The book delves into the diverse Christian perspectives on time and how these influence the organization of church life through various days, weeks, seasons, and years. It offers comprehensive insights into the significance of Sundays, festivals, and commemorations, along with the practice of daily prayer, highlighting the rhythm and structure that shape the spiritual experience within the Christian tradition.
Focusing on the Revised Common Lectionary and the Lectionary for Mass, Gail Ramshaw offers ten insights that illuminate their significance for contemporary worship. By blending extensive historical, biblical, liturgical, and ecumenical knowledge, she provides a thoughtful exploration of how these lectionaries enrich the understanding of scripture and enhance the worship experience in today's church.
The book explores the revival of the ancient liturgies of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, offering a blend of historical context and practical suggestions. Ramshaw emphasizes how these services can enhance the worship experience for congregations, providing insights that aim to deepen the spiritual engagement of the assembly during this significant liturgical season.
Exploring the purpose and benefits of a lectionary, this accessible volume offers insights that rejuvenate a familiar subject. Authored by Gail Ramshaw, it serves as a valuable resource for pastors, committees, and leaders involved in planning worship services, providing practical guidance and fresh perspectives on the use of lectionaries in religious settings.
This unique textbook not only lays out the religious-studies framework of a contemporary understanding of worship, it also offers a full history of Christian worship in each historical period, including the American experience. In light of this history of experiences, Ramshaw finally addresses ongoing issues in our understanding of Christian Worship (gender, authority, ethics, skepticism) and places them into an explicitly cross-religious framework with Islam, Judaism, and other religions. Gail Ramshaw is one of today's most important and influential thinkers about liturgy, is also a dedicated college professor with a keen sense for how to approach the full array of Christian worship experience in light of the contemporary study of religion.
Keeping it Metaphoric, Making it Inclusive
Recognizing that both metaphoric and inclusive language are necessary in Christian worship, this book clarifies how these need not be contradictory criteria for forming liturgical language.
Seventy new prayers emerge from Gail Ramshaw's reflective engagement with the Bible during the pandemic's quiet months. Each prayer offers a blend of boldness and humility, capturing universal themes while remaining deeply personal. This collection is designed to inspire individual contemplation and enhance public worship, revealing unexpected insights and treasures on every page.
Exploring the insights of historical figures like Ambrose of Milan and Hildegard of Bingen, this book offers inspiration for enhancing Sunday worship. Gail Ramshaw, a Lutheran laywoman, draws on the wisdom of twenty-four saints to propose enriching practices for church gatherings. Her essays blend rigorous scholarship with practical suggestions, aiming to deepen the experience of worship through the elements of gathering, word, meal, and sending. The work invites readers to connect past traditions with present worship for a more profound communal experience.
Illustrated for young children, this book engages them with relatable depictions of daily life while introducing the fundamental patterns and meanings of Sunday worship. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, offering a fresh perspective on explaining Christian worship to young audiences.
Focusing on the fundamental questions students have about Christianity, the book offers a comprehensive survey that integrates historical context with a social-scientific approach. Each chapter is grounded in phenomenological theory, exploring the history, doctrine, practices, and beliefs of Christianity. Designed for those with minimal prior knowledge, it includes helpful features such as summaries, visuals, diverse personal statements, study questions, and suggestions for further exploration, making it an accessible resource for learners.