Transitions in Worship: Moving from Traditional to Contemporary [Paperback]

Andy Langford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999

"What are we doing in our worship? Has loyalty to one pattern or style of worship blinded the church to the missional task of worship to share the good news?" asks the author in the Introduction to this book.

In Transitions in Worship, Andy Langford surveys where worship has been, where it is now, and where it might be going, while also providing meaningful advice and help for moving worship from predictable and rote to enriching and engaging. Congregations across North America face a profoundly unchristian culture. Yet, this culture still seeks a foundation that the church alone can provide. Written for pastors, musicians, and other worship leaders, Transitions in Worship provides a clear blueprint for laying a worship base that is relevant and responsive to the people of today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andy Langford is a United Methodist pastor from North Carolina.  Andy edited The United Methodist Book of Worship and wrote Your Ministry of Planning a Christian Funeral, and ChristianWeddings: Resources to Make Your Ceremony Unique.  Andy's work blends scholarly, liturgical expertise with years of pastoral and practical suggestions for ministry.   

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687081734
• ISBN-13: 978-0687081738
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,834,248 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

4.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and brief book for pastors and churches, June 3, 2001

By 

W. M. Pitt "W. M. Pitt" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transitions in Worship: Moving from Traditional to Contemporary (Paperback)

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.