E*B Final Project
For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt
For this final project, I was quite excited to chose option #3 of the project choices. I’ve written many songs before, but I’ve never written a full liturgical piece. Having strong roots in the liturgical Lutheran Church (now I’m Vineyard), I’ve been very familiar with the usage of written / read liturgy in worship services. I also have had a longing to once again explore the riches of this tradition in my own writing as I believe there is great value in this practice that many of us in the more contemporary expressions have foolishly forgotten. So option #3 was an exciting prospect for me.
As per the assignment, I’ve taken several themes from the course work and focused on them in this project that I’ve completed. I chose to focus upon the themes of creation, redemption, Kingdom, resurrection, and new creation. I chose to use a quasi-narrative style to move in a logical progression of the themes so that the themes themselves become part of a larger story. I’m always impacted when Dan brings us back to the idea of relating things to the larger story.
One (mildly extra-curricular) theme that I’ve chosen to weave through every section of my project is the idea of the Word of God. I’ve meditated on the subject for a very long time and I’ve come to see through the scripture that God does everything by His Word. So I’ve chosen to include it not only because of previous interest, but also because the Word of God is intimately connected to each of the themes discussed in the project.
You’ll also see in the written portion of the project, that I’ve broken it up into 10 stanzas. For each stanza the ideas are deeply rooted in scripture and I have provided references for every idea. I’ve done this to convey the idea that this narrative liturgy is deeply connected to the biblical narrative.
Here’s a general breakdown of the ideas:
- Stanza 1 – God as creator
- Stanza 2 – Mankind created in God’s image
- Stanza 3 – The fall of mankind and the rise of the Kingdom of darkness
- Stanza 4 – The redemptive covenant to renew and re-create
- Stanza 5 – Redemption through the announcement and inauguration of the Kingdom of God
- Stanza 6 – Reconciliation and Redemption
- Stanza 7 – Engaging the Kingdom and experiencing new creation
- Stanza 8 - Resurrection of the body
- Stanza 9 – New Creation
- Stanza 10 – Prayer for the new age to come in Jesus return
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Nathan,
I, too, come from the liturgical Lutheran background and have shied away from responsive readings, confessions, affirmations, and declarations because of the rote response rather than a heart response. I am finding such a richness in the liturgy of the Lutheran Book of Worship that I never saw when I was in the denomination 27 years ago. I am also rediscovering this form of worship expression.
This is a great piece, Nathan. I hope to use it as a discussion point in our small groups this fall. Thanks for your contributions to the class and may God bless your work in the Vineyard.
Fred Blom - August 9, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Nathan, this is powerful! I don’t know much about liturgical readings, but this is something I would use in my church in a heartbeat. I think it’s difficult to say deep thoughts in few words, but you’ve done that beautifully here. Thank you!
Cindy Rethmeier - November 8, 2008 at 2:54 AM
Nathan, this is great.
I am from Catholic background and had triumphantly walked away from structured liturgy thinking “We can talk directly to god what do we need all of that for”.
But now the pendulum is swinging back the other way and I am seeing the value in liturgical forms of worship.
So, with your permission, I would love to use this.
Robert
bobyrne - November 11, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Nathan,
Rich, and beautiful, and strong. Well, well done, my bud.
This is a real keeper, for all of us.
Dan Wilt - November 13, 2008 at 12:22 PM