l u t h e r a n w o r s h i p...in an emerging generation Course Description, Required Texts, and Syllabus Instructor: Dr. Linda Borecki, lborecki@msn.com COURSE DESCRIPTION The Grace of Great Things: the subjects around which a community of learners gather. When uncovered, great things disclose wisdom, truth, delight and meaning. The great thing of this course is Lutheran Worship, its practice and theology both ancient and modern. This subject of Lutheran worship centers around these three further great things: Word Prayer Sacrament and how we encounter or miss the presence and power of God in our worship gatherings. Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. - Eph. 4:15 Our goal: growing up into Christ, individually, in community, and as witness in the world. Our study of worship moves beyond worship style or music to deeper issues of being formed and transformed in worship. We seek: Wisdom discernment of the presence and power of the Triune God in sacramental worship - whether traditional, contemporary, emergent, or other worship style Resourcefulness skills and intuition - how to point to the Trinity, and how to get out of the way Compassion empathy that leads to action for long-time and novice worshipers alike in our own contexts in this emerging generation. Course Guidelines: Lutheran Worship is an online course, designed at the university undergraduate level. It combines synchronous (live, entire class present) lecture and discussion with asynchronous assignments. Emphasis is on reading, reflections on the readings, discussion, practicing discernment, resourcefulness, and compassion in one s own worship context, and engaging with a temporary community in mutual support. Requisites for a grade of Pass Attendance at a minimum of 70% of the classes Verbal participation in each class and written (email) participation for each class s follow-up communications Timely completion of the class assignments for each of the class sessions. Video recording sent to the instructor of the participant facilitating liturgy at the most formal service their congregation offers, OR, if leading liturgy is not possible in one s setting, an alternate inter-active culminating project in consultation with the instructor. 1
REQUIRED TEXTS - purchase the starred items right away Brauer, James L. A Guide for the Presiding Minister, 2006 edition. (sent to you via e-mail) Luther, Martin. An Order of Mass and Communion for the Church at Wittenberg, 1523 (sent to you via email) Lutheran Service Book. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006. (the maroon hymnal; Concordia Seminary Bookstore) Or, the hymnal your congregation uses *Nouwen, Henri J.M. With Burning Hearts: a Meditation on the Eucharistic Life. Mary Knoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1994. (Christian bookstores, Amazon.com) *Warren, Robert. The Practice of Prayer: A Companion Guide. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1994. (out of print, purchase on Amazon.com Used Books or other used book site) *Webber, Robert E. The Divine Embrace. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2006. (Christian bookstores, Amazon.com) Recommended Texts for those who will lead formal, liturgical worship: Precht, Fred L., ed., Lutheran Worship: History and Practice. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1993. (a classic, standard resource for LCMS worship history and liturgical practice) for those who have children s talks as part of regular worship: Juengst, Sara Covin, Sharing Faith with Children: Rethinking the Children s Sermon. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1994. for those engaged in the decision-making process of music and the arts in worship: Best, Harold M. Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2003. (available through Christian bookstores and Amazon.com) (Church musician and theologian Harold Best has written an incisive, provocative, profound, and comprehensive book on authentic worship. It has been received with highest accolades and is considered a landmark volume on worship.) Dawn, Marva. A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1999. (LCMS theologian Dawn [ Ph.D., Notre Dame] has a passionate, scholarly approach to moving beyond worship style to deeper issues of culture, community, spiritual formation, and postmodern worship) for those seeking spiritual growth in worship: Waterman, Carla A., Songs of Assent. Carol Stream, Illinois: WaterManuscipts LLP, 2009. 2
SYLLABUS Lutheran Worship is discussion and reading-intensive, with the culminating projects of teaching a liturgical element in class, and teaching/leading congregational liturgy at course end. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: recognize touch-points for encountering the divine in sacramental worship and obstacles to meeting God read liturgical texts and Christian songs/hymns with a discerning theological eye use historical material to enrich their own devotional life apply insights gained from reading, discussion, and real life experience in planning and leading Christian worship evidence deepening empathy toward others longtime worshiper and worship novice alike. Assignments There is no mid-term or final exam. Rather, successful completion of the course is dependent on attendance (70% of classes), participation in discussion, and timely completion of weekly assignments and the final projects (teaching an historic liturgical element in class and teaching or leading liturgy in one s own worship context). 1. Three papers - Webber, Nouwen, Warren - see Course Description and Required Texts, above. Due dates noted under Class Schedule below. a. For two papers (your choice which authors) - a 300 word maximum reflection: Seek enduring understanding - helpful, plausible interpretation of the importance/meaning/significance of the reading. What are the implications for your own context? Include a pertinent quote b. For one paper (your choice which author) - a 1-page document (single-spaced, 12 point font) of favorite, thought-provoking quotes. 2. Case Study of Liturgy. See end of this document. 3. Leading Liturgy. See end of this document. Class Schedule Class 1 Perichoresis (the dance of Life in the Trinity) John 14 (read before or after class, or both...) Class 2 WORD - Wisdom Cries; the Psalms 1. Excerpt from John Witvliet, The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship (emailed) 2. (start Webber reading if possible - it is theologically dense, taking time and focus) 3. due beginning of Class 2: A thought-provoking quote from the Witvliet reading - his own quote or from the Patristic Testimonies cited by Witvliet. Type your quote in a document and prepare to copy it into the Chat Bar for class discussion. Class 3 SACRAMENT - Drenched, Pt 1 3
1. Webber, ch.s 2-3 2. Luther, Part Fourth: Of Baptism, the last four paragraphs, accessed at http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/catechism/web/cat-13.html 3. Luther, Part Fourth: Of Infant Baptism, the last eight paragraphs (beginning Lastly, we must also know what Baptism signifies... ) from The Large Catechism, accessed at http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/catechism/web/cat-13a.html 4. 1 Peter. Read this through the eyes of a second century baptismal candidate in Jerusalem on Pascha (Good Friday Easter Vigil). Class 4 SACRAMENT - Drenched, Pt 2 1. Webber, ch.s 4-5 2. interview with Jaroslav Pelikan, The Need for Creeds, National Public Radio, accessed at http://being.publicradio.org/programs/pelikan. 3. Reinke, Baptism and Circumcision (emailed to you) 4. due beginning of class: Paper #1 Webber. See paper requirements under Assignments. 5. due beginning of class: an original Collect, using the historic four-part structure of Address, Affirmation, Petition, Closing, and using as content a baptismal theme from our Drenched discussion, listening, or readings. Class 5 Luther and Worship 1. A Case Study of An Order for Mass and Communion, Wittenberg, 1523 by Luther (all documents - emailed to you) 2. due beginning of class: for two bubble comments in the side bar and the main text to which they refer, reflect and respond: How does Luther exhibit wisdom, resourcefulness, and/or compassion? 300 words max. [To discuss in class: why is Luther considered a mystic? Are you one?] Class 6 SACRAMENT - Eucharisteo, Pt 1 1. Nouwen, Intro, chs. 1-2 2. Luther, Part Fifth: Of the Sacrament of the Altar. Note answers to Luther s second question, What are its benefits? Class 7 SACRAMENT - Eucharisteo, Pt 2 1. Nouwen, chs. 3-5, Conclusion 2. Warren, Intro, chs. 1-4 3. due beginning of class: Paper #2 - Nouwen. See paper requirements under Assignments. 4. due beginning of class: due beginning of class: an original Collect, using the historic four-part structure of Address, Affirmation, Petition, Closing, and using as content a Eucharistic theme from our Eucharisteo discussion or readings. Class 8 Case Studies of Liturgy (see details at end of this document) 1. Brauer - plus other approved resources for your Case Study 2. Warren, chs. 5-8 3. In-class presentation of your Case Study of a liturgical element of your choosing. 4
Class 9 PRAYER 1. Warren, chs. 9-12 2. due beginning of class: Paper #3 - Warren. See paper requirements under Assignments. 3. due beginning of class: an original Collect, using the historic four-part structure of Address, Affirmation, Petition, Closing, and using as content a confession or lament theme per the Warren reading. Class 10 Hallowed Be the Profane Christ and Culture 1. Borecki, Hallowed Be the Profane 2. Best, You Shall Not Worship Me This Way: Worship, Art and Incipient Idolatry Due within one month of class 10 all outstanding assignments; teaching/leading liturgy Case Studies as noted for Class 8 Create a Case Study for an historic liturgical element, action, or symbol that would be meaningful in your ministry context, and present a short synopsis in Class 8. Research Include Brauer as a resource, as well as Luther, Webber, or Warren, and scholarly sources. Reputable internet websites are also acceptable - cite sources consulted. Note: please bear in mind wisdom, resourcefulness, and compassion - toward both long-time Lutheran for whom this has become dead liturgy because of overfamiliarity and toward novice worshiper with little or no liturgical understanding. Peel back layers of understanding and meaning - how can we encounter afresh the living God with this element? Create a document that includes: Context of the original worshiping community The text Footnotes, bubble comments, text-box commentary, or simply a second section for reflection (see An Order of Mass and Communion for Wittenberg, 1523 ) Art and music that elucidates this liturgy, action, or symbol can be ancient or modern 1-3 pages total 10-minute presentation Send your Case Study document to Linda and classmates by the Sunday before Class 8 (so that I can load them into the powerpoint and Adobe Classroom). Cursory list of suggestions please notify Linda and classmates with your planned Case Study, and consult Linda before-hand if your idea is other than on this list. Introit Kyrie Gloria in Excelsis - Glory to God in the highest This is the Feast Alleluia verse Offertory Create in me Offertory Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord 5
Offertory What shall I render to the Lord Passing the Peace Agnus Dei Lamb of God Sanctus Post-communion canticle Thank the Lord and Sing His Praise Nunc Dimittis Lord, now You let your servant go in peace Te Deum The use of oil in prayer or Sacrament Healing prayer in worship Facilitating Liturgy - Due within one month of final class Lead, and record, the liturgy of the most formal service your congregation offers, OR, if leading liturgy is not possible in your setting, complete an alternate inter-active culminating project in consultation with the instructor. Integrate ideas and strategies acquired during the worship course, note these, and include a short note of explanation with the recording. Send a DVD recording to: Linda Borecki 8235 SW 165th Ave. Beaverton, OR 97007 Everlasting God in whom we live and move and have our being; You have made us for yourself so that our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Give us purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, no weakness keep us from doing it: that in your light we may see Light clearly, and in your service find perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. - Book of Common Worship (quoting Aratus, Phaenomena 5 [Acts 17:28] and St. Augustine) 6