A History of Christian Worship: Ancient Ways, Future Paths

Part 6, The Embrace explores the inward worship practices of prayer and contemplation and the outward acts of worship found in service and ministry.

See how visual art, drama and media have been used in various times and places in Christian worship for the creative expression of the faith.

Witness how liturgy and music have enriched the celebration of God's story throughout centuries of Christianity.

Part 3: The Feast explores the significance of the Eucharist in worship and reveals how the observance of special days and seasons of remembrance and anticipation such as Advent and Lent is essential to the worship experience, including: ? What early church documents and practices teach us about how the Eucharist is celebrated today.? Why the feast of the table is called by different names: Eucharist, Communion, the Lord's Supper.? What the different methods of celebrating the Eucharist are among various Christian traditions.? How Old Testament feast days and festivals have formed a pattern for the current Christian calendar of holy days and seasons.? Why the liturgical year is still relevant for Christians today.

Part 2: The Body explores how individuals are joined with the body of Christ through baptism and how the idea of community is essential to the worship experience, including:?? What early church documents and practices teach us about how baptism is celebrated today.? What symbols are common to all Christians in the celebration of baptism.? Why there are different forms of baptism among various Christian traditions.? How the Scriptures and church history support the community of believers as an important part of worship.? How one unique community of believers celebrates worship through its western-themed cowboy church.

Part 1: The Word explores how the written and spoken word consisting of scriptures, sermons and creeds have remembered and celebrated God's story throughout centuries of Christianity, including:? What early church documents reveal about ancient worship practices and why many churches are recovering and continuing these ancient faith practices today?? How stained glass has been used to tell the stories of scripture, including a visit to the oldest continually operating stained glass studio in America?? Why influences such as the printing press and the translation of the Bible into the language of the people dramatically changed how scripture is used in worship?? How great preaching movements of the church have influenced the development of sermons and homilies?? Why creeds such as the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds are an important tool for teaching the essentials of the Christian faith?