Worship ideas?

[Chad King]

I have heard many people ask about how they can engage Book of Faith in worship.

What are some of your ideas?

[Mary Housholder]

I probably won't gain any friends at publishing house for this one, but...
One thing that has irritated me for years are the pre-printed lessons and prayers (Celebrate, Jubilate, etc.) I realize that many of our congregations use them but I'm not sure that those publications really help the worshippers gain an interest in what is being read, nor do they help people learn to listen to the scripture being read and where that scripture is found in our Bible.
It would be interesting to survey congregations to find out how many members actually go home and look up the scripture in their Bibles.
How many Lutheran congregations still have Bibles in the pew racks? Wouldn't it be interesting to ask people to find the scripture in their Bibles and read along?

[Jean Maas Pike, Associate in Ministry retired]

Our congegation uses the 3 lessons of the day, with the Psalm responsively sung or read. A gift was given so that the worship team was able to purchase NRSV pew Bibles from Augsburg. The texts are no longer printed in the bulletin (think green), but in the bulletin and the lector announces the page in the Bible the text can be found (and waits as people find the text). Most all of the people now are learning their way around in the Scriptures. Hopefully, they might now also pick up the Book at home. Daily Bible readings are provided in the newsletter and once a month in newsletter. Hopefully organized Bible studies will now engage more persons. Our Faith Building Ministry also has placed bookmarks with order of books of the BIble in pew and encouraged persons to take them home. More ideas and events to follow.

[Dwight DuBois]

This is so exciting! May more congregations find their way to this insight. We have one chance to get our people (who don't know their way around the Bible) into the Bible, and we print excerpts for them (or project them on the wall). Way to go, Jean. :-)

[Katie Yahns]

Jean, where did your congregation get the bookmarks with the books of the Bible printed on them? This would be a great thing for AF to produce (if they don't already). In fact, I already looked at the BOF store for bookmarks like this (I seem to remember getting a BOF bookmark somewhere?) and didn't see any.

Jean Maas Pike, Associate in Ministry retired said:

Our congegation uses the 3 lessons of the day, with the Psalm responsively sung or read. A gift was given so that the worship team was able to purchase NRSV pew Bibles from Augsburg. The texts are no longer printed in the bulletin (think green), but in the bulletin and the lector announces the page in the Bible the text can be found (and waits as people find the text). Most all of the people now are learning their way around in the Scriptures. Hopefully, they might now also pick up the Book at home. Daily Bible readings are provided in the newsletter and once a month in newsletter. Hopefully organized Bible studies will now engage more persons. Our Faith Building Ministry also has placed bookmarks with order of books of the BIble in pew and encouraged persons to take them home. More ideas and events to follow.

[Tracey Breashears]

Isn't this wonderful? I ran across this in Sundays & Seasons--words to say when presenting Bibles (to confirmands, Sunday school students, etc.) It seems to me this is what the initiative is all about!

Receive this Bible.
Hear God's word with us.
Learn and tell its stories.
Discover its mysteries.
Honor its commandments.
Rejoice in its good news.
May God's life-giving word
inspire you and make you wise.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2008 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23353.

[Jan Mills]

I love the idea of the book marks with the books of the Bible listed on them!

[Jan Mills]

During the summer of 2007, I did a sermon series I called "BYOB" (Bring Your Own Bible). It lasted for four Sundays and we went through the liturgy and discovered where in scripture our liturgy comes from. The four Sundays focused on: 1. Gathering, 2. Word, 3. Meal, 4. Sending. I absolutely loved hearing the pages of Bibles being turned. And it was so refreshing to watch people arrive with a Bible in their hands.

[Katie Yahns]

I probably should have put this in my earlier comment, but I am seriously pondering introducing Book of Faith on Reformation Sunday (and that's why I asked about the bookmarks--we would like to put them in that Sunday's bulletins). It seems like a very appropriate day to do so!

[Katie Yahns]

This is a very cool idea. May have to file that one away. Thanks!

Jan Mills said:

During the summer of 2007, I did a sermon series I called "BYOB" (Bring Your Own Bible). It lasted for four Sundays and we went through the liturgy and discovered where in scripture our liturgy comes from. The four Sundays focused on: 1. Gathering, 2. Word, 3. Meal, 4. Sending. I absolutely loved hearing the pages of Bibles being turned. And it was so refreshing to watch people arrive with a Bible in their hands.

[Jennifer Ollikainen]

FYI - The worship staff at the ELCA has just launched a new "Worship Formation Module" entitled, Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Scripture shapes the assembly. It a three-hour module (one of three now available) intended to be locally led with support from the worship staff. It's a great way to encourage folks to reflect about how scripture shapes the patterns and practices of worship. Get more info at our site: http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship.aspx (starting tomorrow!)

[Karen Kaufman]

Last evening in a meeting with lay people from several congregations who have pew Bibles they thought it would be VERY helpful if people were encouraged to use those Bibles during the scripture readings and even the sermon as a way of gradually familiarizing people with the Bible.

I see this as a first step for congregations implementing the Book of Faith initiative.

[Dwight DuBois]

I'm attaching a Word file that contains a litany/prayers for use in worship, as a means of introducing BoF, and (more importantly) seeking the Spirit's guidance before we "get busy and do something." This was written by a pastor in our synod who has a passion for prayer and seeking the Spirit's guidance. You will probably want to edit it to fit your locale and language style.