Book Description

The church is a wonderful place to use all of our God-given senses, and this inspiring collection of liturgical resources utilizes art, music, drama, silence, and even aromas to retell the marvelous story of God's covenantal relationships with humankind. As a starting-off place for pastors and worship planners, this innovative workbook is certain to keep the creative juices flowing with new methods of making worship moving and relevant for all your parishioners. For each Sunday there's a complete selection of written liturgical material (calls to worship, prayers, choral readings, and benedictions) to supplement and strengthen your worship services -- all specifically tailored to the week's scripture readings. But that's not all! There's also a wealth of musical suggestions, including hymns chosen from a variety of denominational hymnals and appropriate anthems for the choir. By focusing all of the elements of worship in ways that really connect with the people in your pews, these resources will breathe new life into the scriptures. Anyone who contributes to worshipers hearing the Good News -- pastors, musicians, artists, lay readers, and directors of drama groups -- should have a copy of this must-have volume in their library. Beverly S. Bailey is a certified Christian educator and an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She is currently the director of Christian education at Rockville United Church, a congregation affiliated with both the PCUSA and the United Church of Christ, and she has been a musician or educator at six churches in the metropolitan Washington DC, area. Bailey served as the workshop leader for a "Creative Worship Techniques" class at the 2002 Interim Ministry National Conference, and she has led workshops for the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators. Bailey is also a partner in New Paths to Ministry, a group of artists and educators who lead workshops and retreats on merging faith and the arts. A former staff writer for Homiletics magazine, Bailey was part of the creative team for the Something Old, Something New curriculum series (Abingdon Press). She earned a B.M.E. from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, and an M.A. in Christian Education from Union Theological Seminary/Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia.