Spring 2016/Pasadena

IS501

King

IS501: PRACTICES OF WORSHIP (4 Units: 160 hours). Roberta R. King

DESCRIPTION: Christian practices constitute the Christian life. The combined Christian practices of vocational formation, worship, community, and mission facilitate the integration of personal, spiritual, academic, and global formation into the vocational coherence of a Christian leader through reflection, relationships, and practices. IS501 is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian worship as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (Sabbath-Keeping, Confession, Praise, Gathering & Sending, Reading & Proclaiming the Word, Prayer, Communion, Enacting the Prophetic).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of worship; (2) Students will participate in local contexts and demonstrate the capacity to engage in activities and exercises related to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices of worship; (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic practices of worship; (4) Students will articulate how worship practices impact their response to the Central Integration Question (CIQ) and will identify exercises, habits, and disciplines to embody these practices within their sociocultural context.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups).

REQUIRED READING/VIEWING: 1100 pp. of required reading and/or the equivalent in viewing.

Bradshaw, Paul. Two Ways of Praying. OSL Publications, 2008. ISBN: 978-1878009593, Pub. Price $19.95 [100 pp.].

Caccamo, James F., and  Todd Johnson, and Lester Ruth. Living Worship: A Multimedia Resource for

Students and Leaders. Brazos Press, 2006. ASIN: 1587432951, Pub. Price $27.99 [10 hours of viewing

assigned]. (available to purchase online at the Archives bookstore).

Farhadian, Charles E. Christian Worship Worldwide: Expanding Horizons, Deepening Practices. Eerdmans,

2007. ISBN: 978-0802828538, Pub. Price $22.00 [111 pp.].

Howard, Evan B. Praying the Scriptures: A Field Guide for Your Spiritual Journey. Downers Grove, Illinois, 1999. ISBN: 978-0830822010, Pub. Price $16.00 [100 pp.].

Peterson, David. Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. IVP Academic, 2002. ISBN: 978-0830826971, Pub. Price $26.00 [181 pp.].

Shigematsu, Ken. GOD IN MY EVERYTHING: How AN ANCIENT RHYTHM HELPS BUSY PEOPLE ENJOY GOD. Zondervan, 2013. ISBN: 978-0310499251, Pub. Price $16.99. [145 pp.].

The Holy Bible. CEB, NRSV, and TNIV translations are acceptable [50 pp.].

Wright, NT. The Meal Jesus Gave Us, 2nd edition. Westminster/John Knox, 2015. ISBN: 978-0664261290, Pub Price $14.00 [96 pp.].

D. CORE PRACTICES:

1. Sabbath-Keeping

Olson, Dennis. “The Sabbath and Christian Worship.” In Bechtel, Carol M. Touching the Altar: the OldTestament for Christian Worship. Eerdmans, 2008. [pp. 1-32] E-Reserves.

Shigematsu, Ken. “Sabbath: Oasis for Body and Soul,” in GOD IN MY EVERYTHING: How AN ANCIENT RHYTHM HELPS BUSY PEOPLE ENJOY GOD. Zondervan, 2013. [Assigned Text].

2. Confession

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. “Confession and community” in Life Together. HarperOne, 2009. [pp. 110-122] E-Reserves.

Howard, Evan B. “Confession and Self-Examination” in Praying the Scriptures: A Field Guide for YourSpiritual Journey. Downers Grove, Illinois, 1999. [Assigned Text]

3. Praise and Lament

Brueggemann, Walter. “Praise as a Constitutive Act,” in Israel’s Praise: Doxology agains Idolotry and

Ideology. Augsburg Fortress Press, 1988. [pp. 1-28]. E-Reserves.

Howard, Evan B. “Worship, Praise & Thanksgiving with the Scripture,” in Praying the Scriptures: A Field Guide for Your Spiritual Journey. Downers Grove, Illinois, 1999. [Assigned Text]

Witvliet, John Worship Seeking Understanding, 39-63, Chapter 2 Praise and Lament in the Psalms and in Liturgical Prayer, Baker Academic, 2003. E-Reserves.

4. Gathering & Sending

Dawn, Marva J. “What if We All were an Eye: A Sermon,” in A Royal Waste of Time: The Spendor of Worshiping God and Being Church in the World. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1990. [pp. 169-177] E-Reserves.

Peterson, David. “Serving God in the assembly of his people” in Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. IVP Academic, 2002. [Assigned Text].

5. Reading & Proclaiming the Word

“Ten Tips for Reading Scripture in Public Worship.” Online article found at:

http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/ten-tips-for-reading-scripture-in-public-worship

Peterson, Eugene H. “Scripture as Form: Following the Way of Jesus,” and “Scripture as Script: Playing our Part in Spirit.in Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading. Grand Rapids: W.B.Eerdmans Publishing, 2009. [pp. 37-77]. E-Reserves.

6. Prayer

Bradshaw, Paul. Two Ways of Praying. OSL Publications, 2008. [Assigned Text]

Howard, Evan B. Praying the Scriptures: A Field Guide for Your Spiritual Journey. Downers Grove, Illinois, 1999. [Assigned Text].

Shigematsu, Ken. “Prayer: Deepening Your Friendship with God,” in GOD IN MY EVERYTHING: HowAN ANCIENT RHYTHM HELPS BUSY PEOPLE ENJOY GOD. Zondervan, 2013. [Assigned Text].

7. Communion

Wright, NT. The Meal Jesus Gave Us 2nd edition. Westminster/John Knox, 2015. [Assigned Text].

8. Enacting the Prophetic

Farhadian, Charles E. Christian Worship Worldwide: Expanding Horizons, Deepening Practices.

Eerdmans, 2007. [Assigned Text].

E-RESERVES:

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. “Confession and community” in Life Together. HarperOne, 2009. [pp. 110-122].

Brueggemann, Walter. “Praise as a Constitutive Act,” in Israel’s Praise: Doxology agains Idolotry and

Ideology. Augsburg Fortress Press, 1988. [pp. 1-28].

Dawn, Marva J. “What if We All were an Eye: A Sermon,” in A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of

Worshiping God and Being Church in the World. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1990. [pp. 169-177]

Hawn, C. Michael. “Appendices B, C, D, E, F” in One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship. Bethesda: The Alban Institute, 2003. [pp. 184-201].

Olson, Dennis. “The Sabbath and Christian Worship.” In Bechtel, Carol M. Touching the Altar: the Old Testament for Christian Worship. Eerdmans, 2008. [pp. 1-32]

Peterson, Eugene H. “Scripture as Form: Following the Way of Jesus,” and “Scripture as Script: Playing our Part in Spirit.in Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading. W.B.Eerdmans Publishing, 2009. [pp. 37-77].

Witvliet, John. “Praise and Lament in the Psalms in Liturgical Prayer” in Worship Seeking Understanding, Chapter 2 Baker Academic, 2003. [39-63].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1100 pages reading and videos, including at least 50 pages of biblical text [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [62 hours].

  2. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3]. [32 hours].

  3. Vocation Formation Group (VFG)-In a Vocation Formation Group, students will engage spiritual disciplines, practices, and discussion. Students will study the Bible, and share and listen to stories related to the practices (10%). (Vocation Formation Group Leader (VFGL) will let professor know if students have been present and engaged) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, and #4]. [8 hours].

  4. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines over the course of the quarter (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [15 hours].

  5. Four fieldwork activities and reflections (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [8 hours + 8 hours = 16 hours].

  6. Autobiography related to core course concept (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].

  7. Signature Assignment: 100 word CIQ response, Integration paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, and #4]. [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES:  None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:  Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

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