Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Past and Present (The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Liturgical Studies

by Lukas Vischer

Worship renewal is now on the agenda of many Reformed churches, as the need for adaptation and new approaches is acutely felt all over. How can the church faithfully worship God in the midst of rapidly changing situations? How can it constructively relate to widely differing cultural contexts? What is its place in the wider ecumenical scene? In preparing a sweeping survey of Reformed worship across time and place, this volume provides some help to those engaged with vital questions like these. Written by theologians and liturgical scholars from a wide range of churches and countries, these chapters explore the history of Reformed worship on every continent from the sixteenth century to the present. Surveying the most significant developments in the growth of Reformed worship, the book identifies the major "ingredients" that make the Reformed worship tradition distinctive and highlights those aspects of Reformed worship that are particularly relevant to present efforts at renewal. Indeed, an important component of this book is the inclusion of "A Common Reflection on Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Today", the result of a major consultation in January 2001 at the International Reformed Center John Knox. Revealing the rich variety of forms and diversity of perspectives that have made and do make up Reformed worship worldwide, this volume will be a valuable resource for church and worship leaders both in and outside the Reformed family.

Genres: Theology

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2002

Reviews

[Luke Brodine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a collection of essays, it is a unique look into how the Reformed faith has extended its reach since the 16th century. Seeing the chapters on the church as it developed outside of the West, I had higher hopes that it would be dynamically informative for my own work in the post-church and multi-everything world of the Bay Area. While interesting, the quality of each chapter varied widely, and the overall picture resulted was fairly homogenous. In the end, a nice overview of Reformed worship that goes beyond the original thinkers of the 16th and 17th centuries.