Spring 2015/Fuller Online
IS511
Burton
IS511: PRACTICE OF REFORMED WORSHIP AND PRAYER (4 Units: 160 hours). Bryan D. Burton.
DESCRIPTION: The course will explore practices oriented toward the formation of God’s people through personal and corporate prayer and worship, in light of the Bible, history, theology, cross-cultural studies, and ritual studies. This course will explore the practice of worship and prayer informed by the Reformed tradition.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will have demonstrated the ability to (1) articulate their understanding of the vital relationship between Scripture, prayer, and worship; (2) draw on the church’s historical and multi-cultural worship traditions in their own formulation of the nature of personal and corporate prayer and worship; (3) articulate an understanding of how Christian worship worldwide is an embodied social act, embedded in cultures and societies; (4) apply their understanding of the life of personal and corporate prayer and worship to their own lives and the lives of a congregation; and (5) construct a plan for their lives of personal and corporate prayer and worship while a student at Fuller Seminary.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours (including 8 hours of small group). Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.
REQUIRED READING: 1,100 pages of required reading.
The Holy Bible. CEB, NRSV, and TNIV translations are acceptable [50 pp.].
The Book of Order: The Constitution of the PCUSA (Part II) 2013-2015 edition Directory of Worship [pp75-150] available in print form or on the website of the PCUSA as a PDF file. (PDF file will be posted in course).
Farhadian, Charles E. Christian Worship Worldwide: Expanding Horizons, Deepening Practices. Eerdmans, 2007. ISBN: 978-0802828538, Pub. Price $22.00 [170 pp.].
Old, Hughes Oliphant. Worship: Reformed according to Scripture (Revised and Expanded Edition), WJKP, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664225797, Pub. Price $25.00 [208pp.].
Reinders, Philip. Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year, Baker, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801072642. Pub. Price $29.95 [832pp.] available in print form or on the website of Faith Alive as a PDF file. (PDF file will be posted at the beginning of the course).
Rice, Howard. Reformed Worship. Geneva Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0664501471, Pub. Price $30.00 [248pp.].
_______. Reformed Spirituality. WJKP, 2001. ISBN: 978-0664252304, Pub. Price $30.00 [232pp.].
Webber, Robert. Ancient-Future Worship: Proclaiming and Enacting God’s Narrative. Baker, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801066245, Pub. Price $20.00 [192pp.].
Witvliet, John. Worship Seeking Understanding: Windows into Christian Practice. Baker, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801026232, Pub. Price $30.00 [320pp.] (2 Case Studies as listed in Assignment/Assessment section #7).
RECOMMENDED READING:
Krabill, James (ed). Worship and Mission for the Global Church. William Carey Library, 2012. ISBN: 978-0878084937, Pub. Price $37.49 [608pp.].
____The Worship Directory Sourcebook (2nd edition). Baker. 2013. ISBN: 978-1592557974, Pub. Price $44.99 [848pp.].
____The Book of Common Worship (PCUSA). WJKP. 1994 (6th ed). ISBN: 978-0664219918, Pub. Price $40.00 [1107pp.].
The Book of Common Worship (PCUSA) Daily Prayer. WJKP. 1994. ISBN: 978-0664220327,
Pub. Price $30.00 [518pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1,100 pages of required reading [73 hours].
A 2,000-2,500 words paper presenting the student’s owns understanding of the Reformed tradition’s perspective on the theology and practice of worship and prayer. (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [25 hours].
Six 100 word reflections on the readings posted in small groups in Moodle Forums. Two 50 word responses to classmates for each post are expected to reflect on the readings as well (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2] [10 hours].
A 1,250 words participant-observation report of a cross-cultural/cross-ecclesial worship service (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [14 hours].
Presentation in small groups of one’s description and assessment of one’s own practices of personal and corporate prayer and worship from a Reformed perspective (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [8 hours].
Writing a 1,250 words life rule for the student’s time in seminary, demonstrating integration of course materials into both the reasoning and the rule itself. An example of a Life Ruler will be given as an example (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [15 hours].
Directed learning activities: For PCUSA Students Sitting Previous Ordination Exams on Presbyterian and Reformed Worship. For Students from Other Presbyterian/Reformed Churches there will be two case studies assigned from course readings. [15 hours].
There will also be weekly small group spiritual formation exercises based upon Seeking God’s Face: Praying the Bible through the Year text/devotional as part of weekly in class participation expectations.
PREREQUISITES: None. Recommended in first year of study.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.