Publisher's Synopsis
Simply open this book and start reading chapter 1 out loud with at least one other person and you are having Church! Each chapter is a complete worship service with Bible portions that follow the Revised Common Lectionary (church calendar). Dan wrote and preached the stories-narrative messages based on orthodox Christian teachings from the prescribed scriptures. Renée selected all the music and other worship components to reinforce the theme of each service.
Yes, you can simply read aloud and sing these services for an entire year, from the seasons of Advent through Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. The messages may also be acted out as they often tell a story featuring dialogue focused on one theme as they teach New Testament truth with Old Testament grounding.
Pastoral and offertory prayers, a call to worship, and a benediction are included with each message, and a communion service accompanies each section of the year and may be used whenever desired. Readers can also insert such things as a time for praise and prayer requests, an offering, or other familiar worship practice.
These services are dialogical-a dialogue or conversation between God and those who worship him. God speaks through one portion of his Word, and we respond with a related portion. God speaks through music, and we respond in prayer. God speaks through his Spirit; we respond with singing. God speaks into our hearts; we respond with obedience, and in giving tithes and offerings. God speaks through his preaching servant, and we respond-as often as we do it-by partaking of the body and blood of Christ in remembrance of him.
For copyright reasons, unabridged scripture texts and most song lyrics have been deleted from this printing but are easy to find at BibleGateway.com and Hymnary.org, The third online source we rely on is lectionarypage.net.
Think of it!-45 complete worship services for just one dollar each! And they work as well in churches of 20 or 2,000. This treasury may also be used devotionally by individuals who wish to read through one service each week-it will take about 40 minutes assuming you look up and read all scripture texts and sing all verses of all the songs.
We pray that these conversations with God will immerse you in his story and guide you in truly aligning your spirit with the risen Anointed One who lives and reigns with his Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
