The Special Service Worship Architect: Blueprints for Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms, Holy Communion, and Other Occasions

by Constance M. Cherry

This book takes the principles found in Constance Cherry's successful The Worship Architect--in which she provided dynamic blueprints for designing worship services--and applies them to special services in the life of the church. Cherry, a worship professor and practitioner, offers theological reflection, practical guidance, and suggested resources to help worship leaders and ministry students in training to create meaningful special services related to the sacraments, life passages, and other occasions.

Cherry sets forth a process concerning worship design for special services and demonstrates how this process is conducive to virtually any style of worship practiced today in a myriad of Christian communities. She includes a model order for each service type, including weddings, funerals, baptisms, child dedications, Holy Communion, and more. The book not only explains what leaders do in order to preside at special services and how to do it, but also why they make certain choices. Each chapter includes discussion questions, practical exercises, and a basic glossary.

336 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2013

About the author

Constance M. Cherry (DMin, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of worship and Christian ministries at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, and is on the faculty of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, where she has taught since its inception. She speaks and teaches internationally and is a regular adjunct professor at several seminaries. Cherry has also served local churches as a minister of music/worship and as a United Methodist pastor.

Reviews

[Ronald J. Pauleus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource!

[Priscilla Previl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is required reading for one of my doctoral classes (Worship Studies), along with Cherry's other 2 books that complete (for now?) the series.

It's an important resource and one that is greatly needed for worship leaders and pastors. All too often, this gap between worship leading and pastoral care is completely ignored or at best, compartmentalized. Cherry does an excellent job of providing a trans-denominational approach to dealing with special services such as baptisms, the Eucharist, and such.

This is the first of the three books I read, simply because it arrived first. I'm looking forward to reading the other two and comparing notes. It certainly deserves a prominent place in my worship library, and I highly recommend it for all pastors and worship leaders.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a a must for those in the pastorate. The author has done a through job with what can be complex given the different denominations. It will be a great tool for my ministry.