Unlike any other profession, ministry requires three elements: (1) a conviction of God’s calling; (2) a passion for God’s Kingdom; and (3) a compassion for God’s people. Dan Lee Three Elements of MinistryRead More
IWS President Dr. James Hart on Ancient-Future Worship, the June 2008 Presidential Address: Audio Download and Text Or, listen to the streaming audio:Read More
Introduction Recently I had major surgery that dictated I have a minimum of four weeks recovery. During that time I was to stay out of the office and do no rehearsing of the choir. In preparation for the time away, I met with four of the gifted choir members who also happen to be conductors....Read More
The Story of God. That was the recurring mantra for Robert Webber in his last months and years as he relentlessly worked for worship renewal in the 21st century. He was passionate about re-introducing the Christian community to the necessity of worship narrating God’s story of creation, Fall, redemption, and re-creation. Bob wanted us all...Read More
The promise of God’s presence is fulfilled. According to Matthew, that is how the Gospel begins. In interpreting the meaning of the angel’s declaration to Joseph that Mary would bear a son to be named “Jesus,” Matthew states all this took place to fulfill the promise recorded in the prophecy of Isaiah: the one to...Read More
God spat. At first glance such an assertion might sound irreverent, even dangerously blasphemous. How dare I attribute such a disgusting act to the Divine! Yet in my mind I am following the lead of the Gospels, at least if we see the actions of Jesus as not only the ministry of a carpenter from...Read More
Even with the best anti-spam software, systems and procedures in place, there is still a chance that you may receive spam. You should treat any email you receive with caution. There is a recommended five-stage test you can apply to incoming email that will aid in reducing unwanted viruses, spamming, spoofing and more...Read More
A Christmas Garland, Conrad Susa SATB—ECS Publishing No.4365 For voices, congregation, organ or brass or orchestra. Extended choral setting of various carols. A Spotless Rose, Herbert Howells SATB—Galaxy Music Corp. No.220 A cappella; great piece! Allons, gai, gai, G. Costeley SATB—Broude Brothers (Come Shepherds and See sung in French and English) Angels We Have Heard...Read More
A few — a very few — people you get to know in life are larger than life. The force of their character seems to enlarge a room when they walk into it. Of course, larger than life people can either be “black holes” that suck everything and everybody into themselves — you get smaller...Read More
The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (IWS) offered its first class in June of 1999. From the beginning its visionary leader infused IWS with his own well-developed and missional theological understanding. IWS is, as its name implies, focused specifically on training men and women for theological reflection on Christian worship, and for putting...Read More
As with almost everything we misunderstand, we get fascinated by external trappings. Churches want to do ancient future worship, so they look at other churches and think, ‘Ah! It’s the candles! And maybe we need a Celtic cross.Read More
Before the death of my dear mentor and friend, Robert Webber spent a good portion of his last year working collaboratively with over 300 theologians and other leaders to craft A Call to an Ancient Evangelical Future. The Call continues some themes from and expands upon the influential and widely circulated “Chicago Call” of 1977,...Read More
In recent years worship has been wrenched from the story of God and has been formed by some of the narratives of contemporary culture. Many find only a cultural manifestation of Christianity that bears no mark of spiritual nourishment or sustenance. Me-oriented worship is the result of a culturally driven worship. When worship is situated...Read More
One of the great tragedies of the Enlightenment era is that the Bible, God’s story, has been turned into a book of propositional statements. The modern method of learning is to set forth facts and then seek to prove those facts by reason and science. So we turned the elements of God’s story into factual...Read More
