Help for Sunday’s cookery

Preparing Sunday Dinner: A Collaborative Approach to Worship and Preaching Marlene Kropf, Rebecca Slough, June Alliman Yoder. Herald Press, 2005.

Anyone involved in planning or leading worship, or in preaching, will find this book well worth their time.

Using the metaphor of worship as food, the authors explore a wide range of issues related to the preparation and leadership of worship such as: what’s the culture of the congregation? (who’s coming to dinner?); planning effective worship (planning the menu); effective preaching and Scripture reading (preparing the entrée); using the arts and drama in worship (choosing ingredients); effective worship leading (hosting the guests); evaluating worship and supporting leaders (caring for the cooks and the kitchen). There’s also a helpful chapter on “negotiating the politics of Sunday dinner,” and more.

The book contains a useful set of appendices, including advice on a variety of practical topics such as what questions to ask when choosing music for worship, how to evaluate the use of art in worship, and how to approach the study of a biblical text. It also includes an excellent list of current worship resources.

Although the book offers a clearly Mennonite perspective on worship (all three authors teach in worship and worship-related fields at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Ind.), its material is highly relevant to any congregation in the Free Church tradition.

The book combines careful theological and scriptural reflection with a wealth of practical insight and advice. It’s comprehensive in scope, yet easily accessible to anyone looking to deepen their understanding and practice of worship.

Christine Longhurst is chapel coordinator at Canadian Mennonite University.