Annual Symposium on Worship Nears

Visual artists, musicians, pastors, professors, composers, missionaries and more will all be on hand for conversation, education and inspiration via workshops, seminars, panel discussions and worship throughout the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s annual Worship Symposium.

Set for Jan. 29-31, the Symposium on Worship is still accepting registrations.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, prior to the opening of the symposium, there will be “A Day of Learning With and From the Worldwide Church” for more than 100 overseas international guests—pastors, worship leaders, musicians, church leaders, and more—from more than 30 countries.

“They will spend the day interacting together and sharing their wisdom on worship practices from their local contexts,” says the institute.

The symposium opens on Thursday, Jan. 29 with a worship service, followed by the first of the seminars. Contained on the institute website is a list of all of the presenters.

Among the presenters is Steve Prince, an artist, educator and self-described “art evangelist” who grew up Catholic in New Orleans, Louisiana. He teaches drawing and printmaking at Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn. and he will lead workshops and display art at the symposium on worship.

One of his works is titled “Who Is My Neighbor?” Based on a historic photo, it shows the interlocking of arms of people from different ethnic backgrounds.

In addition, the institute has added several short Q&As and videos featuring Symposium 2015 presenters. For example, there is one about Miranda Dodson, the worship and arts director at City Life Church in Austin, Texas who will lead workshops and worship at the symposium.

The Calvin Institute on Christian worship has also made available a range of worship materials and resources for churches to use during the season of Epiphany.

Running in the weeks after Christmas until the time of Lent, the Epiphany season focuses on the teaching and healing ministry of Christ “as we grow in awareness of the significance of Jesus’ entire life,” says the institute.

During Epiphany, says the The Worship Sourcebook, “we celebrate that the one born in Bethlehem is a light to all nations (represented by the magi), and we explore the ministry of Jesus between the manger and the cross.”

Here are other resources available through the institute:

• A Q&A in Spanish and a translated and edited English version of an interview with Pastor Jorge Fuentes who came from his native Guatemala and established himself in the United States. For 18 years, he has been the pastor at the Church of Christ Elim Central in Los Angeles. In the interview he says, “We believe that ...worship is the means by which souls are softened, so that the word can come and be implemented. Worship is the threshold to enter the Holy place.”
• Vertical Habits is a name given to the process of connecting words used in our relationship with people with words used to express these emotions to God. The biblical Psalms are the foundational mentor and guide in this vocabulary and grammar for worship. Consider how Vertical Habits might be something you or your congregation could benefit from in 2015.
• Change is always happening in the church. The challenge for leaders is to manage that change in ways that lead to greater health in their congregations, rather than conflict and discontent. This showcase features resources that will help pastors, worship leaders, and all church leaders to manage change in positive ways which are more likely to lead to good results.
• Finally, if you would like more ways to stay connected to all kinds of Worship Institute content, please peruse the "Get Connected" page where you can subscribe to our RSS feeds, email alerts and more. And, consider liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter and Instagram. Also, check out the institute’s Rebel Mouse social media feed that compiles items from all of the above that institute posts.