Worship

A core elective requirement in Proclamation can be met by coursework in the range, WO510-549.

WO510 WORSHIP LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH (3)

Goold, Ruth
This course lays the foundation for the ministry of the whole congregation in corporate worship. Biblical, theological, historical, and practical focus is brought to bear on the elements of prayer, Scripture, music, and proclamation in terms of the design of services, the keeping of time, and worship space. Attention is given to interpreting, planning, and presiding at the church's principal worship services, sacraments, weddings, and funerals.

WO515 SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY: CHRIST IN THE CHURCH (3)

Ruth
This course is a basic worship course designed to prepare people in initial skills needed to lead worship in local congregations today. The underlying presumption is this theological notion: fundamentally there is only one sacrament now (the church as the tangible sphere for Christ's ongoing presence in the world). The essential question directing the class will be this: how is Christ's presence manifested in a church's worship? We will answer this question by looking at how Christ is present in the individual elements of worship as well as considering how these individual elements work together as a holistic manifestation of Christ's presence.

WO520 THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP (3)

Ruth
A historical survey of different practices and understandings of Christian worship over the past two millennia. This course is designed to come to grips with basic issues in worship, recurring themes and understandings about worship as represented by different traditions, and knowledge of the options for approaching worship renewal today. Care will be given to exploring, in light of liturgical history, whether there are "basics," "essentials," or "nonnegotiables" for worship. The course will also attend to developing a legitimate method for historical appropriation to answer this question: how might we borrow with integrity from our Christian past to renew worship today?

WO525 TIME AND REMEMBRANCE IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP (3)

Ruth
Exploring the importance of time in Christian Scripture and theology, this course investigates the role of remembrance and eschatological hope in Christian worship, and thus how worship participates in the kingdom of God, present and coming. Reviewing different ways Christians have organized time in worship, it will also explore how these insights impact the selection of Scripture for worship and the content of worship's song, sacrament, prayer, and preaching.

WO530 UNITED METHODIST WORSHIP (3)

Pasquarello, Ruth
This course examines United Methodist worship to prepare students to plan and lead worship in a range of this denomination's churches. Emphasis is placed on familiarity with United Methodist worship resources, especially denominationally approved orders of worship, and with various specific dimensions of worship like Word, sacrament, prayer, music, calendar, weddings, and funerals. Of specific concern will be appropriate adaptation for various cultures, geographic settings (rural, suburban, urban), and demographic contexts.

WO550 TUTORIAL IN WORSHIP (1-3)

Ruth
For students with specialized interests/needs in selected areas of introductory study in Worship. Consult syllabus for prerequisites and course requirements. See academic policy. May be repeated.

WO560 SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION: MUSIC, PRACTICE, AND THEOLOGY (3)

Staff
In this course the student will be encouraged to formulate a biblically and historically informed theology of Christian worship, rooted in the celebration and commemoration of God's saving deeds in Jesus Christ and expressed fundamentally through the sacramental acts of baptism and Eucharist. Emphasis will be given to pastoral praxis and artistic (especially musical) support of sacramental actions.

WO599 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN WORSHIP (1-3)

Ruth
Guided, independent, introductory research in Worship. See academic policy and procedures. By contract. Credit only. May be repeated.

WO601 PUBLIC WORSHIP: DISCUSSION (2)

Ruth
Provides a study-discussion format for interaction with and application of the material of WO510. The primary work of the class will be the planning and designing of worship services to be used on campus and beyond, providing resources to the local church. Students will construct a biblical, theological, and historical matrix within which to evaluate worship services as well as develop a series of worship values to inform sound worship planning. Prerequisite: a course in the range of WO510-549. Credit only.

WO602 PUBLIC WORSHIP: PRACTICUM (3)

Ruth
Creates opportunities for primary services of parish worship, in order to evaluate and enhance the student's ability to interpret, plan, and preside at these acts of worship (baptism, Eucharist, prayers, principal service, weddings, funerals). The course is a learning investment in which the criterion for performance is the psychomotor domain, more than the cognitive or affective domains. Prerequisite: a course in the range of WO510-549. Credit only.

WO611 MODELS OF WORSHIP EVANGELISM: BAPTISM WITH INTEGRITY (1)

Ruth
Most baptismal services ask candidates for baptism some of the most essential questions in our faith. What would it mean if we took these questions seriously? What would it mean to baptize with integrity? To answer these questions, this course will look at an ancient model of relating worship and evangelism known as the catechumenate, seeing how this model relates to conversion, baptism, and incorporation into a church's worship life. The catechumenate will be explored in both its past historical setting and contemporary attempts to recover it in North America. Of particular interest will be a historical comparison of how certain understandings of God, salvation, and the church find expression in this mode of relating worship and evangelism.

WO612 MODELS OF WORSHIP EVANGELISM: SOCIETAL FELLOWSHIP (1)

Ruth
The course will look at a model of relating worship and evangelism as seen in the societal fellowship of early Methodism and in current expressions. Of particular interest will be a historical comparison of how certain understandings of God, salvation, and the church find expression in this mode of relating worship and evangelism.

WO613 WORSHIP EVANGELISM: PRAGMATIC WORSHIP (1)

Ruth
The course will look at a pragmatic model of relating worship and evangelism. What does the relationship look like when worship is seen as the pragmatic tool of evangelism? This question will be explored in both historic and current expressions. Of particular interest will be a historical comparison of how different understandings of God, salvation, and the church find expression in this mode of relating worship and evangelism.

WO/CA614 WORSHIP AND THE ARTS (3)

Staff
Humanity is created in the image of God. A part of what this means is that the creativity and imagination that God uses in creation is rooted in our nature and being. We will examine many ways that people have sought (and continue to seek) to celebrate the Holy God, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit, through expressions of the arts in worship. Topics we will explore include creative writing, music (particularly popular and world music), the visual arts, the environment for worship, drama, and movement and postures for worship. We will develop criteria for guiding us as we select expressions to include in corporate worship events and explore practical ways of incorporating artistic offerings in worship.

WO615 CROSS-CULTURAL STUDIES IN LITURGICAL PRAXIS: SOUTHEAST ASIA (3)

Staff
This course is a participatory immersion experience in the practice of Christian worship as found in various communities in Southeast Asia to encourage the development of liturgical practice that is contextually sensitive. The course will involve travel to Asia.

WO/CH620 WORSHIP, PRAYER, AND COMMUNITY IN THE ANGLICAN TRADITION (3)

Staff
The course will survey worship, prayers, and community in the context of the Book of Common Prayer from the sixteenth century reformation through the ecumenical liturgical movement of the twentieth century. The British churches will provide the major focus up to the latter years of the eighteenth century when, with special attention to North America, foreign "Anglican" churches begin to modify the exclusively English setting and character of the Prayer Book. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to relate to the developments of this distinctive tradition with those in other parts of the larger Christian community. Prerequisites: CH501 and CH502.

WO650 TUTORIAL IN WORSHIP (1-3)

Ruth
For students with specialized interests/needs in selected areas of intermediate study in Worship. Consult syllabus for prerequisites and course requirements. See academic policy. May be repeated.

WO/PR655 GETTING PREMODERN TO GO POSTMODERN: WISDOM FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FOR PREACHING AND WORSHIP TODAY (3)

Pasquarello, Ruth
This course seeks to facilitate a conversation between a Patristic vision of reality and the Postmodern world so as to provoke reflection and discussion about current possible practices of preaching and worship. It will seek to explore a third way for preaching and worship beyond the confines of so-called "contemporary" and "traditional" worship. Prerequisites: WO510, PR610.

WO/CA660 SONG LYRICS AND THEOLOGY (3)

Ruth
From old song to new song. That will be the method and aim of this course. In it students will follow the footsteps of John and Charles Wesley in using theological training to develop songs for worship. This seminar-type course will explore various collections of classic worship materials, including Wesleyan hymnody, to uncover profound theological themes and motifs. Students will be expected to show theological enrichment by composing lyrics for new worship songs to be shared with the class. Other poetic or liturgical expressions (i.e., a consecratory prayer for the Lord's Supper) are negotiable with the professor. Students' compositions will be evaluated not on the basis of musical quality but on their theological profoundness and suitability for the church's worship of the God revealed in Jesus Christ. Prerequisite: DO501 or ST501.

WO699 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN WORSHIP (1-3)

Ruth
Guided, independent, intermediate research in Worship. See academic policy and procedures. By contract. Credit only. May be repeated.

WO/PR700 CREATIVE PREACHING ON THE SACRAMENTS (3)

Ruth
The focus of this course is on a specialized form of preaching on the sacraments known as mystagogy (that is, preaching that leads into the mystery of the church). This type of preaching will be explored in its liturgical context in the early church and in modern attempts to reclaim it. The goal will be to assist students in using historical models to develop a theoretical basis to support their practice of connecting Word and Sacrament. Student preaching will be included. This course will thus include these dimensions: historical, theoretical, and practical. Prerequisites: PR610 and a course in the range of WO510-549.

WO750 TUTORIAL IN WORSHIP (1-3)

Ruth
For students with specialized interests/needs in selected areas of advanced study in Worship. Consult syllabus for prerequisites and course requirements. See academic policy. May be repeated.

WO799 INDEPENDENT RESEARCH IN WORSHIP (1-3)

Ruth
Guided, independent, advanced research in Worship. See academic policy and procedures. By contract. Credit only. May be repeated.

Asbury Theological Seminary

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