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WorshipRenaissance

Module

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SLT #123 Spirit of LifeSpirit 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.

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Introductions• Name• Name and location of

congregation/UU community• Size of congregation• Role• Length of time in role

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Renaissance ProgramAdministration

Adult Faith DevelopmentCurriculum PlanningMinistry with Youth

Multicultural Religious EducationPhilosophy of Religious Education

Teacher DevelopmentUU Identity

UU History (online module)Worship

UU Theology (coming soon)

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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?

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From Chapter 2, A Good Telling: BringingWorship to Life with Story by Rev. Kristin Maier

“Many of us come to worship because we are hungry for an experience of wholeness. We hope that through worshipping together we might feel a deeper connection to God, the sacred, each other, or simply our own true selves. When we feel our selves as more whole and as part of a greater whole the effect can be transformative.

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We may find that in being more connected to our true selves we are able to be more true in the world, to those we love, to strangers, to friends, and to the earth. We may find ourselves reorienting our lives toward our deepest values. We may find ourselves living with more compassion and with a deeper awareness of the sacred.”

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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?

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Session 2

Worship Renaissance Module

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SLT #361 Enter, Rejoice and Come InEnter rejoice and come in, Enter rejoice and come in.Today will be a joyful day,Enter rejoice and come in.

2. Open your ears to the song…3. Open your hearts ev’ryone…4. Don’t be afraid of some change…

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Rites of Passage• Honor the journey of human life• Promote human growth• Contribute to personal identity• Emphasize the challenge and

value of transition

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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

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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

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Guidelines for the Module Project• Product: a twenty-minute worship service for a

specific audience, i.e. children, youth, adult, multigenerational

• Presentation: include a complete order of service followed by a complete worship service or twenty 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

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Session 2 Reflection Questions • How has my understanding of the viability of

multigenerational worship increased/changed?• How has my competency as a leader/co-leader

of multigenerational worship increased/deepened?

• How has my understanding of rites of passage increased/changed? Is there a ceremony or celebration I would like my congregation to add?

• How has my knowledge of worship opportunities increased/refined?

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Session 3

Worship Renaissance Module

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Whoever You AreWhoever you are, we welcome you.Wherever you come from, we welcome you.Whomever you love, we welcome you.Repeat twice

* alternate Come, Come Whoever You Are

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SLT #188 Come, Come Whoever You Are

Come, come whoever you areWanderer, worshipper, lover of leavingOurs is no caravan of despairCome, yet again, come.

Lower partThough you’ve broken your vows a thousand times…

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What Does the Minister Bring?• Experience with creating/presenting worship• Vision and responsibility for church 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

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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.

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Key Components of Worship•Gathering/Prelude•Opening•Acknowledging•Giving•Centering•Receiving•Acknowledging•Closing•Dispersing/Postlude

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SLT #285 We Worship Thee, God1. We worship thee, God, below and above, and gratefully sing the power and 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.

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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.

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Brief Guide for Using Cross-Cultural Stories and Rituals

• Do your homework• Understand your motivation• Ask yourself if the story is yours to tell• Prepare the story• Guide the congregation’s understanding• Speak with humility, respect and

sensitivity• Be open to feedback and learning

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Guidelines for the Module Project• Product: a twenty-minute worship service for a

specific audience, i.e. children, youth, adult, multigenerational

• Presentation: include a complete order of service followed by a complete worship service or twenty 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

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Session 3 Reflection Questions• How does the worship team function in my

setting? How might the team be strengthened?• How might I articulate/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 your fluency with “language of faith” been challenged or confirmed?

• How has my understanding of cultural appropriation expanded?

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Session 4

Worship Renaissance Module

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STJ #1064 Blue Boat HomeThough 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.

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STJ #1064 Blue Boat HomeSun 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.

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STJ #1064 Blue Boat HomeI 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.

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Personal Story1. Who are three people who have

been very important in your life?

2. What three places have been very important in your life?

3. What three events have been very important in your life?

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Congregation’s Story1. Who are three people who have been

very important in your congregation’s life/history?

2. What three events have been very important in your congregation’s life/history?

3. What three events have been very important in your congregation’s life/history?

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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

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Six Techniques of Storytelling• Using your voice

• Using tempo

• Using movement

• Developing characters

• Inviting emotion

• …and practicing, practicing, practicing!

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Homily Writing• 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.

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Guidelines for the Module Project• Product: a twenty-minute worship service for a

specific audience, i.e. children, youth, adult, multigenerational

• Presentation: include a complete order of service followed by a complete worship service or twenty 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

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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/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 impacted my thoughts and skills of homily writing?

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Session 5

Worship Renaissance Module

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SLT #298 Wake Now My Senses1. 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.

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SLT #298 Wake Now My Senses3. 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.

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SLT #298 Wake Now My Senses

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.

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Session 5 Reflection Questions

• How have my skills improved/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 been increased or 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?

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