The small circlet of beads, worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket, becomes a memento of the sacred mysteries of life which he or she has considered in a personal and prayerful way.
Read moreCategory: Protestant Worship
Fruit of the Vine or Cup of Devils?
Some creative communion stewards chose to make their own unfermented sacramental wine. One recipe called for adding a pound of hand-squashed raisin pulp—dried grapes—to a quart of boiling water. Later in the process, the “winemaker” was to add an egg white. Doesn’t that sound delicious?
Read moreRIP: Laurence Hull Stookey
Laurence Hull Stookey (1937-2016)
Read moreLiturgy and Patriotism
A recent survey of Protestant pastors found that 61% felt it was important to incorporate patriotic elements into July 4th worship, even though 53% suspect that their congregations love America more than God.
Read moreAn Argument for Liturgy
An argument for liturgy from someone in a non-liturgical Christian setting can help raise thoughtful questions for liturgists in liturgical churches too.
Read moreA Joint Catholic-Lutheran ‘Common Prayer’ for 500 years of Reformation
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) have invited Lutheran churches and Catholic bishops’ conferences across the world to make use of a jointly-developed Common Prayer to prepare commemorations for the 500 years of the Reformation in 2017.
Read moreMerry Christmas! A liturgical logic puzzle as a gift from me to you
I made this puzzle on a whim to stump my son (so far, it’s working). Use the clues to solve this logic puzzle. No cheating by using information you just happen to know! (There is a downloadable version you can open with a word processor and edit at the bottom.)
There are five churches right in a row from East to West on a little street in Maintown, USA…
Read moreThe Yale ISM Review, Fall Issue on Water
The Fall issue of The Yale ISM Review asks us to reflect on how we invite people to the waters of baptism, how we conserve the natural gift of water, and how we celebrate the seasons of creation in the church’s worship.
Read moreThousands Leave German Churches to Avoid Tax
Up to 200,000 Germans are believed to have filed official declarations last year renouncing their membership of the Protestant church, the highest number in almost two decades. A similar number are thought to have left the Catholic Church.
Read moreViewpoint: Is the Catholic Church Ready for the Megachurch Movement?
A Catholic megachurch would have the resources for liturgical and musical excellence. It could have perpetual adoration, confessions daily, and be open twenty-four hours a day seven days a week for operating such things as crisis ministry. It could run a small medical clinic for the poor.
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