New Forms of Worship Author:James F White A burst of freedom has brought new life styles, new words, and new symbols for everything Americans do and say. Not the least affected within the last five years has been the contemporary Christian worship service. This book traces the history of Christian liturgy, looks at the two most obvious questions, "What is Christian worship?" and "Why is... more » it important to Christian life?" and then examines the hard-core elements constituting modern Christian worship.
Dr. White explores the influence on congregations of such elements as architecture, nonverbal communication, sights and sounds, multimedia worship, and new preaching methods. He encourages an analysis of these elements and a search for the particular needs of a congregation before initiating any liturgical innovations.
Moving from theory to practice, Dr. White reviews the changes in recent years and provides a preview of developments yet ahead. Ecumenical in scope and practical in treatment, this book is a rationale for new forms of liturgy as well as a presentation of the case for responsible reinterpretation and adaptation of the structure of Christian worship.« less