Preparing Sunday Dinner: A Collaborative Approach to Worship and Preaching

Surveys show that greater numbers of people say they are spiritually hungry. Yet in the past 50 years many churches have witnessed a precipitous decline in attendance at Sunday worship. Why are these seekers, and other Christians, not being fed on Sunday morning? Using the metaphor of a meal, the authors look at how preachers and worship leaders can collaborate on a "Sunday dinner" of praise that feeds individual Christians and their communities. They address the steps of planning, preparing, and hosting worship and examine some of the challenges and pitfalls faced by those who collaborate in ministry. 500 pages.

Between 2001 and 2003, Marlene Kropf served as director of the Office of Congregational Life and minister of worship for Mennonite Church USA. She continues part-time in that role while also serving as Associate Professor in Spiritual formation and Worship at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Marlene writes regularly for several Mennonite publications and was a member of the worship committee for the group that produced Hymnal: A Worship Book. Rebecca Slough’s gifts in worship, music, ministry, and the arts come together in her teaching at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She is a musician, focusing attention on congregational song, and has done liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame and Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif. She served as managing editor for Hymnal: A Worship Book from 1989 to 1992. June Alliman Yoder is Professor of Communication and Preaching at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. To this role June brings varied experiences: voluntary service; director of dramatic productions for Bridgework Theatre; and teaching, administrative, and campus ministry positions at several colleges prior to joining the AMBS faculty in 1981.