From a Mustard Seed: Enlivening Worship and Music in the Small Church

by Bruce G. Epperly, Daryl Hollinger

Overview

Small congregations can have beautiful worship! In From a Mustard Seed: Enlivening Worship and Music in the Small Church, an experienced pastor-professor and an experienced church musician provide a model for faithful and excellent worship in congregations that average 75 or fewer people in weekly worship. While the limitations of small congregations are obvious to their members and leaders, the possibilities for creative music and worship are often greater than we can imagine. Epperly and Hollinger integrate theology, spiritual formation, and practical guidance for nurturing diverse, inspirational, and transforming worship in small congregations. Grounded in a solid theology of worship, they provide tried-and-true approaches to congregational music and singing, worship planning, liturgies that transform, and healthy partnerships between pastors and church musicians. God is present in small congregations, and the authors help pastors, church musicians, and active laypersons awaken to God's activity in every aspect of worship and music. They illuminate possibilities for opening to God in worship and music through their own stories, the stories of congregations and their pastors, practical counsel, spiritual practices, and theological reflection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566994064
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/21/2010
Series:	Vital Worship Healthy Congregations
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Rev. Dr. Bruce G. Epperly is Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Continuing Education at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He also serves as co-pastor of Disciples United Community Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and is the author (with Katherine Gould Epperly) of Tending to the Holy: The Practice of the Presence of God in Ministry, selected as the 2009 Book of the Year by the Academy of Parish Clergy. Dr. Daryl Hollinger is Dean of the Chapel, Seminary Musician, and Adjunct Professor of Worship and Music at Lancaster Theological Seminary and serves as Minister of Music at St. Peter's United Church of Christ. His most recent set of compositions, From Every Corner: Diverse Organ Preludes, is published by Augsburg Fortress Press.

Editorial Reviews

Only a pastor and musician immersed in congregational worship life could possibly have written such and excellent and honest guide for deepening worship and looking realistically at the future. Epperly and Hollinger’s work, grounded in hope and compassion for small churches, is rich with ideas to inspire and guide those who plan and lead worship. The reader’s response is sure to be, 'I can do this too!'

Arthur Clyde

If there are two people who know how to engage small churches in enlivening their worship, these are the two. I've seen the results—churches who thought they were limited to one elderly piano player are suddenly drumming, using other rhythm instruments, acting, moving, and singing world hymns and songs. This book will allow everyone to access the learnings that Darryl and Bruce gained from a concentrated experience with dozens of small churches, many of them rural. Their research and practice is backed with solid theology.

Marja Coons-Torn

WARNING! The passionate ideas shared in this book will lead to changes in the life of your congregation! It may lead to spontaneity, joy, curiosity, and contagious inclusiveness of all people in worship! I offer this warning as a pastor of a small church that has experienced firsthand (in workshops with the authors) many of the ideas here-in & used them with success!

Jen Walters