1. Worship Renaissance Module
WELCOME!
Worship
Renaissance Module
renaissance program

2. Spirit of Life (SLT #123) Spirit of life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
renaissance program

3. Name and location of congregation/UU community Size of congregation
Introductions
Name
Name and location of congregation/UU community
Size of congregation
Role
Length of time in role
renaissance program

4. Renaissance Program renaissance program Administration
Adult Faith Development
Curriculum Planning
Ministry with Youth
Multicultural Religious Education
Philosophy of Religious Education
Teacher Development
UU Identity
UU History (online only)
Worship UU Theology (online only)
Other trainings include:
Family Ministry Innovation Leadership for Shared Ministry
renaissance program

5. Reflect: Worship Quotes/Definitions
Was there a significant discrepancy between any of these and the definitions you had used for your memory exercise?
What do you like best in these definitions?
Do they, all together, seem to present diverse, similar, or complementary views?
Have any of them helped you understand any of the feelings you had in the recollection/representation exercise?
renaissance program

6. “Unitarians and Universalists and Unitarian Universalists have worshipped together by our covenants on this continent for more than two centuries. We have a common denominator of understanding that worship is done in community. Increasingly we understand that while individuals may have private spiritual devotional practices...
renaissance program

7. ...and individuals and groups may have mystical experiences of awe, wonder, and beauty, these are not worship.
Worship is a communal and intentional event, constructed from the building blocks of the liturgical arts and intended to be practiced over time.”
from Worship That Works 2nd edition, Wayne Arnason and Kathleen Rolenz
renaissance program

8. Session 1 Reflection Questions
How does my personal “story” regarding worship influence and inform my ability to plan and offer worship experiences for others?
How has my understanding of the term “worship” been affirmed, challenged, widened, deepened?
renaissance program

9. Worship Renaissance Module Session 2
Worship Opportunities – Multigenerational, Rites of Passage, Children’s Worship
renaissance program

10. Enter, Rejoice, and Come In (SLT 361)
Today will be a joyful day,
2. Open your ears to the song…
3. Open your hearts ev’ryone…
4. Don’t be afraid of some change…
renaissance program

11. Rites of Passage Honor the journey of human life Promote human growth
Contribute to personal identity
Emphasize the challenge and value of transition
renaissance program

12. Rites of Passage, cont’d
Offer the opportunities for reflection
Perpetuate the values of identity of a community
Recognize the reciprocal ties between individual and community
renaissance program

13. Elementary-Age Children …are not blank slates
…are drawn to what is most essential: a single word
…are interested in what is real
…are filled with wonder and awe
…possess absorbent minds
…are small in a big world
…respond well to both verbal and non-verbal stimuli
renaissance program

14. Guidelines for Worship Module Project
Product: 20-minute worship service for a specific audience, e.g. children, youth, adult, multigenerational
Presentation: Include a complete order of service followed by a complete worship service or a 20-minute portion of one; include a story
Theme: [Selected by leaders]
Team: As designated by leaders; one team member to send the product to all module participants/leaders
Planning Time: 2 hours during Sessions 3 & 4
Feedback offered after each team’s presentation
renaissance program

15. Session 2 Reflection Questions
How has my understanding of the viability of multigenerational worship increased or changed?
How has my competency as a leader or co-leader of multigenerational worship increased or deepened?
How has my understanding of rites of passage increased or changed? Is there a ceremony or celebration I would like my congregation to add?
How has my knowledge of worship opportunities increased or been refined?
renaissance program

16. Worship Renaissance Module Session 3
The Craft of Worship
renaissance program

17. Whoever you are, we welcome you.
Wherever you come from, we welcome you.
Whomever you love, we welcome you.
[repeat twice]
* alternate for Come, Come Whoever You Are
renaissance program

18. Come, Come, Whoever You Are (SLT 188)
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving
Ours is no caravan of despair
Come, yet again, come.
[lower part]
Though you’ve broken your vows a thousand times…
renaissance program

19. What Does the Minister Bring?
Experience with creating/presenting worship
Vision and responsibility for congregation and its worship life
Specific preaching skills
Seminary learning that informs worship content, style, standards
Knowledge/relationships with non-staff worship leaders
Personal strengths: music, speaking, writing, technology, dance, drama
renaissance program

20. What Does the Music Director Bring?
Professional training
Awareness of music’s ability to create and sustain a tone/mood
Knowledge of wide variety of vocal and instrumental music
Choir
Ability to lead singing
Personal strengths: voice, specific instruments, plus any of the strengths listed for religious educator and minister.
renaissance program

21. Key Components of Worship
Gathering/Prelude
Opening
Acknowledging
Giving
Centering
Receiving
Closing
Dispersing/Postlude
renaissance program

22. We Worship Thee, God (SLT 285)
We worship thee, God, below and above,
and gratefully sing thy power and thy love.
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
4. Though children of dust, as feeble as frail,
By thy endless trust, we fear not to fail.
Thy wing with its sheltering touch does us mend,
For thou art our maker, redeemer, and friend.
renaissance program

23. The Best Worship Space Possible
It is clean, organized and cared for.
It demonstrates thought and planning of the placement of chancel/stage furniture.
It is mindful of the arrangement and care of sacred objects.
It is open to new ways of using the space.
It welcomes and values all who worship there.
renaissance program

24. Honoring and Respecting Our World’s Cultures
How much do I know about the particular tradition this worship comes from? How do I respect it and not misrepresent it?
What do I know of the history and experience of the people from whom I am borrowing?
Does this borrowing distort, water down, or misinterpret the tradition?
Am I changing the meaning of a worship element to suit my service? Am I changing lyrics or words to suit my theology or my congregation’s theology? Why can’t the experience these words or actions convey stand for itself?
Am I overgeneralizing this culture? (Any culture can be quite diverse.)
What is my motivation for this borrowing? What is being sought and why?
How do the “owners” of the tradition feel about pieces of the tradition being borrowed? Do I have any personal relationship with anyone who comes from the culture from which I am borrowing?
from Worship That Works 2nd edition, Wayne Arnason and Kathleen Rolenz; questions adapted from the work of Jacqui James
renaissance program

25. Guidelines for Worship Module Project
Product: 20-minute worship service for a specific audience, e.g. children, youth, adult, multigenerational
Presentation: Include a complete order of service followed by a complete worship service or a 20-minute portion of one; include a story
Theme: [Selected by leaders]
Team: As designated by leaders; one team member to send the product to all module participants/leaders
Planning Time: 2 hours during Sessions 3 & 4
Feedback will be offered after each team’s presentation
renaissance program

26. Session 3 Reflection Questions
How does the worship team function in my setting? How might the team be strengthened?
How might I articulate and increase the religious educator’s role in the worship life of my congregation?
How has my competency in structuring and evaluating a worship service increased and deepened?
How has my fluency with the language of faith been challenged or confirmed?
How has my understanding of cultural appropriation expanded?
renaissance program

27. Worship Renaissance Module Session 4
The Power of Stories
renaissance program

28. Blue Boat Home (STJ 1064)
Though below me I feel no motion, standing on these mountains and plains.
Far away from the rolling ocean, still my dry land heart can say:
I’ve been sailing all my life now, never harbor or port have I know.
The wide universe is the ocean I travel,
And the earth is my blue boat home.
renaissance program

29. Blue Boat Home (STJ 1064)
Sun my sail, and moon my rudder, as I ply the starry sea,
leaning over the edge in wonder, casting questions into the deep.
Drifting here with my ship’s companions, all we kindred pilgrim souls,
Making our way by the lights of the heavens,
In our beautiful is my blue boat home.
renaissance program

30. Blue Boat Home (STJ 1064)
I give thanks to the waves upholding me, hail the great winds urging me on.
Greet the infinite sea before me,
Sing the sky my sailor’s song:
I was born upon the fathoms,
Never harbor or port have I known.
The wide universe is the ocean I travel,
And the earth is my blue boat home.
renaissance program

31. Personal Story
What three people have been very important in your life?
What three places have been very important in your life?
What three events have been very important in your life?
renaissance program

32. Congregation’s Story
What three people have been very important in your congregation’s life/history?
What three places have been very important in your congregation’s life/history?
What three events have been very important in your congregation’s life/history?
renaissance program

33. Elements: A Good Story…
Promotes the worship service’s hopes and goals
Affirms what is ultimately worthy
Engages the story teller
Includes conflict, the unexpected
Creates a full, developed experience
Speaks to the heart
Engages all ages present
from A Good Telling, Kristin Maier, Skinner House Books, 2013
renaissance program

34. Six Techniques of Storytelling
Using your voice
Using tempo
Using movement
Developing characters
Inviting emotion
…and practicing, practicing, practicing!
from A Good Telling, Kristin Maier, Skinner House Books, 2013
renaissance program

35. Homily Writing renaissance program Write what you know.
Know what your conclusions will be before you begin.
Organize your thoughts.
Write simply and clearly; think about what you are writing.
“Show,” don’t “tell.”
Give yourself adequate time to write, to give the writing time to site, and to edit.
Have one major message and support it with two or three main points. Not more.
renaissance program

36. Guidelines for Worship Module Project
Product: 20-minute worship service for a specific audience, e.g. children, youth, adult, multigenerational
Presentation: Include a complete order of service followed by a complete worship service or a 20-minute portion of one; include a story
Theme: [Selected by leaders]
Team: As designated by leaders; one team member to send the product to all module participants/leaders
Planning Time: 2 hours during Sessions 3 & 4
Feedback will be offered after each team’s presentation
renaissance program

37. Session 4 Reflection Questions
How has my understanding of the value of including story in worship been challenged, increased, or deepened?
What are my strengths as a storyteller and what are my areas to build or improve?
How might I apply my learning about the power of stories and storytelling techniques to my work as a worship leader?
How has the session affected my thoughts about and skills in homily writing?
renaissance program

38. Worship Renaissance Module Session 5 The Presentation of Worship
renaissance program

39. Wake, Now, My Senses (SLT 298)
1. Wake, now, my senses, and hear the earth call; Feel the deep power of being in all;
Keep, with the web of creation your vow, Giving receiving as love shows us how.
2. Wake, now, my reason, reach out to the new; Join with each pilgrim who quests for the true;
Honor the beauty and wisdom of time,
Suffer thy limit, and praise the sublime.
renaissance program

40. Wake, Now, My Senses (SLT 298)
3. Wake, now, compassion, give heed to the cry;
Voices of suffering fill the wide sky;
Take as your neighbor both stranger and friend,
Praying and striving their hardship to end.
4. Wake, now, my conscience, with justice thy guide;
Join with all people whose rights are denied;
Take not for granted a privileged place,
God’s love embraces the whole human race. . 3.
renaissance program

41. Wake, Now, My Senses (SLT 298)
5. Wake, now, my vision of ministry clear;
Brighten my pathway with radiance here;
Mingle my calling with all who will share;
Work toward a planet transformed by our care.
renaissance program

42. Session 5 Reflection Questions
How have my skills improved or deepened as a result of creating, presenting, and evaluating several worship services during our module?
How has my knowledge of the range of possibilities to create effective worship grown or been refined?
This module advocates the inclusion of a religious educator in the worship life of a congregation. What is one action I will take to live/promote this strategy with my congregation, minister, and/or others who plan worship?
renaissance program