Reformed Worship - Resources for Planning and Leading Worship

Why commission a work of art?

The purpose of liturgical art is to point beyond itself, to deepen one’s understanding and worship of God. A congregation might commission a work of art

Alan Dworsky and Betsy Sansby. Minnetonka, Minn.: Dancing Hands Music, 2000. $24.95. Reviewed by Ron Rienstra.

Fiona Bond. Carlisle, England: Piquant, 2001. $15.00. www.piquant.net; info@piquant.net

William Dyrness (see p. 8) commends this new book as “the best practical guide I know” to encouraging the artists in our congregations, also helping some to discover gifts they did not know they had. The mission of this publisher from England is “to spread in every place the aroma that comes from knowing Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14).

Once a year, each academic department at Westmont College is invited to host a chapel for the majors and minors in their department. Here in the art department, we’ve used this opportunity to present our “artistic testimonies,” to discuss what might constitute Christian art, and to use works of art from the past as foci for devotional exercises. This year, we’ve decided to ask students to read one of Jesus’ parables of the kingdom, the parable of the talents from Matthew 25.

William A. Dyrness. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001. 188 pp. $21.99.

The editorial on p. 2 provides a good introduction to this book. Here is one more testimony, from Jeremy Begbie of Cambridge University in England: “Both theological and practical, this wide-ranging study will be of special interest to all who want to get beyond the sterile prejudices that have so often marred the relationship between visual art and Protestantism.”

Once a year, each academic department at Westmont College is invited to host a chapel for the majors and minors in their department. Here in the art department, we’ve used this opportunity to present our “artistic testimonies,” to discuss what might constitute Christian art, and to use works of art from the past as foci for devotional exercises. This year, we’ve decided to ask students to read one of Jesus’ parables of the kingdom, the parable of the talents from Matthew 25.

Patricia S. Klein. Brewster, Mass.: Paraclete Press, 2000. 208 pp. $12.95.

We seem to be in the midst of a sea change in attitudes toward the visual, even in worship. For one thing, since the middle of the last century, a major change has been taking place in our visual environment. Whereas previously print culture predominated, with the rise of television and movies we have entered an era in which visual images are dominant and inescapable.

3 vols. Kenneth T. Lawrence, ed. Cleveland, Ohio: United Church Press, 1994. c. 280 pp. $34.95 each.

These beautiful books would make wonderful gifts for any worship planner who will take the time to revel in the relationship between Scripture and culture as depicted in both historical and contemporary art. Based on the texts assigned in the Revised Common Lectionary, each volume (for Years A, B, and C) walks through the church year with a wealth of full-color art and photos from around the world, meditative writings, even music.

As interest in the visual arts continues to increase, so do helpful publications. Some of the most helpful resources come from Lutheran and Roman Catholic sources. All of these items are available from the following publishers:

Doug Adams and Michael Moynahan, eds. San Jose, Calif.: Resource Publications, Inc, 2002. 184 pp. $49.95. ISBN 0-89390-546-1.

The weekly head-scratching exercise (“Well, what do we do this Sunday?”) is well-known to preachers, liturgists, dramatists, and musicians. Visual artists, on the other hand, contribute to worship less regularly. That is to say, while congregations enjoy artwork week in and week out, the work of producing that art—a new banner for a new season, a new baptismal font, ceramic pieces thrown for a new communion set—happens, at least for the traditional visual artist, more periodically.

Office for Education and Faith Development, Reformed Church in America, 2001. Three-ring binder. $49.95.

When we build, let us think that we build forever.” Nineteenth-century critic James Ruskin’s comment certainly doesn’t qualify as the watchword for today’s church architecture. These days, it might be more appropriate to think in terms of a decade.

New Deadline for Next Worship Renewal Grants Applications

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship awarded sixty-one grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, to a wide range of churches and other institutions this year. The Institute recently received additional funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. that will continue the Worship Renewal Grant Program until 2006.

Another September rolls around. If you’re a typical worship and liturgy planner, you’re probably thinking, “We really ought to highlight the beginning of another season of education.” On the heels of that thought comes another: “We need to commission our education leaders. Where do we find a liturgy for that?” You might rummage through your files, hoping to cobble something together. And that may be the end of it, at least until next September.

After returning from church a couple of weeks ago, I announced to my wife, "We will never cut another piece of felt for a banner again!" No, it wasn't my final run-in with the flower committee. I had just seen a demonstration of our new three-times-as-bright-as-the-old-one video projector! My wife was not impressed. "People don't want to look at that, they want something real," she said, in the tone I've come to expect whenever I'm on a technology rant.

This liturgy was formed around the words of Jeremiah 18. Because it depended upon the visual image of a potter throwing a pot during the service, which complemented the spoken Word of God, it was different from any liturgy we’d used before. We purposely limited congregational participation so that the people could more easily listen and watch.

Commisioning Service for Week Two

Gathering Songs
“As We Gather” SNC 245
“The Steadfast Love” SNC 242

Call to Worship: Psalm 24

Greeting

Response: “We Bow Down” SNC 42

This service, with multiple options, is intended as a celebration of what God is doing in the educational and discipling ministry of the church. It can be used at any time during the church year, not just when kicking off your education program. It concentrates on the lives of young people and especially encourages their participation—for which advance preparation (especially musical) may be helpful. Consider using young people as leaders throughout the service in every appropriate way and at every appropriate place.

Advent

Advent is a time of preparation, beginning with the Sunday nearest November 30. On the four Sundays of Advent, the church both looks forward to celebrating the birth of Christ and prepares for the return of Christ. The liturgical color is purple or dark blue.

Christmas

Christmas is the festival of the birth of Christ, the incarnation. The twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas Eve and end on the celebration of the Epiphany (January 6). The liturgical colors are white and gold.

When considering the visual arts theme of this issue, I contacted Carl Daw—hymn writer, executive director of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, and a good friend—to seek recommendations for hymn texts that deal with the creative process. He responded with several helpful suggestions. Each of the four songs presented here is a fresh offering by living authors and composers. They bring both prayer and praise to God. The first two acknowledge God as the great Creator; the second two speak of the various artists in our midst.

This service was developed for All Saints’ Day (November 1) or the Sunday evening closest to it. Through the use of majestic music sung by congregation and choir, responsive readings based on Scripture passages and themes, and meditations on martyrs and saints who spread Christianity throughout the centuries, All Saints’ Day can be celebrated in a fresh, festive way.

Q. In our last worship committee, we had a long discussion about whether banners should or shouldn’t feature words. What are the issues here?

If the truth be known, Pastor Tim had majored in art as a college sophomore. He’d dropped it after a spring break mission trip to Honduras, enthused instead by the idea of preaching the gospel because, for the first time in his life, he’d seen real need. Art, he’d come to think, was at best a leisure-time activity—like sports, something people with money and time could indulge in. He was pretty sure it didn’t have a place on the front lines of the Kingdom.

1/7 Pre-planning

Brian just called with his text and theme for this Sunday’s LOFT. Matt. 6:33—“First Things First.”