Deborah Sokolove

What is the difference between good worship and good entertainment? Too often, people disparage some aspect of worship by calling it ""just entertainment"" or ""just a performance."" Others say that they do not need to go to church because they have profound spiritual or even religious experiences at concerts, plays, movies, or dances. How is worship different from these performing arts? How is art different from entertainment? This book looks at the history of the performing arts both in worship and as worship, with particular attention to the attitudes that shape our ideas about both worship and entertainment. Working definitions of words like ""art,"" ""excellence,"" ""liturgy,"" and ""play"" help to illuminate what different people mean when they use them in conversations about Christian worship. Putting theological, scriptural, and practical writings on worship and the performing arts in conversation with interviews with dancers, musicians, actors, preachers, and liturgical scholars, this volume is intended to help pastors, performers, and everyone who plans, leads, or cares about worship talk with one another in mutually respectful and helpful ways. ""In a world where argument is advanced by Tweet, it is refreshing to read a collection of arguments about the nature of Christian worship offered in the time-tested, humane way--as conversations. Here are illuminating conversations with scholars, artists, musicians, performers, and worshipers capturing the life-giving potential of worship and performance to enrich the experience of each other for the glory of God and the good of all."" --Taylor W. Burton-Edwards, OSL, Liturgyfolks Consulting ""Deborah Sokolove has done us the great favor of deconstructing the unthinking dichotomies Christians have drawn between worship and entertainment, and between performance and authenticity. The reflection she offers, and the generous use of her wise interlocutors, help us all to think through what we are doing when we seek to perform together the Good News of God's love for the healing of the world. Worship leaders and pastors will come away instructed and encouraged."" --William Dyrness, Fuller Theological Seminary, author of Insider Jesus: Theological Reflections on New Religious Movements (2016) Deborah Sokolove is Director of the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion and Professor of Art and Worship at Wesley Theological Seminary. Her other books include Sanctifying Art: Inviting Conversation Between Artists, Theologians, and the Church (2013) and Calling on God: Inclusive Prayers for Three Years of Sundays (2014), co-authored with Peter Bankson. In addition to her writing and teaching, she is a practicing visual artist who has exhibited widely.

Fresh, inclusive, creation-conscious prayers to nourish your soul—and the soul of your worship community. "We are called to name the extravagant wildness of God, the overflowing abundance of creation, and the deep aching need of a broken world in new words and images that speak to contemporary concerns.... [These prayers] are an invitation to pray boldly." —from the Introduction This special prayerbook is for today's Christians who find comfort in the rhythm of the traditional lectionary but long to connect with God in ways that are satisfying to the modern heart and mind. Founded on creativity, inclusivity and sharing, it encourages us to remember the divine elements of the natural world around us as we express our hopes and fears for others and ourselves. Inspiring words help us give thanks for human inventions and lament the evils of poverty, violence and oppression of all kinds while remaining mindful of God's promises of healing for a broken world. Following the annual procession of the seasons with prayers that are appropriate for personal devotion as well as for use in leading worship, these new ways to call on God will feed your soul and inspire you to find your own fresh language for thanksgiving, praise, intercession and petition, whether in your community or personal spiritual life.

A guide to using Calling on God in worship communities, with: A sample order of service Suggestions for enhancing the visual environment for worship Guidelines for creating liturgies collaboratively in your own worship community This special prayerbook is for today¡s Christians who find comfort in the rhythm of the traditional lectionarybut long to connect with God in ways that are satisfying to the modern heart and mind. Founded on creativity, inclusivity and sharing, it encourages us to remember the divine elements of the natural world around us as we express our hopes and fears for others and ourselves. Inspiring words help us givethanks for human inventions and lament the evils of poverty, violence and oppression of all kinds while remaining mindful of God¡s promises of healing for a broken world. Following the annual procession of the seasons with prayers that are appropriate for personal devotion as well as for use in leading worship, these new ways to call on God will feed your soul and inspire you to fi nd your own fresh language for thanksgiving, praise, intercession and petition, whether in your community or personal spiritual life.

A guide to using Calling on God in worship communities, with: A sample order of service Suggestions for enhancing the visual environment for worship Guidelines for creating liturgies collaboratively in your own worship community This special prayerbook is for today¡s Christians who find comfort in the rhythm of the traditional lectionarybut long to connect with God in ways that are satisfying to the modern heart and mind. Founded on creativity, inclusivity and sharing, it encourages us to remember the divine elements of the natural world around us as we express our hopes and fears for others and ourselves. Inspiring words help us givethanks for human inventions and lament the evils of poverty, violence and oppression of all kinds while remaining mindful of God¡s promises of healing for a broken world. Following the annual procession of the seasons with prayers that are appropriate for personal devotion as well as for use in leading worship, these new ways to call on God will feed your soul and inspire you to fi nd your own fresh language for thanksgiving, praise, intercession and petition, whether in your community or personal spiritual life.