Transitions in Worship: Moving from Traditional to Contemporary

Rating:
Summary: Helpful and brief book for pastors and churches
Review: There is a great deal of practical information in this book. The minister or church considering moving from a traditional to a contemporary worship, or starting a new service that is contemporary in nature, would do well to read through this book. It is an easy read -- a few hours is all that is needed but there is a lot that a worship committee or staff could discuss for hours. One of the best parts of the book is the brief section from pages 112 to 119 -- a list of specific suggestions: use greeters, use name tags, improve lighting -- each with a brief paragraph giving a little detail to the suggestions. The weakest part is the historical background. Understanding the origins of contemporary worship would be helpful to a church making this transition because it is important to understand this is not an overnight fad. Still, Langford says little if anything about the influence of the Vatican II, the Liturgical Renewal, or the Jesus Movement. It is here that it is obvious that Langford is a United Methodist writer. Other than this chapter, however, the book would be useful in any liturgical tradition -- Methodist or otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful and brief book for pastors and churches
Review: There is a great deal of practical information in this book. The minister or church considering moving from a traditional to a contemporary worship, or starting a new service that is contemporary in nature, would do well to read through this book. It is an easy read -- a few hours is all that is needed but there is a lot that a worship committee or staff could discuss for hours. One of the best parts of the book is the brief section from pages 112 to 119 -- a list of specific suggestions: use greeters, use name tags, improve lighting -- each with a brief paragraph giving a little detail to the suggestions. The weakest part is the historical background. Understanding the origins of contemporary worship would be helpful to a church making this transition because it is important to understand this is not an overnight fad. Still, Langford says little if anything about the influence of the Vatican II, the Liturgical Renewal, or the Jesus Movement. It is here that it is obvious that Langford is a United Methodist writer. Other than this chapter, however, the book would be useful in any liturgical tradition -- Methodist or otherwise.