Strong Center Open Doors
Strong Center Open Doors is devoted to taking liturgy out of the box through:
Strong Center Open Doors is devoted to taking liturgy out of the box through:
- Articles, resources & links for liturgy
- Consulting by arrangement
- On line worship and liturgy courses
- Author-Reader dialogue
Taking Liturgy Out of the Box
"Liturgy" is not a four letter word.
Many have put what they imagine
liturgy to be in a box and set it on
a shelf in favor of other
approaches to worship. But
maybe, in this post-modern,
post-Christian,
post-denominational time, the
Spirit is waiting for courageous
people and congregations to see
and explore "the work of the
people." I host this site to provide
pastors, priests, musicians, and
other worship leaders with a place
to think, reflect and connect with
worship that is centered around
the central things of the Christian
faith and, at the same time, be
radically open to the hurt and
hope of the world.
"Liturgy" is not a four letter word.
Many have put what they imagine
liturgy to be in a box and set it on
a shelf in favor of other
approaches to worship. But
maybe, in this post-modern,
post-Christian,
post-denominational time, the
Spirit is waiting for courageous
people and congregations to see
and explore "the work of the
people." I host this site to provide
pastors, priests, musicians, and
other worship leaders with a place
to think, reflect and connect with
worship that is centered around
the central things of the Christian
faith and, at the same time, be
radically open to the hurt and
hope of the world.
Worship resources,
links, commentary and
learning liturgy
I teach online courses on
sacramental leadership
and renovating worship
spaces, consult with
worship leaders and
congregations, and
support my books and
publications with author-
reader dialogue, links and
value-added resources.
See "About This Site" for
more background.
Upcoming events and
courses:
links, commentary and
learning liturgy
I teach online courses on
sacramental leadership
and renovating worship
spaces, consult with
worship leaders and
congregations, and
support my books and
publications with author-
reader dialogue, links and
value-added resources.
See "About This Site" for
more background.
Upcoming events and
courses:
- April 7-12, 2008
Spiritual Formation
Academy #27 Bon
Secours Spiritual
Center near
Baltimore, MD. I will
be one of the two
faculty for this
session. For
information on the
SFA, click here. - July 28-August 2
Sacred Music
Summer
Conference at
Virginia Wesleyan
College. Dan
Benedict will be the
day lecturer on July
30 focusing on how
liturgy shapes us
and liturgical space.
| Copyright ©2007 Daniel T. Benedict, Jr. All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. |
Strong Center Open Doors
Patterned by Grace news:
- For a Q&A with Daniel Benedict
in the United Methodist
Reporter click here. - Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy
Shapes Us is now available.
Order from Cokesbury or The
Upper Room Bookstore. For
more on this book see the
content menu bar on the left. - Liturgy Out of the Box online
workshop is now finished, but I
would be happy to host another
one. If you would like to be in a
future workshop contact the
author.
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What's New
- See Dean McIntyre's informative
commentary (# 188 and 189) on
the proposed UM hymnal. - The United Methodist Church
decides to create a new hymnal
for Church in the US. For more
details click here. Be sure to see
related articles and news stories
at bottom left of linked page.
Delegates also approved a four-
year study of the issues
around developing an
Africana hymnal and
appointment of a committee to
conduct the study and report its
findings to General Conference
2012. - New book Beyond Smells and
Bells: The Wonder and Power
of Christian Liturgy by Mark
Galli (Paraclete Press). For an
interview with Mark click here. - Hymnal research and report
made public as The United
Methodist Church prepares to act
on recommendations at it April
2008 General Conference. - Check out changes on the
Baptism & Initiation page,
including the link to EnVision's
image slide show of baptismal
fonts and pools. - Living into the Mystery: A United
Methodist Guide for Celebrating
Holy Communion is the first of a
three-volume series of print and
video resources that provide
guidance for the ritual
performance of worship for United
Methodist pastors, pastors in
training and congregations. The
other two print volumes now
under development are “Living
into the Covenant” (services of
the baptismal covenant, print
release 2008) and “Living All Our
Days” (marriage, death and
resurrection, daily prayer,
healing, print release 2009). - Virtual Tour of The Cathedral of
Our Lady of the Angeles, Los
Angeles CA.
An invitation: If you see anything
on this site that you believe is in
error or that would be strengthen
by additional information or links,
please use the "Contact Me" page
or my email at
stlukebysea@yahoo.com and
offer your correction or addition. I
will take it into consideration and
gladly get back to you with a
response and thanks for your
participation in the work of this
website.
on this site that you believe is in
error or that would be strengthen
by additional information or links,
please use the "Contact Me" page
or my email at
stlukebysea@yahoo.com and
offer your correction or addition. I
will take it into consideration and
gladly get back to you with a
response and thanks for your
participation in the work of this
website.
Calendar and Resources
Click here for resources for the following days on
the liturgical and cultural calendar.
As you plan for the fall consider inserting the Season of
Creation in the September and early October weeks. For
wonderful planning resources, including a special lectionary
table, worship services, and theological commentary go to
Season of Creation.
Click here for resources for the following days on
the liturgical and cultural calendar.
- May 18 Trinity Sunday
- May 25 Second Sunday after Pentecost/Ordinary Time
- June 1 Third Sunday after Pentecost/Ordinary Time
- June 1, 2008 Ordinary Time/Third Sunday after Pentecost
- June 8, 2008 Ordinary Time/Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
- June 15, 2008 Ordinary Time/Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
- June 22, 2008 Ordinary Time/Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
- June 29, 2008 Ordinary Time/Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
- July 6, 2008 Ordinary Time/Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
- July 13, 2008 Ordinary Time/Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
- July 20, 2008 Ordinary Time/Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
- July 27, 2008 Ordinary Time/Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
As you plan for the fall consider inserting the Season of
Creation in the September and early October weeks. For
wonderful planning resources, including a special lectionary
table, worship services, and theological commentary go to
Season of Creation.
| . |
What do you see in this picture? What do you feel as you look at this worship space?
What does it say? What is central, clear and strong? What is confusing? Missing?
Overwhelming? Liturgical space, furnishings, and arrangements speak powerfully,
sometimes supporting the gospel and sometimes contradicting it. Look at your
worship space asking "How does this space and its furnishings match our sense of
God's mission and message? What do we need to reconsider in light of our
emerging sense of the good news in this congregation and community?
Photo by Glenn Reed. Used with permission. Church: Covina United Methodist Church (Covina
CA) built in the mid-60's
What does it say? What is central, clear and strong? What is confusing? Missing?
Overwhelming? Liturgical space, furnishings, and arrangements speak powerfully,
sometimes supporting the gospel and sometimes contradicting it. Look at your
worship space asking "How does this space and its furnishings match our sense of
God's mission and message? What do we need to reconsider in light of our
emerging sense of the good news in this congregation and community?
Photo by Glenn Reed. Used with permission. Church: Covina United Methodist Church (Covina
CA) built in the mid-60's
"God saw everything that God had made, and
indeed it was very good." And what does God
see now? A planet in peril? Earth and its
creatures suffering? Christians are beginning to
awaken to their vocation of stewardship of the
earth. Now is a good time to explore the worship
resources for facing the ecological crisis with
the risen Christ.
indeed it was very good." And what does God
see now? A planet in peril? Earth and its
creatures suffering? Christians are beginning to
awaken to their vocation of stewardship of the
earth. Now is a good time to explore the worship
resources for facing the ecological crisis with
the risen Christ.
- For a reprint of my article, "Season of
Creation--Expanding the Christian
Calendar?" from Worship Arts, click here. - For the Season of Creation website click
here. You will find a wealth of interpretive
helps and well developed worship
resources for the season.
New
Bishops Gregory Palmer and Janice Huie preside at
the General Conference's opening Eucharist. For
the first time the altar-table was placed in the midst
of the nearly 1000 delegates from around the
world. Photo with permission and courtesy of
United Methodist Communications. A UMNS photo
by Paul Jeffrey. Phot #GC0058. April 23, 2008. For
more on the UM General Conference click here.
the General Conference's opening Eucharist. For
the first time the altar-table was placed in the midst
of the nearly 1000 delegates from around the
world. Photo with permission and courtesy of
United Methodist Communications. A UMNS photo
by Paul Jeffrey. Phot #GC0058. April 23, 2008. For
more on the UM General Conference click here.