REL Final project

ASSIGNMENT: Create an ecumenical service from opening to closing.

                  Ecumenical services represent a number of different Christian traditions. The specific purpose of ecumenical services is for the unification of the Christian Church. As a result, your service must represent multiple Christian religious perspectives.  This is your opportunity to show your understanding of the course materials as well as how it connected specifically with the three different churches you visited and others that may have captured your attention.  You will not be given a passing grade if you simply use a Catholic service and add different songs etc. This must be ECUMENICAL.

Order of Service: Create a Powerpoint presentation that includes piece by piece what you will have in your service. Be very specific about what you want to occur from the moment people walk into church until the service ends. Think about the atmosphere. Think about the material culture (what the space looks like, what equipment is used, what people wear, what resources you will use etc). 

Theme: Be creative! If you choose a theme, follow it through with your readings and the music selections.

At a minimum, your service should include:

1. Music - A combination of congregational and formally-presented music (choir, soloist or instrumental ensemble): Be specific about what music you are using, who will be performing it etc. Do not include any music listened to in class.  A good project will include at least three music selections. Include the full lyrics or the sheet music in your resources folder. 

2. Scripture readings: at least two different scripture texts. Include the full text for the Scripture reading.  Be sure to indicate who will do each reading. Consider adding other resources as well. For instance, there may be a lovely poem that fits the theme of your service. There might be a part of a speech that would be appropriate. You decide.

3. Sermon: What is the subject of the sermon? What is the primary scripture reference?  Who will be delivering the message? What will they wear? What will they use?

4. Prayers:  What kinds of prayers will be represented?

5. At least three different rites (the what) with clear descriptions of the rituals (the how) and from which tradition the come. Think beyond the three traditions that you observed this semester. There are many, many types of Christian traditions, both liturgical and non-liturgical. There MUST be a combination of liturgical and non-liturgical traditions included. 

·         One of the three rites must be communion/Lord's Supper/Eucharist.

6.     Be sure to justify, with proper citations, why the way (ritual method) you are structuring a particular rite belongs to a specific church type.

7. Complete copies of resources used (ex. Music from hymnal or songbook, links to recordings used, poetry, pictures of clothing/food etc as appropriate).  It is NOT sufficient to simply supply links to materials. The links should be in your resources (bibliography).   Collect these into one collection and put them into a RESOURCES FOLDER.

8. Bibliography / Discography. Proper citations for all materials used is a must. Make sure you use correct formats for indicating articles, books, images, recordings.

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What you turn in and how!!

A.   Create a MAIN Folder that you will label with your name and final (ex. CoxFinal)

B.   In your main folder, add these:

1. Bibliography/Discography

2. Order of Service Powerpoint that includes all of the rites, rituals, music and pictures. It should be interesting to look at!!

3. Resources folder

-       images

-       sheet music/lyrics

-       texts for readings

-       anything not included directly in the Powerpoint.

C.   Save all of your materials in the main folder in google docs.

D.   Share with me  

Sample Rite

Rite: Call To Worship

What tradition does it represent? African American Baptist

How? Black church services often begin with one person, either the pastor or worship leader, encouraging the congregation to stand. These are often dynamic and engaging. It is designed to get everyone involved and to center everyone's attention on Christ.   I witnessed my first Call To Worship at Omega Baptist and like the way it brought everyone together. My ritual is drawn from materials located in the African American Lectionary (http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=306). 

Ritual (Description): Minister of Music will direct the congregation to stand as she quotes Psalm 118:24. Then she will invite everyone to clap their hands and join in singing This Is The Day as recorded by Fred Hammond[1].

Scripture Quote:  This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Lyrics: This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I will rejoice. I will rejoice and be glad in glad.

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made.

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter his courts with praise.

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

Other Resources: Band: drums, piano, Hammond organ, bass, and guitar

Choir in the choir stand on the platform.

5 praise singers on microphones. They will be dressed in all black

Praise dancers in the aisles, wearing white outfits with purple scarves