Worship for the Whole People of God - by Ruth C Duck (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

This new book on worship by renowned hymn writer and professor Ruth C. Duck provides theological foundations for worship and explores the variety of ways Christians have adapted worship to various cultures to help them live faithfully and to communicate the Gospel to others. The author celebrates the many languages and cultural settings in which the Gospel has been, and is, preached, sung, and prayed. The goal of this volume is to support good pastoral and congregational reflection on what worship is and does. Consequently, Duck discusses many different forms of worship from several cultures (African-American, Asian, Euro-American) and offers advice on how to read a congregation and define its culture in order to plan culturally appropriate worship. Although the book does not offer prescriptive formulas or advise a single pattern of worship, it includes many practical suggestions for preparing and leading worship, including diverse ministries of music, movement, and visual arts that are becoming more popular today.

From worship's theological underpinnings the book turns to worship leadership, forms of prayer, preaching, the sacraments, ordination, and various other liturgies. Because of its emphasis on vital and Spirit-led worship, this comprehensive book on Christian worship will be used in years to come not only as a core textbook for seminarians and ministry students from a variety of cultures and traditions, but also as a resource for local church pastors and laity who are dedicated to the enlivening of Christian worship.

Review Quotes

"Duck guides the reader through worship as ritual, revelation, response, relationship and rehearsal, an approach that has no precedence in other books. A special value of this book is the author's concern for the needs of children, people with differing abilities, gays and lesbians, African Americans, Latinas/Latinos and Koreans, and planning worship in our multicultural society today. Duck's book is practical yet scholarly, historical yet contemporary, biblical yet contextual--a timely publication." --I-to Loh, composer and former President and Professor of Worship, Church Music and Ethnomusicology, Tainan Theological College and Seminary, Taiwan.

"Here at last is a resource that is designed to explore the past and present and look forward to the future of Christian Worship. I highly commend this excellent resource for all who seek to engage in as well as lead Christian Worship." --Melva Wilson Costen, PhD Professior Emerita, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA

"Ruth Duck brings together historical, theological, liturgical, pastoral, cultural, anecdotal, and practical elements in a comprehensive resource that students and ministers will want to use as a reference guide for years to come." --John Ambrose, Pastor, United Church of Canada, worship staff, and hymnal editor

"Some of us have been waiting a decade for this book. It stands in the tradition of what was best about James White's Introduction to Christian Worship, while going much farther in areas like worship and culture, liturgical language, and services of healing. I look forward to using this with my introductory worship class with great anticipation." --Christopher Grundy, Eden Theological Seminary

"The most comprehensive introduction to worship for our time." --Kimberly Bracken Long, Associate Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia

"This book sheds profound, theological insights for vital, diverse, healing, and transformative worship in the twenty-first century. A must-read for every pastor, church musician, and worship leader." --Cynthia Wilson, Dean of Students and Ph.D. candidate, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

"This is the textbook I have been waiting for: opening the door wide for all God's children to be a part, grounded in theology and history, drawing on long experience of teaching and leading worship, with study of congregations in the U.S. and abroad, full of practical application, and graced by the Spirit." --Robin Knowles Wallace, Professor of Worship and Music, Methodist Theological School in Ohio