). The program, with training leading to the Presiding Bishop's Certificate in Church Music, takes into account the musician's need for liturgical education, spiritual formation, and musical skills.
LPM is a joint effort of the Division for Congregational Ministries Worship Staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church (ECUSA), and the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS).
The Worship and Spirituality Ministry Team is glad to bring this program to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod and welcomes all those who might share an interest in the program. We invite your questions about LPM’s diverse programs that embrace a wide variety of liturgical musical genres. We hope to offer our beginning training programs this fall.
Goals of LPM
The goals of the Leadership Program for Musicians are to—
- Increase spiritual formation of participants
- Model effective liturgy and community building
- Teach about church music and liturgy
-
Increase musical skills and confidence
- Arouse imagination and encourage creativity
- Encourage multi-cultural diversity and variety of style
- Develop perspectives on integrating unfamiliar materials
- Explore the role of music in evangelism
- Explore music's ability to transform liturgy and life
- Build networks of assistance and collegiality
Why do we need LPM?
Episcopal and Lutheran leaders are concerned about the diminishing numbers of musicians who are qualified and willing to serve as music leaders. Small congregations must often depend on people lacking experience. However, musical talent in our congregations is not lacking. There are individuals in congregations of every size who could provide excellent musical leadership with encouragement and the benefit of training in musical, pastoral and leadership skills.
What happens at LPM?
A local program consists of six courses, ten classes in each course, plus a "homeroom" course that develops each participant's philosophy of church music, offered over a two-year period. Exact scheduling may vary from program to program to meet the needs of participants and local circumstances. Participants worship together, receive instruction, enjoy social time, build collegial relationships and return to their congregations with increased vocational awareness, musical skill, heightened commitment to music ministry and an increased sense of self-worth as lay ministers. Upon completion of the basic requirements in all courses, musicians receive the Presiding Bishop's Certificate in Church Music.
What are the LPM courses?
All courses include components of lecture, application and reflection. Each course emphasizes theological, musical and pastoral principles that inform our church music practice. Every opportunity is taken to encourage an attitude of openness to the needs and the ways of small congregations. Instructors are attentive to speaking and modeling healthy musician-clergy relationships.
Courses include:
- Philosophy of Church Music
- Leadership of Congregational Song (organ, guitar, voice, piano, keyboard)
- The Hymnody of the Christian Church
- Liturgy and Music: Foundations of Christian Worship
- Principles of Choral Leadership (voice training for choirs and conducting for church musicians)
- Teaching New Music to the Congregation
- Resources for Effective Music Ministry
Who will benefit from LPM?
Local LPM programs are for liturgical leaders (musicians and clergy) who—
- Have not yet had the opportunity to develop their musical abilities
- Would benefit from continuing education that will review liturgical principles and offer highlights of present hymnal resources
- Are members of other denominations, yet serve in Lutheran or Episcopal congregations and who desire information and specific skills in the leadership of the variety of music integral to liturgical worship
- Are young musicians with potential for church music leadership and seek encouragement
- Desire positive professional relationships with other musicians and clergy
For more information about LPM, visit the LPM website at www.lpm-online.org. For information about the synod LPM program, contact Dr.
Rändel Wolfe, Director of Music, Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, PA;
Rwolfe@OldTrinity.org
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