What does a WorshipWays Conference look like?

A WorshipWays Conference consists of

• general presentations around worship
• workshop sessions that focus upon skill-building
• reading sessions, and
• a number of liturgies (morning and evening prayer, and a closing Eucharist).

The essential principles underlying these conferences is that

• liturgy is deeply connected to the life of a Christian in the world
• collaborative leadership (for the sake all assembled) is essential to faithful worship
• faithful worship is firmly grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition, but it also needs to be relevant to a changing culture
• ministry is the call to all the baptized; it is an on-going practice and is nurtured in community

The core team of a WorshipWays Conference is made up of Fr. Jan Michael Joncas, Tony Alonso and Marty Haugen. They can provide all the leadership needed for a WorshipWays Conference. However, for the sake of a more inclusive event, for various events the host might be offered the possibility of having the core team supplemented by an additional team member who could offer specific gifts (e.g. an organist, a songleader, an emerging composer or an available world musician). The additional team member would be supported and subsidized by GIA Publications. 

Here is a sample schedule for a WorshipWays Conference:

Thursday PM

            7:00 Opening (songs, welcome, introductions)

            7:15 General Session – The Renewal of Worship in the 21st Century

            8:30 Taize Prayer

  Friday 

            9:00 Gathering Prayer

            9:20 General Session -- Gathering the Many Into One

            10:30 Break

            10:45 General Session  – Music’s role within Christian Worship

            Noon lunch

            1:00 General Session  – Word

            1:30 Break

         1:45 Breakout Workshop/Reading Sessions

            3:15 Break until concert

            7:00 Concert/Song Fest

  Saturday

            9:00 Morning Prayer

            9:20 General Session  – Meal

            10:30 Break

            10:45 Breakout Workshop/Reading Sessions

            Noon lunch

            1:00 General Session – Sending

            1:45 Taking It Home

            2:45 Break

            3:00 Closing Eucharist

If you are interested in sponsoring a WorshipWays Conference, click here

Booking a WorshipWaysEvent

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