Comments
I was thinking about this last night. What would you want to see included in such a book? I jotted down my list:
* Worship in the Wesleyan Tradition
* The Basic Pattern of Worship
* The Christian Calendar: Seasons
* The Christian Calendar: Holy Days
* The Lectionary
* The Psalter
* The Baptismal Covenant
* An Order for Confirmation, Renewal or Reaffirmation
* A Service of Word and Table
* An Order for Reconciliation
* An Order for Christian Marriage
* An Order for Holy Orders
* An Order for Anointing the Sick
* An Order for Anointing at the Time of Death
* The Christian Funeral
* Season & Day specific Components of Worship (call to worship, confession, pardon, invocation, illumination, prayers of the people, Eucharistic prayers, benedictions, etc)
* Prayers for Various Occasions
Is that overkill? What would you add/delete?
Other services (Hanging of the Greens, Lessons and Carols, Ash Wednesday, Seder, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, etc)
There are some aspects of All Saints' Day that I greatly appreciate. And every assembly (both district and general) already has a "Memorial Service." I appreciate the effort, but I've been to some pretty bad ones. Some theological, historical, and purposeful thinking along the lines of "remembering those who've gone before us" could lead to some kind of service of remembrance.
Other services
* Tenebrae Service
* Communion for the sick or home bound
* Infant Baptism and dedication
Seems to be a number of people in the Ohio-Indiana area who may be collaborating on this. An additional resource might be Greg Rosser who's currently working on a D.Min in Spiritual Formation & Worship and lives in Ohio. We've had a good conversation or two about how liturgy forms the community.
Other names of resources/individuals have been listed on Naznet by others:
Brent Peterson, Greg Voiles, Dennis Bratcher, Roger Hahn, & Keith Schwanz. I don't know Greg, but I'd agree with the others, particularly Brent Peterson.
Speaking of those who could be in the loop, I would think Dr. Middendorf could be the "insider" that would be needed. Daryl Keefer at GMC has worked on issues like this, and had 2 "books" dealing with liturgy from the point of sermon prep and worship through CSS.
This could actually be the legacy of this blog... :)
One thing that might work for or against this movement, is that NPH does not plan to revise the hymnal. It is not a money making area for them, and it takes considerable resources for it to come about. With that said, I believe there will be a need to publish a book of worship in the future.
Likewise, NPH just published a book on the Celebrations and Observances of the Church Year (I have not read), so they are seeing a need for these types of resources. For them to publish, it must make them money.
Another thing to include would be responsive readings (or a how to guide).
During my brief stint as a pastor in the UMC I was involved with the Order of Saint Luke--a liturgical renewal group. They published a great resource with Eucharistic Prayers for every Sunday of the church year drawing on the themes of the RCL.
Why reinvent the wheel when there are already some wonderful resources out there?
Jerry's question is pertinent, and personally, I have no qualms about using the Book(s) of Worship of other traditions. While it would be nice to have one of our own, until we start culling one together I have no problem reading for those from the UM, ECUSA, and ELCA, all of which I have in close reach at all times in my own office!
Also, let me say, I spoke briefly with Brent Peterson about this at the WTS meeting in Anderson IN this past March, and one thing that was mentioned was the idea of making this a digital/online resource. Truth be told, this is probably the way to go. Not sure how that changes the approach we might take or how the collaboration happens, but just throwing it out there. It's NOT likely to be a money maker, so what's the point in trying to go through NPH? I'm afraid it would just be an obstacle, as has already been suggested. however, they might want to give some oversight or get involved with funding and/or resourcing us if we already have the ball and are running with it. I think a project like this DOES need some legitimizing board or body to give it credibility, but there's no reason it can't be an organic, grass-roots thing that we just get going and eventually it coalesces into something (semi-)official.
Kinda like how often now (drawing for a moment on my CCM past and what I know of that industry) indie bands will just go ahead and produce a complete album and shop it to labels for distribution, as-is; and the labels (equivalent to the publishing houses) are becoming more and more interested in acquiring new artists/albums this way because it means all the hard work (and possible expense) has been taken care of up front, before the label ever gets involved. See the similarity? I think in our digital age, this is the way to go...
I agree with you, Brannon.
Digital or not at all.
And as far as the other Books of Worship I'm sure we all draw on ... they will probably be well represented in what we put together.
Why don't we just set up a site that is user-restricted (names and passwords) and begin collaborating on-line? When we have the beginnings of something to show, we can involved the legitimizing persons and entities.
I could easily set this up to be hosted at GoDaddy for free (I have several hosting accounts I haven't cashed in yet). We could use WordPress as the engine and have it be blog-like.
When we are ready for non-contributors to see something, we would just designate that part of the site as non-restricted.
Thoughts, suggestions, opinions?
Be the Peace ...
Blogs are difficult for lengthy and organized discussion. In the past I've used SMF (www.simplemachines.org), a free online discussion forum software package you can use on your own site (see www.lectionarychat.com for an example).
Brian/Jeremy/all:
I think setting up some kind of restricted, collaborative venue would be the way to go - something that isn't blog-based; perhaps something similar to google documents, but where we can give each individual a user name and log-in (or maybe you can do this in google docs and I just don't know about it - it's always seemed tied to my general google account).
I suspect many of us have already crafted some of our own liturgies for various purposes; in fact, I do know that some of you have worked on baptismal liturgies (esp for children) because of the huge lack our Nazarene ritual presents, and I have for my own local context (for evening prayers and for the eucharist). I'd say let's start by putting together services and liturgies like these that we've already adapted, noting the sources from which they've been adapted, and just start batting them around, giving one another a chance to see and critique and improve them.
Does somebody who knows how to mess with setting up a forum for this want to get on it? I'm going to be gone to a worship conference most of this week so I'm pretty out of pocket - in fact, this is probably all you'll hear from me this week.
I agree. I think digital is a great option! I think the value in having a "Nazarene" Book of Worship is in legitimacy & credibility. In my neck of the woods, if I pull out my BCP no one would pay one bit of attention. If I pull out a book that has a nice gold Nazarene logo on it, they may not like it, but it is ours.
Call me old fashioned, but love having the nice book. My biggest problem with Middendorf's book is that because of the way it is bound I cannot lay it open on the altar and use it. Holding it in my hand is just as cumbersome. The silly thing always wants to flap shut.
Lets get the material together and go from there.
Absolutely, Eric - I understand what you're saying about the legitimacy of a Nazarene book (and the accompanying problems of using the BCP or whatever other resource). I also, like you, enjoy having a nice, published book to put in my hands. Perhaps there is a way to take what we eventually put together and make it available in some "print-on-demand" publishing venue - or heck, even spiral binding it up for those who want it - at least comb-bound materials lay open on a pulpit or altar. I know what you mean re: the Church Rituals Handbook - I have the same problem with a lot of choral books I use, and what I always do is cut the spine off my copy and then comb-bind it.
ditto on getting the material together first - somebody get on the online venue for us! :-)
I concur on the sense of legitimacy and that the place to start is with electrons.
BTW, the Order of Saint Luke materials I used were all either spiral bound or in a ring binder.
Concerning content:
What about some forms for Daily Prayer? There could be suggested forms for individuals, families and groups.
Definite 'YES' on forms for daily prayer, and I like the idea of having ones geared for families, different from individuals or other groups.
also wanted to say, I know a lot of "smaller" (a relative term) groups do spiral bind or do a notebook kind of thing for resources like this. Printing is, I'm sure, one factor - hard to get a publisher to want to print up "real" books if there's only going to be a small niche of people who want it.
The convent I retreat to in Cincinnati has all of their liturgical resources for 5 or 6 daily services in a small (A5? 1/2 of an 8.5x11", roughly) three ring binder - and I know it's a fairly fluid collection of services, too, in that they add to it and amend it on occasion.
So something like that might be a good option - get some nice binders printed up, and fill them with services as particular situations require. thoughts?
I'm working in a site for this today. Give me until midnight to have something for everyone to look at and test functionality
Brian: wondering, since most of us are pastors and/or work for non-profits, if Google Apps would be an effective, free online tool - haven't used it but have just been looking into it for our church (seems pretty amazing, esp for FREE). Not sure how well-geared it would be for this kind of collaboration, but just a thought.
thx brother - and don't forget, if you stub your toe, now you know what to do! ;-)
BH
Somewhat off subject, but . . . Jerry, are you not in the OSL, now? - I've been a member for coming up on a decade.
As to a Nazarene endorsed book, I agree that such endorsement is significant. - Even if not put out through NPH, if we can at least have a g.s. do a preface (if done in book form) or endorsing statement or some kind, otherwise.
While having an official Nazarene Book of Worship would be nice, there are plusses and minuses. I wish we had something that could be identified as liturgical resources, but which, instead of limiting us, also pointed us to other resources (e.g., the various BCPs, the UMBW, British Methodist WB) that could be adapted for Nazarene use.
For example, I don't want to "be bound to" the kind of Nazarene rituals that we have thus far produced for infant baptism that requires that I give up my Wesleyan sacramental theology for a "Wesleyan-lite" theology that turns infant baptism into merely a testimony about prevenient grace. - I won't use such a ritual.
On the other hand, it would be nice to have the Nazarene seal & some sense of endorsement.
I think an electronic version that can be printed would be good. I think it would also be good if it could include a listing of other sources, which would indicate that we are not "bound by" our resources.
Brannon ... Can you email me first and last names of who will be original participants / authors / contributors. I'll have usernames and passwords set up accordingly.
I'm just using WP as an engine. Will have some blog-like qualities, but will be more functional for what we are trying to do.
Google Gears can be integrated with it.
Greetings! As I am reading and thinking of an organic, digital, update-able, expandable, usable, modifiable format for this Nazarene Book of Worship (NBW), could we first begin with some organization first.
I am thinking (borrowing from our Manual's construction and the BCP) could we create sections...i.e. 100's be Daily Prayer, 200's Collects and other prayers, 300's Eucharistic Liturgies, 400's Baptismal & Confirmation (??)[and dedication] Liturgies, 500's Pastoral Liturgies (funeral, wedding liturgies.
Just throwing this out there. It would be good if this NBW which might be organic and evolving to be able to truly be adaptable and update-able by inserting pages/edits into its proper place. It would make it easily and pragmatic for most pastors.
Great idea. We should start with organization. But before those things I think a couple brief essays might be helpful. Preferably at least one by a GS. I thought three topics that may be helpful in such a project: "Worship in the Wesleyan Tradition" "Liturgy and Holiness" "The Shape of Worship"
Those three articles would be a fabulous introduction to the NBW.
we're also going to need to figure out a process, which will probably be a fluid thing and will work itself out as we go along, but just to get us started. Brian and I have already begun discussing this just insofar as it relates to site admins and permissions. but I mean how we go about posting a draft of a liturgy and then revising it as a group, etc. any thoughts, guys?
Brannon, you just asked for trouble. This is like seeking a common census on the doctrine of the Trinity prior to Nicea, [cough or even after].
But here is an idea. Why not first start with a call. Seek liturgies, or short papers on specific issues or on specific themes. Have the call be open for a limited time. Close the call, and then disseminate and discuss the proposals. If an area is deemed weak or in need of more work(s), re open the call.
This, might also be organized like "The Worship Sourcebook" 0-8010-9172-1, which I really like and have used a lot.
Good ideas, JB - thanks for your email, too. I'll be thinking about this over the next few days while I'm away at a worship conference...I might have some opportunities to bounce some ideas around other folks unrelated to our denomination and our particular plight, too, and might come back with a better grip on things.
peace, everybody! Thanks for your interest and enthusiasm in this project.
Okay folks ... Brannon and I have set up a site for this to begin.
It is password protected. The entire site.
Go to www.nazareneliturgy.com. Click the "Register" text which is located under the log in stuff. Enter in your name and whatever password you would like. You'll be confirmed very quickly.
Then you will see a Table of Contents page. Read that and let's begin contributing.
Thanks for those setting up the digital workspace. I'm excited to see this project get off the ground. I'm wondering, though, if a wiki-based platform might work better than a blog. A wiki is built for the kind of collaboration necessary for this project and there are open-source options available.
Some have noted that since the common lectionary is built around the Gospel readings, major themes in the Old Testament are overlooked. And since the Gospel of John is not given systematic treatment in the common lectionary, but rather is represented in scattered, selected passages through all three years, some have suggested preparing a Year D built around John's Gospel. I suggest we organize an effort to address these two issues in one project.
The cycle would begin the Sunday after Trinity Sunday (which is the Sunday after Pentecost) …
1. Create a lectionary (OT, Psalm, Gospel, Epistle) for 24-27 Sundays which uses the OT as the “core” to explore the theme of the missio Dei/redemptive history prior to the birth of Jesus.
2. Create a lectionary (OT, Psalm, Gospel, Epistle) with John as the Gospel focus for the period from Advent to Trinity Sunday. (If a person wanted to use the new missio Dei/redemptive history lectionary, he/she could also use the common lectionary for the appropriate year from Advent to Trinity Sunday.)
3. Create a lectionary (OT, Psalm, Gospel, Epistle) for 24-27 Sundays which uses the Epistles & Revelation as the “core” to explore the theme of the missio Dei/redemptive history following the ascension of Jesus.
This would allow a congregation to move through the whole scope of redemptive history every 18 months.
* Missio Dei/redemptive history in the OT
* Year D/John's Gospel (Advent to Trinity Sunday)
* Missio Dei/redemptive history in the Epistles & Revelation
Creating two OT & epistles cycles would provide a three-year cycle when combined with the common lectionary for Advent to Trinity Sunday.
* OT1
* Year A (Advent to Trinity Sunday)
* Epistle1
* Year B (Advent to Trinity Sunday)
* OT2
* Year C (Advent to Trinity Sunday)
* Epistle2
* Year A (Advent to Trinity Sunday)
* OT1 (etc.)
Creating a lectionary with John as the focus might be aided by looking at how passages from John are already used in the common lectionary. (See http://
lectionary.library.vander...tationindex.php for the common lectionary in biblical order.) Instead of reinventing the wheel, this process would bring the scattered John references in the common lectionary into a new sequence (with OT, Psalms, and Epistles readings already identified). Once the reordering was done, then decisions could be made on how to fill in any holes.
Keith - the wordpress platform might be a good way to get us going/get us talking in a venue other than this one (which is more abstract and conversational, whereas that can be more practical and focused on the task at hand), but as soon as you said WIKI, I was like, DUH!? Yeah, I think that is absolutely what we need as we start compiling texts and allow them to be revised and edited by the collective. Thanks for the insight! These are also fantastic ideas re: the lectionary - sounds like a considerable undertaking, but an immensely worthwhile one in my opinion. thanks again!
I think a Nazarene Book of Worship is awesome! As Eric has mentioned it would help give credibility to what we are attempting to do.
Would about creating space in the work to help/assist local congregations to develop their own contextual liturgies? It's one thing to use a general form. But for a local congregation to craft their own worship arts, I think, would be fantastic!
Grace and peace,
Michael
I have seen one form of The Great Thanksgiving that, in the anamnesis, recalls Christ's work that leads to the sanctification of all. I'd like to see a Eucharistic form that helped our people connect with what Wesley (and the church catholic) has understood but we have in most ways failed to understand. Would integrating our theology into a pattern for the celebration at table help our people in seeing Eucharist as a means of grace and not a reserved ordinance?
HELLO ALL! It's been forever since I've visited the blog...but I'm still here! THIS LINE OF CONVERSATION IS FANTASTIC! I wish I had time to share more. Just wanted to show my full support.
I would add that I don't think we need to reinvent our own lectionary...let's just use the RCL
As I have been reading this I am incredibly excited about what I am seeing and the discussion has been fascinating. I am a little suprised though in all of the discussion that no one at least in my lurking has mentioned Wesley's, "The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America and other Occasional Services." It seems to me that this would be an essential document in starting a conversation like the one we have here. For those unfamiliar with it it is essentially an abridged Book of Common Prayer which includes morning and evening prayers, collects, Lord's Supper, Baptism, rites of ordination, Tenebrae Service, etc. It was never widely accepted in North America but is an essential part of the conversation if we want to make an arguement in claiming a Wesleyan sacramental theology for the Church of the Nazarene.
Since I am new here I am wondering if this has been a part of the conversation that I have missed, or if it is not of interest, or if it is just an unfamiliar work. The more I have read the more I think this would be a great starting place.
Thoughts?
Brian
Is there a way to email you Brannon? I have a twitter but I haven't had it long enough to understand it real well yet.
Daniel - yeah, it's brannon(dot) hancock (at) gmail.com - I think you can get it from my blogger profile too. Holler at me any time.
Is this web page up and running? (www.nazareneliturgy.com) It did not appear to be there. I am very interested in the ideas of a Worship Sourcebook and contributing to one.
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