Fotografía de autor
17 Obras 529 Miembros 2 Reseñas 1 Preferidas

Sobre El Autor

Frank C. Senn is a retired Lutheran pastor and visiting professor. He is a past president of the North American Academy of Liturgy. His previous books from Fortress Press include Introduction to Christian Liturgy (2012), The People's Work: A Social History of the Liturgy (2010), New Creation: A mostrar más Liturgical Worldview (2000), and Christian Liturgy: Catholic and Evangelical (1997). mostrar menos

Incluye el nombre: Frank Senn

Obras de Frank C. Senn

Etiquetado

Conocimiento común

Género
male

Miembros

Reseñas

An excellent and concise summary of traditional Lutheran doctrine and liturgy. This is the work that I recommend to anyone new to Lutheran theology.
 
Denunciada
teepland | Jul 9, 2022 |
Why do we Worship? What is Liturgy? What are the main periods of liturgical history? What characterizes liturgy in each of these periods? What does it mean to sanctify time? How is liturgical space arranged? How is the body used in worship? How are children formed in Christian worship?

These are just some of the questions which Frank Senn answers in Introduction to Christian Liturgy. In this book he describes, catalogues and commends a thoughtful appropriation of liturgical practices in worship. This is a solid introduction to liturgy and covers topics like: what liturgy is, history and culture (and how liturgy inculturates), the order of service, the liturgy of hours, the church calender and the history and meaning of various seasons, life passages, liturgical arts, and how congregants participate in worship. While Senn himself is a Lutheran pastor and liturgist, his approach is ecumenical. He is able to synthesize the insights of liturgists and scholars from various traditions (i.e. Schmemann, Wainwright, Lathrop, White, Bradshaw, etc.) and he surveys liturgical traditions from the Orthodox to the Vineyard movement.

This is a very good book for anyone interested in liturgy. In each of the chapters (which explore the topics listed above), Senn answers a series of questions. This makes this book a quick reference for the various elements of liturgy. Senn calls his book a ‘pastoral liturgical handbook’ and envisions that this book will be most useful to pastoral leaders by making them knowledgeable of the liturgical tradition and enabling them to answer specific questions lay people may have (1-2). His contention is that pastors who are knowledgeable of the history and trends can help shape the liturgy for a particular context in a way that is congregationally and culturally sensitive. He does not articulate a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to Christian liturgy, but commends to you the rich resources of the Christian tradition.

Three groups will find this book helpful. As Senn envisions, this book will be helpful to pastoral leaders and other worship leaders as a resource on liturgy. It will help pastors answer questions about the liturgy and help them lead congregants into the significance of various rituals and ceremonies. Secondly, this book will be well used in an academic context. The comprehensive way in which Senn addresses the various pieces of Christian liturgy makes it an ideal text for courses on liturgy and worship. I would have loved a text like this in seminary which described the various elements of worship in various traditions. Third, the educated lay person will also find this book helpful. The question-and-answer organization to this book, makes it a quick and accessible resource. This is the sort of reference book which is great addition to a personal or church library.

My own ecclesiastical tradition is not directly named in this text. The church I attend is not particularly ‘high church.’ We have a worship team and don’t often follow the Lectionary but we do have some liturgical features we hold dear. We celebrate weekly communion, observe the Christian seasons and our pastor will ‘robe up’ to perform baptisms and dedications (significant life events). This liturgical ‘hodge podge’ is due to the fact that my denomination, the Evangelical Covenant Church retains some of the traditional elements from their Swedish Lutheran roots, but their churches also bear the influence of revivalism. Senn names and describes both of these influences and there is a lot here that would be applicable to my context. Likewise, Christians from a wide swath of Christian traditions will also find various entry points into this subject matter.

I am happy to recommend this book to students, pastors, worship leaders and any one interested in liturgical practice. This is an ‘introduction’ so does not say all that needs to be said about liturgy, but Senn points readers to other resources at the end of each chapter, so that they may deepen their liturgical understanding. Senn does what any good guide does and names the flora and fauna of the terrain he traverses and points the way for those who wish to explore further. I give this book five star: ★★★★★

Thank you to Fortress Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
… (más)
 
Denunciada
Jamichuk | May 22, 2017 |

También Puede Gustarte

Autores relacionados

Nathan Nettleton Contributor
Todd E. Johnson Contributor
Cherice Bock Contributor
Connie Au Contributor
Janna Gosselin Contributor
Joung Chul Lee Contributor

Estadísticas

Obras
17
Miembros
529
Popularidad
#47,055
Valoración
3.8
Reseñas
2
ISBNs
24
Favorito
1

Tablas y Gráficos