ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 20, 2007
ELCA Gathers for 2007 Worship Jubilee
07-145-LL*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) held its second Worship Jubilee Aug. 3-6 here at Navy
Pier. The event preceded the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly here
Aug. 6-11.
The event celebrated the publication of "Evangelical
Lutheran Worship" and the future of renewing worship under the
theme, "Thanks Be to God." Evangelical Lutheran Worship is a new
primary worship resource developed by the ELCA and Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada, released Oct. 3, 2006.
"My hope for the event is to (express) a deep sense of
gratitude for the many people who worked to bring about
Evangelical Lutheran Worship and to realize that the work
continues," said the Rev. Michael L. Burk, executive, ELCA
Worship and Liturgical Resources.
On Aug. 4, the Rev. Gladys G. Moore and the Rev. Clayton J.
Schmit delivered presentations on the "sending" words that
Lutherans recite at the conclusion of worship services.
In her presentation, Moore reflected on what "Lutheran
Christians mean when we say, 'Go in peace, and share the good
news.'" Moore is dean of religious and spiritual life, and
director of diversity and inclusion at Mount Holyoke College,
South Hadley, Mass.
"The sending sentence reminds people about why they came to
church -- to go in peace and do something, go into the world. We
are blessed, and we are to be a blessing," she said. "Go and be
present in the world as ambassadors of hope and beacons of
light."
Schmit, associate professor of preaching, Fuller Theological
Seminary, Pasadena, Calif., focused his presentation on the
concentration between worship and mission. "We here in North
America are in a mission field," said Schmit. "Worship is mission
. it is both action and adoration. Our ministry must have a
mission thrust because we are in a new mission age."
About 700 people involved in worship and music from the
across the church gathered for the event.
The Rev. Dayle M. Askey, Creator Lutheran Church, Clackamas,
Ore., said, "Our overall experience with Evangelical Lutheran
Worship has been good, and we appreciate that most of the music
we've used in worship is now contained in one comprehensive
resource. Most of the (resources) we've used in worship are now
in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, and we like it," Askey said,
adding that the congregation uses electronic resources during
worship, such as screen projections at the altar to feature
hymns.
The Rev. Steven N. Ronningen, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church,
Rochester, Minn., attended Worship Jubilee "to learn more about
Evangelical Lutheran Worship. As a mission developer, I haven't
seen the application of the worship resource, but I'm interested
in learning more about its contemporary music and liturgy, and
its evangelism application."
Ronningen said Gloria Dei is starting a second worship site
called Glory to God. Worship at Glory to God takes place at the
Rochester Athletic Club, and on Wednesday evenings, "we worship
outdoors on land we've purchased that will be the site of our new
church" building," he said. "We are exploring different models
of worship, so I'm here to learn. I'm also interested in
hospitality, making people feel welcome to the church."
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Information about Worship Jubilee 2007 is at
http://www.ELCA.org/worship/jubilee on the ELCA Web site.
* Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech
communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
This summer she was an intern with the ELCA News Service.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
