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| Indiana-Kentucky
Synod |
Sanctus | ||
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A
Newsletter of the Worship Committee of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod | ||
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April,
2007 John the Baptist |
Sanctus
is an occasional newsletter of the Worship Committee of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod.
It is mailed bi-monthly, as part of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Resource Packet,
to to Rostered Leaders and Lay Congregation Chairs (presidents or vice-presidents).
Sanctus is also mailed to the Worship Planning Team chairs
in our I-K Synod Congregations. If you are a local worship planning leader and
would like to join this mailing, please contact Pr. Rudy Mueller, Rmueller@iksynod.org
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April
2007 Sanctus Online: | ||
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IntroductionJohn said, "I must decrease, but he must increase" (John 3.30). John's birthday is celebrated in June after the vernal equinox. Days begin to grow shorter and darker, until the birth of Christ in December, when the days begin to grow longer again.
This
year the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist falls on a Sunday (June 24,
2007), giving us the opportunity to celebrate that feast day. In this issue you
will find some resources for planning the liturgy for that feast day.
Speaking
of planning a liturgy, just how does that happen? Many congregations have a Worship
and Music Committee that regularly plans ahead. They look at how to vest the worship
space for particular seasons and themes that might be lifted up. They also choose
music and hymns, and make decisions about the various parts of the liturgy - for
example, what do we sing for an offertory: "Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful",
"What Shall I Render", "Create in Me", or perhaps a hymn.
The Committee also engages in ongoing study of matters related to the renewal
of worship, liturgy and theology, and music.
How do you get such a Committee started? Such a committee would do its work on behalf of the Congregation Council (which functions on behalf of the whole congregation). Worship is clearly the center of parish life, the source of vitality and strength of a congregation. Congregation Councils are charged with the "oversight of the life and activities of [the] congregation and in particular its worship life" (Model Constitution, C12.04). So the Congregation Council clearly needs to be on board with the formation and work of a Worship Committee.
Membership would include a wide and diverse representation of the congregation, but always those who have a passion for worship that is Christ-centered and reflects the core values of the congregation. Membership would include those who are responsible for leading worship - pastor(s), choir director, organist or musician(s); it would include representatives from the ushers, the altar guild, liturgical assistants; it would do well to also include representatives from the youth group and the confirmation class.
No one, including the pastor and musicians, would assume they have learned all there is to learn about worship. Each meeting would include a time for study as well as prayer and devotion.
Planning would be by the season, and would be at least two months ahead. Choosing themes, banners, and hymns, and making liturgical decisions far in advance, allows musicians and choir directors ample time to find music and anthems that fit chosen themes.
Augsburg Fortress publishes Preparing the Assembly's Worship: A Worship Handbook, that could be a useful resource in getting started.
Summer
Music Series - "Tuesday at Trinity"
June 12 - The Brass Band
of Columbus
June 19 - Celebrating the Seasons: Vivaldi "The Four Seasons"
Michael Davis, soloist
June 26 - The Mark Flugge Trio with Kelly Crum Delaveris
Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio
Lutheran
Summer Music Academy and Festival
June 24-July 22, Gustavus Adolphus College,
St. Peter, MN
Outstanding faculty of artists and teachers guide gifted high
school and college students from around the country through a month of intensive
musical study and performance.
Young
Lutherans Sing: A Summer Choral Experience
July 1-6, Carthage College,
Kenosha, Wisconsin
A one week choral and worship program of the Association
for Lutheran Church Musicians for
young musicians in grades 4-8. Michael
Burkhardt, choral clinician and conductor
Augsburg
Fortress Summer Music Clinics David Cherwien, choral & Mark Sedio, organ
July
30-31, Columbus, OH area
August 2-3, Chicago, IL area (pre-conference event
for Worship Jubilee 2007)
Summer
Institute for Liturgy and Worship - The Sacraments and the House that Holds Them:
Sacred Space and the Arts as Theology July 8-13
The Seattle University
School of Theology and Ministry
From Generation to Generation" July 8-12
Association of Lutheran
Church Musicians Biennial Worship Conference in Houston, TX
Lutheran
Youth Choir of North America
July 22-August 5, Faith Lutheran Church,
Glen Ellyn, IL
A program for gifted high school singers, including participation
in Worship Jubilee 2007 and a
one-week tour of the Pacific Northwest and
British Colombia. Audition deadline: May 1.
Philip Spencer, founding conductor
Worship
Jubilee August 3-6
A Churchwide Worship Event celebrating the renewal
of worship in the ELCA
Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois
Five
Worship for Mission Workshops were held throughout the Synod, beginning last October
and finishing up on March 17. The workshops were:
| October 28 | Christ the King Church, South Bend | 177 persons attended |
| November 4 | St.
Luke Church, Newburgh, IN | 92 persons attended |
| November 18 | Pilgrim Church, Indianapolis | 266 persons attended |
| March 3 | Gloria Dei Church, Crestview Hills, KY | 125 persons attended |
| March 17 | Risen
Savior Church, Fort Wayne | 148 persons attended |
Thanks to three groups for the success of these workshops:
First, thank you to the worship staff at ELCA headquarters for putting together the structure and content of the workshops.
Second, thank you to the congregations who hosted and fed the attendees.
Third, thank you to the team that led the workshops:Maretta Hershberger and Cindy Strietelmeier, the musicians
Susan McMahon, Rudy Mueller, and Pamela Thiede, the presenters
Augsburg Fortress is offering a Spring Music Sale on selected music items when you order online! Through April 30 you can enjoy a discount of 25% on an assortment of choral, organ, piano, and instrumental music. To see a full list of titles go to www.augsburgfortress.org/store/category.jsp?clsid=186910&productgroupid=0&categoryid=3192
Also
available from Augusburg Fortress are two new Evangelical Lutheran Worship items:
The Gift Edition and ceremonial binders. The gift edition contains the complete
content of the ELW pew edition with an elegant cranberry bonded leather cover,
gilded edging and ribbon markers. The ceremonial binders match the ELW pew edition,
as well as being available in the liturgical colors of the church year. These
practical and elegant ceremonial binders allow you to assemble all of your materials
in one place for use in worship. Perfect for presiders, lectors, cantors, accompanists,
or prayer leaders, this 3-ring binder is sized to hold standard 8-1/2 x 11"
pages.
GATHERING
It
is appropriate on feast days to omit the Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness
and to include a petitionfor forgiveness during the intercessions. However, if
a Baptism has not been scheduled for this day, it would be fitting to use the
Thanksgiving for Baptism (ELW, p 97).
Possible Gathering hymns:
#246/37, #249/36, #250/WOV 725, #255, #256/29, #421/178 (stanza 14) all relate to John the Baptist.
Other possible hymns: #511/233, #514/231, #553/265, #604/300
[first numbers are ELW, second numbers LBW]
Any of these hymns would fit well as a Hymn of the Day.
If
you omit the Kyrie green season of Pentecost, it is appropriate to do so on this
day.
WORD
About
the lessons for this day, Sundays and Seasons (ISBN 0-8066-4940-2; ©
2006 Augsburg Fortress,
Minneapolis, Minnesota) writes:
Malachi prophesies a "messenger to prepare the way" (3.1). Teaching in the Antioch synagogue, Paul traces Israel's salvation history down through John to Jesus (Acts 13). This festival's gospel reading is Luke's account of John's birth, complete with the optional inclusion of Zechariah's song that we know as the Benedictus ("Blessed are you, Lord"). The story of John's birth parallels that of Jesus … John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus, is the classic voice that comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. (pp 207-208)
ELW offers Matthew 5.10 as the Gospel Acclamation. We remember that John was persecuted by Herod.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righ-| teousness' sake,*
For theirs is the king- | dom of heaven."
The
Nicene Creed is the appropriate creed for feast days.
Sundays and
Seasons also offers intercessions (p 207) that may be used.
MEAL
The Peace may be introduced as follows:
P The dawn from high shall break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. The peace of Christ be with you always.
An
appropriate Offertory would be ELW #692.
The proper preface for
Advent is the suggested preface.
Possible distribution hymns:
#466, #481, #486, #488/224, #490/198, #494/200, #495/207
A possible dismissal:
A Brothers and sisters, to you has been sent the message of salvation.
Go forth before the Lord to prepare his ways. Share this knowledge of salvation.
Forgive sins; be kind and merciful. Alleluia, alleluia!
C Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
[Editor's
note: This article was downloaded from the CD which was in the introductory
kit sent to every congregation and every rostered leader in Septermber 2006. ©
2006 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. All rights reserved. Permission is
granted to reproduce this document for local use in introducing Evangelical
Lutheran Worship.]
Holy Baptism joins people of all ages, including young children and youth, to the body of Christ. Whether baptized or still anticipating baptism, people who are gathered into the Christian assembly participate in worship. So, all people - young , old, and in between - should be introduced to the resources used in worship.
As part of the effort to introduce Evangelical Lutheran Worship in your community of faith, it is important to include young children and youth. Often drawn to variety or new things, young people are particularly teachable when it comes to new songs, prayers, and patterns for worship. Evangelical Lutheran Worship includes new compositions, global rhythms, classic hymns, and a wealth of other material that will be of interest to children and youth.
The "how" of introducing young people to this new book of worship is rich with possibilities. The suggestions listed below provide a place to start. These may cause you to think of other creative possibilities. And the things you try with children may lead you to discover things that will work with other generations. Whatever you decide, approach the task with care and delight, knowing that words and music that are placed in the mouths and on the hearts of young people are likely to form them in faith for a lifetime.
Consider these ideas:
In
Worship 
Very young children
should be encouraged to hold the book as soon as they show interest. Turning pages
and seeing the images created by art, words, and music contributes to a child's
sense that they are included when they see others holding the book.
Children
are more likely to feel connected and participate if they can see. Encourage families
with children to sit near the front, where children can see what is happening
in worship. Help older children follow the action by showing them where the action
corresponds with the words, art, and music in the book. Encourage
children and youth to be a part of the movement of worship - standing, kneeling,
following a procession, making a sign of the cross, coming to the table during
Holy Communion, sitting near the font during a baptism, bringing gifts forward
when invited, sharing their own gifts when the offering is gathered, exchanging
the peace of Christ. If
your worship includes a "time for children", consider explaining in
clear and simple ways some of the actions and words of worship. When the explanation
is then "connected" with the biblical readings for that day, by participating
in this time together, the children are participating in the assembly's proclamation.
Use the "Kids
Celebrate Worship" resources from Augsburg Fortress as weekly handouts for
children. When that is not possible, consider including announcements or graphics
in the "announcements" part of your weekly worship folder that are intentionally
designed for young people. Many
of the new hymns and songs have refrains. Take time to teach these to the whole
congregation, increasing children's participation in the singing by intentionally
inviting them to join in. Provide
regular opportunities for hymn-sing preludes, where both new songs and old favorites
can be learned and enjoyed. Ask a variety of members, including youth, to choose
the hymns that will be sung during these preludes. Encourage
the directors of youth and children's choirs to use the hymns and psalms from
Evangelical Lutheran Worship in planning their musical offerings for worship
and as a regular part of their rehearsals. Invite
and train young people who are able to participate in worship leadership, helping
them to see how their role comes to expression in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
In
Christian Education Use
announcements in Christian education classes, in newsletters, and on bulletin
boards to encourage families to talk with one another about their worship experience
each week.
Teach
hymns from Evangelical Lutheran Worship in Sunday School using a variety
of methods - audio, visual, print, projected, hands-on, movement. Incorporating
rhythm instruments, movement, and other artistic responses (drawing, painting)
helps children learn more quickly. Use
the Evangelical Lutheran Worship "Calendar of Sundays and Principle
Festivals" to teach about the church year, saints, and important church figures.
Look for additional helpful resources on the websites www.elca.org/worship
and www.augsburgfortress.org.
Use the art
included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship to shape discussions about symbols
of faith or discipleship. This can be done in different ways depending on what
is appropriate for the age group. Use the art to encourage drawing or painting
young peoples' own expressions of faith. Use
the "Kids Celebrate Worship" resources from Augsburg Fortress with younger
children (ages 610) in Sunday School. Use
Evangelical Lutheran Worship as a resource in First Communion classes.
Present a copy of Evangelical Lutheran Worship to the children upon entering
First Communion classes or Confirmation instruction. Use
Evangelical Lutheran Worship as a resource in confirmation classes, especially
when studying Luther's Small Catechism and services related to Holy Baptism. (Remember,
confirmation is an affirmation of baptism.) Explore
together prayers and the words of hymns, songs, and canticles within Evangelical
Lutheran Worship. There are many additional resources in this book of worship
that may serve as topics for discussion, especially among junior and senior high
school students.
In
the Home Encourage
families to use Evangelical Lutheran Worship for personal and family devotions.
During Advent and Lent, learn the prayers or words from worship services used
during that particular season of the church year. Responsive Prayer can be used
with children who are able to read.
Explore some of the psalms and say or sing them together whenever your family
prays. Celebrate
Baptismal anniversaries with children and youth, using the services of Holy Baptism
or Affirmation of Baptism as the guide for "remembering" and giving
thanks for their baptism.
Remember, this is but a beginning. Work with others to intentionally include children and youth in the introduction of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Your efforts are likely to contribute to more fully including all generations in worship.
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