Welcome to the Lay Leadership in Worship Course resource page.
The course will provide the skills and resources for laity to lead worship services, Morning and Evening Prayer and the Liturgy of the Word (a church service without the Eucharist).
Course requirements are that you submit your reflection timeously each week, attend each session in person, and lead three services under the guidance of a mentor. (One session may be missed with permission, if the session video is viewed before the next week.) If you do not meet these requirements, you will not pass the course.
Important: Please always save your reflection in a document on your computer, before copying and pasting it in the online response form. In cases of an unreliable internet connection, your reflection submission may not be uploaded and will be lost.
Note: Joan Chittister’s beautiful book, The Liturgical Year, will take you swiftly through an entire liturgical year, beginning in Advent. Take a moment to re-orient yourself liturgically.
A variety of worship styles and practices are reflected in this course, to reflect the diversity of the parishes and liturgical practices of our Diocese. While some aspects of the course may not reflect your parish at present, pay attention anyway – you will always learn something new.
Navigating this webpage:
This home page is an overview. Each session has its own page, with more detail, which you can access by the links in the menu on the left. Session resources, links, and further reading can be found on each session page.
Each session has its own link for your reading reflection submission form, due on the Tuesday before each session. Reflections should not be emailed.
The Zoom link for all sessions: click here
SESSION ONE: Thursday March 7th 7 – 9 PM
THE PURPOSE OF WORSHIP
This first session begins with time to check in, allowing an opportunity to share hopes and concerns. Once this process has been completed, the focus for this first session is to establish an understanding of the centrality and purpose of worship and the role of the worship leader.
Practical Skills and Outcomes
This session prepares participants to:
- reflect on the calling of laity to lead worship
- establish a clear understanding of: (1) the purpose and nature of worship, and (2) the role of a worship leader
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 1-4 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’ and answer the following question below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answer in a small group in class.
In what ways does following the events of Christ’s life remind us that he shared the same life we do and shared the same concerns? How can we reflect those concerns in our liturgy?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday March 5th by 23:59
SESSION TWO : Thursday March 14th 7 – 9 PM
THE LECTIONARY
This session focuses on helping participants: (1) locate and navigate the lectionary (RCL), (2) understand its purpose in discerning assigned readings, liturgical seasons along with primary themes and choices (such as liturgical colours, intercessions and music), (3) understand the concept of the collect, etc.
Practical Skills and Outcomes
This session prepares participants to:
- have identified resources where the RLC can be found
- have developed a working knowledge of its purpose, shape and content
- understand why the RCL is the most current place to locate and identify readings
- plan worship according to thematic resonance (e.g. identifying liturgical seasons, choosing liturgical colours, collect, intercessions, and music according to the readings within the context of the liturgical season)
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 5-8 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’ and answer the question below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answer in a small group in class.
Joan Chittister says, “Liturgical time raises our sights above the dailiness of life to the essence of life. Therefore, what is the difference between human time and liturgical time? How is liturgical time reflected in our worship?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday March 12th by 23:59
SESSION THREE: Thursday March 21st 7 – 9 PM
THE CONTEXT OF ANGLICAN WORSHIP
This session focuses on: (1) the global, world-wide Anglican Communion, and (2) local, geographic, historical and social contexts, identifying those nations on whose land we worship.
Practical Skills and Outcomes This session prepares participants to:
- understand the Worldwide Anglican Communion and its cultural diversity
- understand the impact of European settlers in British Columbia
- gain an awareness of those whose land we now occupy
- understand how this history impacts on the Anglican Church here
- understand the purpose and importance of acknowledging the land
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 9-14 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’, and answer the question below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answer in a small group in class.
Joan Chittister speaks (p. 68) of the “preparing an Advent heart.” In preparation for Session Three, which looks at the historical and cultural context in which we worship, reflect on the fact that Jesus was born into land occupied by Roman colonists and lived in a complex society of many cultures, a society filled with injustice. In our time of Advent waiting in the ancestral land of First Nations people, to what do you feel called?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday Tuesday March 19th by 23:59
SESSION FOUR: Thursday April 4th 7 – 9 PM
BROAD PRINCIPLES AND STRUCTURE OF EVENING PRAYER
This session focuses on the broad principles and structure of Evening Prayer along with options in planning an Evening Prayer liturgy
Practical Skills and Outcomes
This session prepares participants to identify a roadmap to inform and simplify:
- An understanding and working knowledge of the shape and contents of Evening Prayer.
- The choices to be made when planning Evening Prayer (e.g. sentences, seasonal and general intercessions, canticles, etc.
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 15-19 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’, and answer the questions below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answers in a small group in class.
Lent is a call to review and renew our commitment to Christ. How will you use this season to re-energize your devotion to Christ? In what ways could you support this focus through Evening Prayer?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday April 2nd by 23:59
SESSION FIVE: Thursday April 11th 7 – 9 PM
BROAD PRINCIPLES AND STRUCTURE OF MORNING PRAYER
This session focuses on the broad principals and structure of Morning Prayer along with options in planning a Morning Prayer liturgy
Practical Skills and Outcomes
This session prepares participants to identify a roadmap to inform and simplify:
- An understanding and working knowledge of the shape and contents of Morning Prayer
- The choices to be made when planning Morning Prayer (e.g. sentences, seasonal and general intercessions, canticles, etc.
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 20-24 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’, and answer the question below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answer in a small group in class.
Holy Thursday is about mixed emotions – celebration giving way to fear and sadness. What times in your own life reflect such emotional conflict? What in the service of Morning Prayer gives you comfort in difficult times?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday April 9th by 23:59
SESSION SIX: Thursday April 18th 7 – 9 PM
BRINGING LITURGY TO LIFE
This session focuses on (1) planning worship to which we bring our selves, our souls, and bodies, and (2) the role of worship leaders in preparing meaningful, dynamic, and creative worship through the use of various artistic expressions.
Practical Skills and Outcomes
This session equips participants to creatively plan worship through exploring:
- The selves they bring to worship leadership, and
- The use of various artistic forms that feed the senses and bring liturgy to life.
Preparation:
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 25-29 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’, and answer the questions below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answers in a small group in class.
The feast of Resurrection is the rebirth of hope, a light casting away all darkness, and a reminder that we are more than mortal. In what ways are we called to discover and proclaim hope and light in the midst of the sadness and challenges of this life? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering us to do this work? How can we make space for the Holy Spirit to work as we lead worship?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday April 16th by 23:59
SESSION SEVEN : Thursday April 25th 7 – 9 PM
COURSE REVIEW AND INTRODUCTION TO RESOURCES
This session focuses on the guiding broad principles for Anglican worship and identifying resources available as participants embrace the task of leading the Ministry of the Word.
Practical Skills and Outcomes
Familiarity with online (and other) resources available for the participants’ ongoing learning and worship planning.
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please read chapters 30-33 of Joan Chittister’s ‘The Liturgical Year’, and answer the question below. (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss your answer in a small group in class.
Following the liturgical year lets us follow Christ’s footsteps, uniting us with his life. In what ways will this change you and the way you reveal your faith, your commitment to the world? Are there ways in which this could be made visible in the way you lead worship?
Deadline to submit this reflection here: Tuesday April 23rd by 23:59
SESSION EIGHT: Thursday May 30th 7 – 9 PM
DISCUSSION OF LEARNINGS FROM MENTORED PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
This session focuses on the group learnings from the opportunity to lead three services of either Morning OR Evening Prayer, OR a liturgy of the Word, under the guidance of an experienced clergy or lay mentor.
Practical Skills and Outcomes
Increased confidence in leading worship, and a comfort with learning from things that enhanced worship and things that don’t go well. Learning from the experiences of the group.
Preparation
To prepare for this session, please write a brief reflection on your experience of leading worship (250-500 words only). Be prepared to discuss the key points of your reflection with the class.
In your practical experience, what learnings stood out for you? What surprised you? Is there anything that you would like to do again? Is there anything you will not do again?
Deadline to submit this reflection Tuesday May 28th by 23:59 – click >> here to paste.
Link to download the Spring 2024 Syllabus below: