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Reformed Worship

Christmas Is Hope: Glory to God

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  • Roger E. Van Harn

This article offers a sample liturgy for the celebration of Christmas as well as for the Sunday after Christmas.

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Running on Empty? The Care and Feeding of Worship Leaders

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  • Judith Baker

How important is it to minister to the minister, care for the elder, and lead the music leader? This article considers ways to care for those called upon to lead the church in worship, in order to refresh them in their calling.

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Hymns and a Psalm: "Holy, Holy, Holy," "There Is a Balm in Gilead," Psalm 65

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  • Jan Overduin

This article introduces two hymns and a psalm for use in the public worship of the church: "Holy, Holy, Holy," "There Is a Balm in Gilead," Psalm 65.

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Debunking the Stereotypes: Understanding the Adolescents in Our Churches

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  • Gloria G. Stronks

This article wants to encourage a more accurate understanding of the psychological development of adolescents, in order to help churches better serve and lead them.

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Faithful or Faddish? Weighing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Praise Choruses

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  • Mark Lemmenes

Do praise choruses contribute to the expression of our worship of God? This article outlines the strengths and weaknesses of such choruses.

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Bulletin Bored: Tips for Preparing a Useful Church Bulletin

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  • Douglas Kamstra

A bulletin says a great deal about a church. What should be the purpose of a church bulletin? It is argued in this article that bulletins deserve more care and consideration than most churches have been giving them.

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You're Halfway Home: Response from a Neighbouring Pastor

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  • David H. Beelen

Real worship is costly. It will cost personal and corporate worship preparation. It will cost churches tendencies toward a people-pleasing style of leadership. This article (a letter) reflects such a struggle and search for real worship.

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We're Struggling with Worship: Questions from a Worship Coordinator

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  • Edith Bajema

This article provides some questions from a worship coordinator and a response from a worship consultant.

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Culture Shock: Redefining the Relationship between Church and Mission Now That We've Lost the Home-Field Advantage

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  • Craig Van Gelder

This article draws attention to the fundamental shift taking place within most Western cultures: North America and Europe are now viewed as a mission field, This shift is requiring churches to make substantial adjustments in both their self-understanding and their ministries. The implications of this shift for the church—from having a church-shaped mission to being a mission-shaped church—is explored.

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Book: The Church Music Handbook

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  • Amy Van Gunst

This article reviews The Church Music Handbook.

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Becoming More Common: Why More and More Congregations Are Turning to the Common Lectionary for Worship Planning

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  • Daniel Meeter

This article considers particular advantages of making use of a Common Lectionary for worship planning.

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Good for More Than Preaching: Liturgical Potential in the Heidelberg Catechism

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  • Carol L. Veldman Rudie

Some congregations are discovering that the Heidelberg Catechism is good for more than preaching; many churches benefit from its use as a liturgical resource. This article explores possible uses of the Catechism as a liturgical document.

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The Canticles of Christmas: Singing the Songs of Zechariah, Mary, the Angels, and Simeon

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  • Timothy D. Wilds

The singing of canticles has been a part of Christian worship for centuries. This article reflects on the "Canticles of Christmas" as a refreshing departure from as well as an excellent alternative to today's trendy musicals. The songs of Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon are reflected upon as rich songs of worship.

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Singing Scripture: Suggestions for Singing the Readings for Advent and Christmas

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  • John D. Witvliet

This article suggests that there are several reasons commending reinvigorating the practice of singing Scripture today. A number of genres are proposed, like Metrical Settings, Responsorial Settings.

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Musical Resources for Singing Scripture

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  • John D. Witvliet

This article introduces a number of resources that could be used in singing in public worship.

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Hymns – "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry," "The Song of Simeon," "Rejoice in the Lord Always"

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  • John D. Witvliet

A number of hymns for use in public worship are introduced in this article: "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry," "The Song of Simeon," "Rejoice in the Lord Always."

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Christmas Eve or Day: The Child

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  • Willis Jones

This article offers liturgical suggestions to be implemented on Christmas Day in public worship.

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Oh, for a Thousand Tunes: A Bicentennial Tribute to Lowell Mason (1792-1872)

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  • Sherman Vander Ark

The hymns and tunes of Lowell Mason are among the best known and best loved in English hymnals. Mason, for example, was the composer of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and "Joy to the World." This article is a tribute to Mason.

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Hymns – “Tell Your Children,” “How Firm a Foundation,” and “Sing to the Lord of Harvest”

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  • Norma de Waal Malefyt

This article introduces a number of hymns to be used in worship services: “Tell Your Children,” “How Firm a Foundation,” and “Sing to the Lord of Harvest.”

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Organ Music for Funerals: A Selected Bibliography of Organ Collections

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  • Martha B. Tibbe

This article offers a selected bibliography of organ music to be used at funerals.

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Hymns of the Month

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  • James Hart Brumm

This article introduces two hymns and a Psalm for use in worship services: "God of the Prophets," "When Morning Gilds the Sky," and Psalm 113.

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What We Sing Is Not What He Wrote: Evolution of "God of the Prophets"

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  • James Hart Brumm

This article introduces the history of the lyrics of the hymn "God of the Prophets."

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Bring Them In: Three Models for Evangelism through Worship

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  • Robert E. Webber

Real, authentic biblical worship is at its core a celebration of the living, dying, and rising of Christ. This article reflects upon models for evangelism through worship.

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The Personality of Worship: Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to Understand Worship Preferences

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  • Tom Schwanda

This article reflects on how different personalities have a bearing on how public worship is experienced and understood.

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Inviting the Stranger In: Including the "Outsider" in the "Insiders" Fellowship

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  • Wilbur Washington

This article tells the story of an African American pastor who has had numerous opportunities to participate in the integration of local congregations and higher bodies of a predominantly white, ethnically based church. It tells the story of how to invite in people who are different from us.

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Out of Africa: What North Americans Can Learn about Celebration in Worship

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  • Stephen K. Githumbi

This article focuses on celebration in worship and in particular what can be learned from Africans in this respect.

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Sursum Corda: Lift Up Your Hearts

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  • David T. Koyzis

The sursum corda (Latin for "Let us lift up our hearts") calls worshippers to acknowledge their absolute dependence on Christ at the right hand of the Father, who desires to commune with man who is made in his image. This article reflects on its liturgical significance.

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Homework for Worship: Tying Family Worship to the Sunday Worship Service

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  • Carol L. Veldman Rudie

What should family worship be? This article considers the link between family worship and Sunday worship services.

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Book – "Introduction to Christian Worship"

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  • Harry Boonstra

This is a review of the book Introduction to Christian Worship.

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The Heart of Holy Communion

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  • Daniel Meeter

What is the "Great Prayer of Thanksgiving"? What is the significance of this "Eucharistic prayer" for Reformed worship? This article reflects on this central prayer in the celebration of Holy Communion.

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Old-Fashioned Innovations: There's More Than One Way to Celebrate the Lord's Supper

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  • Harry Boonstra

Each congregation ought to reflect on how it celebrates communion. The way the elements are distributed should not be out of custom or superstition, but for sound theological and pastoral reasons. This article surveys some of the practices in the time of the Reformation.

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Hymns of the Month – Psalm 18, "Jesus Lives and So Do We," "All Creatures of Our God and King"

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  • Wilma Vander Baan

This article introduces Psalm 18 and a couple of hymns for singing in public worship: "Jesus Lives and So Do We," "All Creatures of Our God and King."

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He Will Come: Seven Themes for Advent and Christmas (Page 2 of 2)

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  • William S. Barker

This article offers service plans for Advent, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and the two Sundays of Christmastide.

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Hymn – O Come, O Come, Immanuel

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  • David C. Schaap

This article introduces the hymn "O Come, O Come, Immanuel," for use in public worship.

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He Will Come: Seven Themes for Advent and Christmas (Page 1 of 2)

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  • Norman D. Stolpe

This article offers service plans for the four Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and the two Sundays of Christmastide.

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Reformed Order with Charismatic Ardor: An Interview with Henry Wildeboer

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article reflects an interview with Henry Wildeboer, a pastor involved with the so-called Praise and Worship style of worship.

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Enter His Courts with Praise: A New Style of Worship Is Sweeping the Church

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  • Robert E. Webber

A new style of worship has been spreading throughout all parts of the world in the last several decades. This worship approach is described by a variety of names, with "Praise and Worship" as the most prominent. This article explains what this style of worship is and how it may affect traditional worship.

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Initial Reactions: A Visitor's View of Praise and Worship

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  • Robert A. Meyering

This article provides an evaluation of a worship service where the music was according to the so-called praise and worship style.

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Bathed in Prayer: The Only Way to Prepare and Praise

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  • Michael Reitsma

This article reflects on how public prayer and the praise of the congregation go hand in hand.

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The Transforming Force of Faith: A Series in the Praise and Worship Style Based on James

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  • Carla Brouwer, Randy Brouwer

This article offers suggestions for a series of sermons with liturgy from the letter of James.

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With Reservations: A Review of Three Influential Books on the Praise and Worship Movement

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  • Harry Boonstra

Where does the Praise and Worship movement come from? This article reviews three influential books on the movement.

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Bridges to Praise: Three Songs in the Praise and Worship Style

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  • Marie Elzinga, Steven C. Elzinga

This article introduces three songs in the praise and worship style: "Father, We Love You," "Change My Heart, O God," and "Give Thanks."

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Be Filled with the Spirit: A Series Based on Ephesians

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  • Raymond B. Lanning

This article offers suggestions for a series of sermons on Ephesians and the work of the Holy Spirit around the time of Pentecost.

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Personalizing the Hymnal: Educating the Congregation through Bulletin Notes

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  • Curt Gesch

This article demonstrates how new hymns can be introduced in a congregation through bulletin notes.

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Singing a New Song: A Review of Three New Denominational Hymnals

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  • Alfred V. Fedak

This article is a review of three new hymnals: the United Methodist Hymnal, Presbyterian Hymnal, and Trinity Hymnal.

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Holy Fairs – Scottish Communions and American Revivals in the Early Modern Period

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  • Keith Watkins

This article reviews the book The Holy Fairs, which explains how certain festivals, such as Cambuslang in Scotland and Cane Ridge and the camp meetings in the United States, became the occasions for significant revivals. The book indicates how these communion gatherings continued the pre-Reformation popular piety of Corpus Christi in a new guise that was acceptable in the context of Reformed religion.

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Book – Getting Ready for Sunday: A Practical Guide for Worship Planning

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  • Ruth Hofman

This article offers a brief review of the book Getting Ready for Sunday: A Practical Guide for Worship Planning.

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Prayers and a Banner for Pentecost

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  • Anonymous

This article offers examples of prayers and banners that can be used with fruit during the time of Pentecost.

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Iglesia el Siervo del Senor – Retaining Old Catholic Traditions in a New Reformed Church

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  • Federico J. Machado

The author is the pastor of a church in the midst of a largely Hispanic community. This article reflects how their worship services are strongly influenced by their Hispanic history and traditions as well as those of the Reformed faith.

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Confession of Faith

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  • Keith Lohman

This is a confession of faith for use in worship.

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Hands-On Worship – Expanding Our Practice of Laying On of Hands

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  • David J. Diephouse

The laying on of hands is attracting renewed interest in some Christian circles. What does the laying on of hands signify? This article reflects on this practice, and offers suggestions for how it might be expanded today.

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Hymnal – Songs of Rejoicing

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article gives a short review of the hymnal Songs of Rejoicing that provides hymns to be used in worship services.

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Participating in Worship: History, Theory, and Practice

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  • Tom Schwanda

This article reviews the book Participating in Worship: History, Theory, and Practice by Craig Erickson, which argues that worship needs to become more participatory through the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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An Archbishop for All Seasons – Thomas Cranmer and the Book of Common Prayer

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  • Ronald A. Wells

This article commends the use of material from Thomas Cranmer's The Book of Common Prayer in worship.

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One in the Spirit – Involving Persons with Disabilities in Worship

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  • Thomas B. Hoeksema

This article reflects on the important place in the church that people with disabilities have.

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Hymns for Lent, Easter, and Pentecost

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  • John W. Ourensma

This article introduces a number of hymns and Psalms to be used in worship services around Lent, Easter, and Pentecost: Psalm 116, "The Lord Is Risen, Yes, Indeed," and "Eternal Spirit, God of Truth."

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Prayers and Litanies – Good Friday Resources

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  • Anonymous

This article offers a number of resources in the form of prayers and litanies for Good Friday.

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What to Do with Good Friday

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  • Jay R. Weener

Good Friday is too important an event to ignore or treat like any other day in the church calendar. This article suggests preaching possibilities for the occassion.

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Beyond Trumpets and Lilies – Practical Ideas for the 90-Day Easter Cycle

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  • Edith Bajema

This article offers practical ideas on how to observe the so-called Easter cycle as part of the liturgical calendar—forty days before and fifty days after Easter.

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Worshipping with Aliens and Angels

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  • Harry Boonstra

This article reflects on how churches can extend hospitality to visitors in their midst.

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I Recommend... – Worship Leaders List Their Favorite Planning Resources

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  • Joel R. Boot

Eleven pastors and worship leaders were asked which resources they use most often when planning worship services, and this article offers the fruit of their advice.

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Hymns of the Month

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  • Davis Folkerts

This article introduces a number of hymns to be used in public worship: "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," "Arise, Shine, For Your Light Is Come," and "I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord."

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Getting the Story off the Page – Advice on Putting Life into Scripture Reading

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  • W. J. Beeners

This article offers advice on how to execute the Scripture reading in public worship with great care.

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Book Review – How Shall I Sing to God?

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  • John D. Witvliet

The author reviews in this article Brian Wren's How Shall I Sing to God? The book is a thought-provoking introduction to contemporary hymnody,

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Hymns for September, October, and November

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  • Alfred V. Fedak

This article introduces a number of hymns for use in public worship: “Earth and All Stars,” “Built on the Rock,” “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.”

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Alternatives to "O Perfect Love"

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  • Roy Hopp

This article suggests hymns to be sung at a wedding ceremony. 

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The Lord's Supper – How Often?

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  • David T. Koyzis

In most Reformed and Presbyterian churches, the Lord's Supper is celebrated infrequently—usually four to six times a year. This article reflects on this practice and considers the benefit of a more frequent celebration.

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Hymns for June, July, and August

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article introduces a number of hymns and a psalm for use in public worship: "O Holy Spirit, By Whose Breath," Psalm 81, and "Seek Ye First."

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But I Like to Sing Bass... – Why We Shouldn't Always Sing in 4-Part Harmony

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article reflects on the way musicians and organists in particular can provide leadership in the singing of a congregation.

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Serving the Hymn – Some Thoughts on Hymn Introductions

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  • Jan Overduin

This article provides some of the author's thinking on leading congregational singing and provides examples of some of the improvisations he played for a recording.

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Until He Comes – Six Themes for the Lord's Supper

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  • Peter Kelder

This article considers six important themes that reflect the significance of the celebration of the Lord's Supper: remembrance, proclamation, fellowship, self-examination, thanksgiving, expectation.

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Tapping Instrumental Talent

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  • John S. Bright

This article makes suggestions on how to recruit and encourage volunteers as church musicians.

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Worship Is..

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  • David H. Englehard

This article reflects on the church's worship as an echo of the praise of the heavenly chorus and celebration of Christ's completed and continuing work for us.

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Hymns for Lent, Easter, and Ascension

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  • Marnie Segger, Joachim Segger

This article introduces a number of hymns for use in worship services: "See, Christ Was Wounded," "Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks," and "Here from All Nations."

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More Than Just Furniture

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  • Donald J. Bruggink

This article considers the place that the baptismal font has in our church buildings.

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All in the Family

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  • Bert Polman

Baptism should be a momentous experience for the family, for the person (when an adult or older child is baptized), and for the congregation, who are not just witnesses but participants in this sacrament. This article considers baptism as a celebration to be remembered.

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Revised but Not Standard

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  • James Vanden Bosch

This article considers what effect the revising of historic creeds like the Apostles' Creed has on ecumenical ties.

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Remember Your Baptism

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  • Harry Boonstra

What does it mean to "remember your baptism"? This article reflects on different aspects of Christian baptism as part of the worship service.

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Renewing Our Commitments

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  • Allan C. Groen

This article offers a liturgy for a worship service at the start of a new year.

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Time for Renewing

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  • Allan C. Groen

In this article the author examines the practice of renewing vows and suggests ways in which Christians can help each other remain strong in their promises by occasionally renewing their commitments together as a congregation. He discusses it as renewing and not redoing.

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Joy to the World

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article considers reaching out to the world through a night of carolling in the neighbourhood of the church.

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Chalice and Loaf or Cups and Cubes

  • Semi-Technical
  • Howard G. Hageman

This article reflects on the celebration of communion in the Reformed tradition. Is there something sacred about wine, or is grape juice an acceptable alternative? Are there rules about whether the bread should be leavened or unleavened, store-bought or home-baked, white or wheat? Is a chalice more meaningful than a tray full of small cups? Who should bring the elements to the table—and when?

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Home Communion

  • Semi-Technical
  • Harry Boonstra

Is home communion an acceptable practice? This article considers the practice of home communion for the sick and shut-ins.

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Building the Sermon

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  • Robert A. Meyering

This article suggests that sermon preparation need not be an exclusive exercise. Preparing sermons requires some solitude, but exchanging ideas with other people face to face can also be a valuable part of sermon preparation.

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As for Me and My House – Learning from a Jewish Model of Worship

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  • Robert E. Webber

This article gives an example of Jewish family worship as a model Christians can learn from.

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Hymns of the Month

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  • Emily R. Brink

Readers are introduced to the hymns "May the Mind of Christ," "Now Thank We All Our God, and Psalm 114 as songs that could directly involve children in worship.

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Book – God's Children in Worship

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  • Harry Boonstra

This article introduces the book God's Children in Worship as a resource and guide to help churches who are serious about teaching children (and adults) about worship,

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Fair Play

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article offers reflections on why, how, and when church musicians should or should not be paid.

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Worship by the Book

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  • Thomas D. Kennedy, G. I. Williamson, Bernard J. Stonehouse

This article reflects three views on how the Bible ought to determine our worship.

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Speaking in Tongues

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  • Harry Boonstra

Reading Scripture in different languages—can be a meaningful addition to a Pentecost liturgy. This article makes proposals for a Pentecost liturgy.

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Straight from Scripture

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  • David T. Koyzis

This is the second article in a series on the singing of Psalms in Christian worship. It compares ways of singing the psalms: those who chant the Psalms directly from the Bible and those who sing metrical paraphrases of the Psalms.

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Priestly Prayers – Intercessions for the Church and World

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  • William L. Vander Beek

What should be included in the prayer of intercession in the worship service? This article reflects on the appropriateness of a prayer for the world during worship.

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Various Hymns for Worship

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  • Verlyn Schultz

This article introduces the hymns "O Sons and Daughters," "Holy Spirit, Truth Divine," and Psalm 134 as liturgical music.

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Preaching about Worship

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  • Harry Boonstra

At times it's healthy for a congregation to pause and reflect on what they do in a worship service. This article wants to facilitate a way for a congregation to reconsider what worship is.

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Book – Worship the Lord

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  • Remkes Kooistra

This article offers an introduction to and review of the book Worship the Lord.

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Book – The Church Musician

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  • Emily R. Brink

This article is a short review of the book The Church Musician.

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On Offering the Offering

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  • Bernard H. De Jonge

Until the tenth or eleventh century, the offering during the worship service was closely connected to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This article reflects on the self-giving character of the offerings during the worship service.

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Sermons That Live – Preaching through Stories

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  • Marchiene Vroon Rienstra

The Bible uses stories (narrative) to reveal who God is, what God desires, how God acts, and how God wants humans to respond to him. Too often preachers ignore the narrative structure of the Bible. This article wants to encourage preaching that honours the narrative structure, content, and purpose of narrative texts.

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Restoring Psalms to Worship

  • Basic
  • David T. Koyzis

This article wants to encourage the singing of psalms in weekly public worship.

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Hymn for during Epiphany and Lent

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  • John E. Hamersma

This article introduces a number of hymns that can be used in public worship during Epiphany and Lent.

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He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. J. Elliot
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