Product Description
Written in a humorous, accessible style, Being United Methodist in the Bible Belt will help any United Methodist youth or adult understand his or her brand of Christianity in light of the understandings of those from the evangelical tradition. With sidebars explaining United Methodist history and polity and questions after each chapter, this book is ideal for Christian education courses for youth and adults, new member classes, as well as personal reading. ... Read more

Product Description
Large-Type Edition (words only). 675 pages of hymns, canticles, and other acts of worship, plus a United Methodist Liturgical Psalter of 100 psalms with responses; Services for Holy Communion; Baptism, Confirmation, and Renewal; Marriage; and Death and Resurrection (Funeral). 65 pages of indexes make worship planning easy. Page size: 6" x 9" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Stances of the United Methodist Church
Every 4th year since 1968 the United Methodist Church has its General Conference.The only group that can speak officially for the entire church. This book is the collected statements of the church on a variety of social issues, from capital punishment to the role of women to homosexuality to domestic violence, etc., etc.If you really want to know the official mind of Methodism, this book is indispensible. ... Read more

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5 STAR REVIEW
This is a fascinating text book that ought to be studied by every Methodist Christian.This updated 2000 edition provides some keen insights and brings our church as a whole up to date. ... Read more

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Wonderful Worship Resource
Few books of this type are as comprehensive yet readable as this two vol. set.Every Protestant pastor should have a set, especially those in the Wesleyan family of churches.As a United Methodist Pastor I found this the best training and discussion series on worship I have ever seen.Learn it and then teach it to your people.It will save them (and you) from a lot of wasted time and effort trying to create worship from a mixed bag of personal experiences, feelings, and impressions.There is nothing like knowing the theory, theology, history, and practice of worship from a solid foundation.This set is well worth the price.

A worthy matter
This is the first volume of a two volume set entitled 'Worship Matters', edtied by E. Byron (Ron) Anderson.While this guide is specifically designed for United Methodists (the subtitle reads 'A United Methodist Guide to Ways of Worship') it nonetheless provides information and suggestions that are helpful across many denominations, and I find the books useful in my designing services at my chaplaincy, which is an ecumenical ministry.

Volume I has a theological orientation to it, broken into three sections.The first section examines theology, liturgy and worship.It examines patterns of worship from historical and theological contexts, the importance of sacraments of baptism and eucharist, keeping the central focus on proper subjects, and forges connections between liturgy and life.In the final essay of this subject, Anderson examines a topic he explores in other writings as well, such as the misconceptions about what liturgy really is, and how to make stronger ties between the 'work' on Sunday and the 'work' on Monday.

The second section looks at issues of theology, worship and culture.Part of this deals with looking at different cultures present in North American society - African American, Asian American, Hispanic - and part deals with other cultural issues, such as feminist issues and asking the basic question, whose worship is it anyway?Contributing author Karen Westerfield Tucker points out that no individual exists in only one culture, unaffected by others around her or him.Christian worship is always multicultural on multiple levels.

The final section of this volume examines in greater detail the theological considerations of the different 'functions' in worship and liturgy.What does it mean to preside?What does it mean to assist?Who gets communion?There are some practical considerations here, to be sure, but largely these questions are addressed from the theological standpoint.For example, in the section of media in worship, the contributing author Thomas Boomershine examines the history, the current state, the future of and appropriateness of various media in worship contexts.(It is in volume II where the reader will find the 'how to...' questions addressed.)

The two volumes are books meant to be read together, and really used - to this end, permission is given to photocopy sections for sharing in congregations and worship groups.Groups and communities reading together can gain insight and build upon this common ground for enriching and deepening their own worship experiences.The writing is engaging, educational without being unnecessarily academic or theoretical, and in many ways inspirational, as familiar and traditional things are examined in new ways.

The editor, E. Byron (Ron) Anderson, also contributed several articles to the work.Honesty requires me to declare my bias - he is a friend of mine, and I had several courses with him both as instructor and as his teaching assistant over several years.He was at the time of writing professor of worship and director of community worship at my seminary.He has since gone on to Garrett Theological Seminary in Chicago, where he continues to educate future leaders in the skills and importance of liturgy, worship, spirituality and theology. ... Read more

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For the UM Pastor and those considering ministry
This book is an easy read and occasional humor makes it enjoyable.Accurately self described as "seriously funny, seriously United Methodist."It is in outline form with practical advise.I will admit that a fair portion of the advise should be somewhat familiar to someone who has been involved with the church especially the UM church for a while.However, sometimes we pastors need to be reminded about the state of things, how they work and what is truly important.In the six months since I bought this book, I have scanned through it three times to remind me what I should and should not be doing.This book is a simple reference to ministry in the United Methodist Church.

Clergy from other denominations can look beyond some of the denominational information and will find plenty of useful information on the church and ministry.

Note: As a UM pastor in a large conference I take exception to advice on keeping the bishop informed about how things are going.In large conferences the district superintendent is the bishop's representative, but doesn't mention this until later in point 8.This is my only minor issue with this book.

Not what it was cracked up to be
I had read a review of this book and the Unofficial UM Handbook in the UM Reporter which made both seem like great purchases with a lot of greatUM humor.The book is ho-hum and not worth the purchase. ... Read more

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Does not work/play well with Microsoft Vista
This may be a good product. I cannot tell because SETUP blows apart when run on Microsoft Vista. Apparently the install software does things at the system level (REGSVR32) that Vista doesn't support. ... Read more

Product Description
Spells out the fierce conflict shaping up in the nation's second largest denomination (The United Methodist Church) between the political left and right. A battle cry to church moderates and liberals to take up the fight or lose their church and maybe their culture. ... Read more

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joyful to use
We use the hymnal frequently in our Sunday School Class.The words to hymns are great read out loud, there are also prayers and responsive readings which are very useful

An important compendium
Most of the pieces in this book a pretty hard to dance to, but the lyrics are good. ... Read more

Product Description
Within the borders of the Navajo Nation reservation in the Southwestern U.S. is a unique programknown as the Four Corners Native American Ministry of The United Methodist Church. In a culture that can be hostile to Christians and where Navajo believers are often ostracized by their families and neighbors, Navajo people of God encourage and support each other, taking Jesus Christ to fellow Navajos and living powerful Christian lives. This thirty-year-old ministry has often struggled: sometimes with religious authorities, sometimes with other Native American organizations, and frequently with finances. "Four Corners" celebrates how the Holy Spirit continues to work: enabling the ministry to build churches, make disciples, train lay pastors, influence youth, and always stay true to the way of the Lord. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More worthy matters...
This is the second volume of a two volume set entitled 'Worship Matters', edtied by E. Byron (Ron) Anderson.While this guide is specifically designed for United Methodists (the subtitle reads 'A United Methodist Guide to Ways of Worship') it nonetheless provides information and suggestions that are helpful across many denominations, and I find the books useful in my designing services at my chaplaincy, which is an ecumenical ministry.

Whereas Volume I has a theological orientation to it, this volume has a more practical aspect.The first section examines the participants and leaders in the worship service - planning team, readers, acolytes, music leaders, communion servers, ushers, branching out into areas where churches might not yet have ventured by including subsections on liturgical dancers, media ministers, and visual artists.Each of these subsections examines things in a format easy for participants to use - many ask key questions and given direct, practical answers that make sense liturgically and theologically.

The second section looks at issues of architecture and spacial design.This section is particularly helpful for congregations considering redesign or new building plans.Bringing into focus the key practices of baptism, communion, and preaching, as well as the practical matters of storage and set up areas, this section is useful for those even not planning such grand redesigns, but may be inspired in the discussion to make minor alternations that can actually be significant.

The final section of this volume is the most direct, how-to section of the two volumes.How to introduce new hymns, how to include children in worship, how to plan for services in different contexts - these are questions asked on a regular basis in many congregations.These subsections provide practical answers leading to more satisfying and enriching worship for all concerned.

The two volumes are books meant to be read together, and really used - to this end, permission is given to photocopy sections for sharing in congregations and worship groups.Groups and communities reading together can gain insight and build upon this common ground for enriching and deepening their own worship experiences.The writing is engaging, educational without being unnecessarily academic or theoretical, and in many ways inspirational, as familiar and traditional things are examined in new ways.

The editor, E. Byron (Ron) Anderson, also contributed several articles to the work.Honesty requires me to declare my bias - he is a friend of mine, and I had several courses with him both as instructor and as his teaching assistant over several years.He was at the time of writing professor of worship and director of community worship at my seminary.He has since gone on to Garrett Theological Seminary in Chicago, where he continues to educate future leaders in the skills and importance of liturgy, worship, spirituality and theology. ... Read more