Leading into the World

by Paul Galbreath

Overview

The call to care for creation is a central part of our discipleship as followers of Jesus Christ. However, language and imagery of the earth is often absent in our worship services. This book helps reconnect our commitment to creation care with our life of discipleship. The process includes helping congregational members name ways that they are involved in caring for creationand encouraging them to see ways that these practices are related to Christian faith, and in doing so, nurturing the life of our communities while fostering our identity as those who care for the earth.
Central to the process of reconnecting holy discipleship with earth stewardship is the development and rediscovery of biblical imagery and language that will support our care of creation and shape our prayers. As our actions are more closely connected to the language of our prayers, praying and acting will inform and enrich each other. This book also includes custom liturgies that highlight earth care, prayerfully prepared for the major festivals of the church year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566997195
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/24/2014
Series:	Vital Worship, Healthy Congregations
Pages:	132
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Paul Galbreath is professor of worship and preaching at Union Presbyterian Seminary. As an ordained Presbyterian teaching elder, Galbreath has served congregations in Clatskanie, Woodburn, and Warrenton, Oregon as well as in Tacoma, Washington. He has also written Leading from the Table and Leading through the Water.

Table of Contents

Contents
Foreword
Preface
1. Reconnecting to the Earth
Liturgical Resources: Advent
2. Seeing Our Place in the World
Liturgical Resources: Christmas
3. Meals, Values, and the Earth
Liturgical Resources: Epiphany
4. A Baptismal Way of Life
Liturgical Resources: Lent
5. Praying with the Earth
Liturgical Resources: Easter
6. Worship beyond the Walls
Liturgical Resources: Pentecost
7. The Earth as Home
Liturgical Resources: Ordinary Time
Notes

Editorial Reviews

Along with worship resources, Galbreath offers many pages of suggestions for how congregations can renounce patterns of consumption and, in dealing with their property and activities, be signs of care for the earth. He summarizes the writings of other Christian authors that will prove useful in local conversation and decision making, and he briefly warns against idyllic descriptions of nature that are untrue to the actual earth.... Galbreath's book, profoundly Christian and liturgically faithful, invites us to get with our century's ecological program with determination and joy.

Worship

A clear and comprehensive guide for reorienting worship throughout the liturgical year in ways that are at once Earth-healing and community building. Based in good scholarship and replete with rich examples and resources, this book gives leaders what they need for vital discipleship nurtured in down-to-earth liturgy.

Larry Rasmussen

Once again, Paul Galbreath proves himself a clear, practical guide to the way that liturgical practice can shape more faithful living in the world. This time, his focus is care for the earth: how might Christian worship, historically rooted in the cycle of seasons, in growth, death, and rebirth, cultivate in us greater care for God's wondrous, vulnerable creation?

Martha Moore-Keish

This book contributes to what may be the most urgent project of this century: reimagining
humanity’s place within the earth’s ecology. Paul Galbreath explores the symbol-laden setting of Christian worship as a uniquely promising site for eco-theological orientation.. . .[T]he overall approach of the book would be welcome and instructive in most ecumenically engaged congregations.. .. This book could anchor a rich adult forum series, especially in congregations that would benefit from Galbreath’s helpful encouragement to move beyond overly wordy or cerebral approaches to liturgy.. . .[Galbreath] offers a number of gestures toward environmental justice and deep ecology that readers may follow into wider circles of conversation.

Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology

In the final book of his trilogy, Paul Galbreath breaks new ground and help us gain a desperately needed awareness of our faith, one that makes the language of our prayers and songs honor and care deeply for Pacha Mama, our home, God's creation. The liturgical theology, Biblical interpretation and many liturgies present in this book will surely be a great resource for those who want to take the Christian faith seriously!

Cláudio Carvalhaes

In the final book of his trilogy, Paul Galbreath breaks new ground and help us gain a desperately needed awareness of our faith, one that makes the language of our prayers and songs honor and care deeply for Pacha Mama, our home, God's creation. The liturgical theology, Biblical interpretation and many liturgies present in this book will surely be a great resource for those who want to take the Christian faith seriously!

Cláudio Carvalhaes

This book contributes to what may be the most urgent project of this century: reimagining humanity’s place within the earth’s ecology. Paul Galbreath explores the symbol-laden setting of Christian worship as a uniquely promising site for eco-theological orientation. . . .[T]he overall approach of the book would be welcome and instructive in most ecumenically engaged congregations. . . . This book could anchor a rich adult forum series, especially in congregations that would benefit from Galbreath’s helpful encouragement to move beyond overly wordy or cerebral approaches to liturgy. . . .[Galbreath] offers a number of gestures toward environmental justice and deep ecology that readers may follow into wider circles of conversation.

Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology

This book contributes to what may be the most urgent project of this century: reimagining humanity’s place within the earth’s ecology. Paul Galbreath explores the symbol-laden setting of Christian worship as a uniquely promising site for eco-theological orientation. . . .[T]he overall approach of the book would be welcome and instructive in most ecumenically engaged congregations. . . . This book could anchor a rich adult forum series, especially in congregations that would benefit from Galbreath’s helpful encouragement to move beyond overly wordy or cerebral approaches to liturgy. . . .[Galbreath] offers a number of gestures toward environmental justice and deep ecology that readers may follow into wider circles of conversation.

Interpretation: A Journal Of Bible and Theology