Living Liturgy seeks to recover, renew, and enliven the worship of the church, while strengthening the connections between the life of the worshipping community and our life of faith in the world. The event takes its shape from the four-fold pattern of the liturgy: Gathering, Word, Meal, Sending, and includes sessions on worship planning, liturgical theology, and building leadership skills for musicians.
The event will explore how to create and maintain the powerful and deep connection of scripture with the life of the worshipping community, and especially how those connections are expressed and nurtured within the life of worship.
Various full-group and small-group sessions will explore:
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Roots and Current State of Christian Worship
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In-depth look at the Eucharistic liturgy -- moving from Gathering to Word to Meal to Sending
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"Leading the Congregation’s Song" sessions for introducing and leading a variety of musical styles, including songs and chants from around the world church
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Worship planning and resource sharing
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Reading sessions of new music appropriate for worship
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Creative use of sung responses to enhance community prayer
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The role of the choir and musical ensemble as supporters of the congregation’s song
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The role of preaching/proclamation at the Eucharist
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The role of lay worship leaders
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Deepening our connections to seasons of the liturgical year
The Living Liturgy team: Pastors Susan Briehl and Ben Stewart, with musicians Marty Haugen, Mary Preus, Tom Witt, brings a wealth of experience from years of planning and leading worship, teaching and leading workshops for clergy, parish musicians, and other worship leaders.
Sample Schedule:
The normal schedule for a Living Liturgy event is two and one-half days, usually beginning on a Thursday evening. If necessary, we will work with you to adapt a different schedule or an alternative staffing.
THURSDAY EVENING
6:00 p.m. Registration begins
7:00 p.m. Opening Music & Presentation:
“The Heart of the Matter”
8:30-9:00 p.m. Prayer Around the Cross
FRIDAY
8:30 a.m. Coffee & Registration
9:00 a.m. Gathering Prayer
and presentation: “Gathering the Many into One"
10:30 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. “Leading the Assembly’s Song”
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15 p.m. “Breaking Open the Word”
2:30 p.m. "The Trees Shall Clap Their Hands: Seasons of the Liturgical Year"
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Breakout sessions offered:
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Music reading session:
We'll sing through congregational music from a variety of styles and cultures and explore possible uses. -
Baptism as a Process of Welcome and Renewal:
How a more intentional baptismal ministry can renew individuals, worship life, and whole congregations -
Praying the World to God
We will look at the purpose, content, forms and language of the prayers of intercession in the Sunday assembly. You (and others from your congregation) will craft a set of prayers for use in your local worshiping community during the upcoming liturgical season..
4:30 Break for supper (on your own)
7:00-8:30 “Concert/Songfest with Marty Haugen, Mary Preus and Tom Witt (Could be open to the wider public)
SATURDAY
8:30 a.m. Coffee & Gathering time
9:00 a.m. Intercessory Prayer
9:30 a.m. “Setting the Table”
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Breakout options:
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Beauty and Function: Space and symbols for worship
We’ll focus on architecture, furnishings and art that serve our theology and liturgy -
Nurturing parish music programs
Forming and sustaining faithful & life-filled music programs, leaders and music ensembles -
Designing worship that’s faithful and fresh:
How to choose liturgies, words, images and songs from amongst a bounty of resources.
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. "Sending the Assembly"
1:45 p.m. "Taking it Home"
3:00 p.m. Closing Eucharist