Theology of Worship (New Church's Teaching Series) [Paperback]

Louis Weil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2001 | Series: New Church's Teaching Series (Book 12)

In this exploration of the foundations of Anglican worship, Louis Weil invites the laity to claim their true baptismal role and serve alongside the ordained as ministers and celebrants of the liturgy. He explains how the contribution of the people of God has steadily diminished over the centuries and why it is necessary to reclaim it today in the midst of Anglicanism’s increasing multiculturalism. Since Anglicans are no longer primarily English-speakers worshiping in Gothic cathedrals, Weil challenges us to engage new forms of culture, music, liturgical prayers, and dance in order to renew Anglicanism for the new century.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Louis Weil is James F. Hodges Professor of Liturgics at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. In his over four decades of teaching he has contributed to several ecumenical dialogues and has lectured on five continents. He is the author of Liturgy for Living, Sacraments and Liturgy: The Outward Signs, Gathered to Pray, and over a hundred articles on liturgy.

Louis Weil is James F. Hodges Professor of Liturgics at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. In his over four decades of teaching he has contributed to several ecumenical dialogues and has lectured on five continents. He is the author of Liturgy for Living, Sacraments and Liturgy: The Outward Signs, Gathered to Pray, and over a hundred articles on liturgy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Cowley Publications (January 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561011940
• ISBN-13: 978-1561011940
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worship for all..., June 16, 2004

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Theology of Worship (New Church's Teaching Series) (Paperback)

The Episcopal church in the twentieth century took advantage of the general availability of publishing to good advantage, compiling through several auspices different collections and teaching series, the latest of which was only completed a few years ago. There have been 'unofficial' collections of teaching texts, such as the Anglican Studies Series by Morehouse press, put out in the 1980s, as well as an earlier teaching series. However, each generation approaches things anew; the New Church Teaching Series, published by Cowley Publications (a company operated as part of the ministry of the Society of St. John the Evangelist - SSJE - one of the religious/monastic communities in the Episcopal church, based in the Boston area) is the most recent series, and in its thirteen volumes, explores in depth and breadth the theology, history, liturgy, ethics, mission and more of the modern Anglican vision in America.

This twelfth and final volume, 'A Theology of Worship' by Louis Weil, picks up on a lot of themes from the earlier volumes in the Church Teaching Series. It relates back to history, theology, mission, and ethics - it asks the questions broadly of what is becoming of worship across the major liturgical traditions in the coming century, how the larger body of Christians are coming to understand worship, sacramentality and community in new ways.

In the first chapter, Weil sets the stage by looking at baptism, one of the two primary sacraments of the church - the sacrament of entry, of mission, and of identity in many ways. Defining all the baptised as ministers of the church (a theme recurring in Anglican and other traditions more and more), he explores the true purpose of ministry as being out in the world. The liturgy, which can be translated etymologically as `work of the people' is something to be recaptured as a corporate and community act.

Weil looks at issues such as who presides or celebrates certain sacraments, and by extension does other functions of the church; what language the churches use, and particularly, the English of the Prayer Book; issues of cultural diversity in worship; music and its role in worship, along with other arts; and finally, a development of sacramentality sensibility. This is a brief book, so most topics are covered fairly quickly without great detail - for example, the final chapter on sacraments discusses commonly-held beliefs about sacraments, some aspects of sacramental procedure, and key questions, but it is not a fully-fledged sacramental theology a la Macquarrie's `Guide to the Sacraments'.

Overall, this is an excellent concluding volume (save for the study and usage guide by Grenz) to the Church Teaching Series, drawing together many strands.

Louis Weil is a professor of liturigics at CDSP, the California Divinity School of the Pacific, the Episcopal seminary in the West. He had taught and written books on the subject for nearly half a century, and is an acclaimed author and public speaker on the topic of worship and liturgy in both Anglican and ecumenical contexts.

Each of the texts is relatively short (only two of the volumes exceed 200 pages; this is one of them), the print and text of each easy to read, designed not for scholars but for the regular church-goer, but not condescending either - the authors operate on the assumption that the readers are genuinely interested in deepening their faith and practice. Each volume concludes with questions for use in discussion group settings, and with annotated lists of further readings recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking Look at Christian Worship for the 21st Century, May 29, 2011

By 

Edward J. Barton (Tukwila, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Theology of Worship (New Church's Teaching Series) (Paperback)

Fr. Weil discusses the evolution and contiunous change of the liturgy and form of worship in the Christian traditions, starting with the premise that the laity and the clergy jointly are called to celebrate the liturgy and the participate in the scaraments as part of their baptismal role. Exploring questions such as the role of music, culture, sacraments and theology in worship, Fr. Weil reminds us of the role of worship and rejoicing, as well as the fact that our traditions have evolved over millenia and that slavish adherence may get in the way of our participation and worship. A good overview, but an even better challenge to the status quo - where the balance of tradition, scripture, reason and theology mesh to call us to flexibility and openness as Christianity becomes more diverse and changes in the 21st Century.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Theology of Worship, April 18, 2011

By 

G. Charles Champlin - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Theology of Worship (New Church's Teaching Series) (Paperback)

The book was received quickly and in good condition. The author did a good job on this subject. It is well written and well researched.