Who developed Worship for Life?

The Worship for Life writing team was made up of 41 people from 12 different denominations: American Baptist Church, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Covenant Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Mennonite Church, Non-Denominational, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Roman Catholic Church, United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church.

The writers come from all walks of life, including: Artists, Bus Drivers, Christian Educators, Consultants, Counselors, Dancers, Engineers, Information Technology Specialists, Musicians, Pastors, Professors, Publishers, Puppeteers, Students, Teachers, Volunteers, and Writers.

The Worship for Life writing team represents all geographic areas of the United States, coming from 36 cities and 18 states.

How did so many people of diverse faith traditions and professional backgrounds from all areas of the country work together over a five-year period to produce this resource?

While a mutual love of chocolate became a unifying theme throughout the process, there was a method to the madness that kept everyone moving together toward a common goal of providing this worship resource.

Each year, during the grant process, participants gathered for an orientation, training, and brainstorming session, then dispersed to work from their own homes and offices. Using an electronic bulletin board, each writer posted comments to discussion questions and responded to each other’s writing. This way, everyone could participate in the discussion and have input on the project’s development. The general outline of each unit followed a similar pattern: Discuss theme; Review Scripture; Discuss questions regarding theme, biblical connections, and pedagogy; Determine goals/objectives; Suggest resources for theme.

Discussion comments were printed, sorted, highlighted, and provided to those who took responsibility for specific writing assignments. Writers then posted their concept outlines – indicating which specific theme and what method and technique they would employ to accomplish the goal. The project director responded to concept outlines and made suggestions to avoid duplication and to make sure all themes were developed with varied techniques. First drafts were then written and posted for the group to read and post comments. Colleague groups of writers reviewed drafts, and then the team of editors revised drafts to unify voice, assure common structure, and clarify instructions.

Such a laborious process among such a disparate group is a testimony to God’s faithfulness to empower, Christ’s loving presence to shepherd, and the Holy Spirit’s assurance to sustain. As well, the resulting resource collection is evidence of what people, congregations, and organizations can accomplish when they accept God’s guidance and offer willing hearts and hands to accomplish God’s work in the world. Although, this project is ended, the work is never truly accomplished – just handed on to others who also understand that the work of the people – Worship – is for life!

The Worship for Life Writing Team

MELISSA ARMSTRONG-HANSCHE [B.S. Exceptional Children, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI]
The Presbyterian Church of Barrington, Barrington, IL - Director of Christian Education

LINDA L. BABCOCK
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church, Orchard Park, NY - Director of Education and Mission

GINNY HARVILLE BAKER [M.A. Christian Education, Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, VA]
Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis, NC - Volunteer
Christian Education Consultant/Recreational Ministry Specialist

MARGARET SUE BALLAY [M.Ed. Early Childhood Education, Carlow College, Pittsburgh, PA]
Beulah Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA - Volunteer
Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA - Volunteer

CATHERINE L. BENGSON [B.A. Religion & Drama, Capital University, Columbus, OH]
Christian Education Consultant
First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Xenia, OH - Volunteer

CHRISTINA BERRY [M.Div., Austin Theological Seminary, Austin, TX]
Faith Presbyterian Church, Silver Lake, MN - Pastor

ROSALIE BENT BRANIGAN [B.A. Music, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR]
Central United Methodist Church, Albuquerque, NM - Director of Dance Ministry

SUSAN E. BUTLER [B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington-Normal, IL; Graduate Studies, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL]
Episcopal Cathedral of St. John, Albuquerque, NM - Canon

ANNE MARQUESS CAMP [B.A., Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA]
Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA - Volunteer

SHIRLEY CARLSON [B.S. Education, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH]
Clyde Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Clyde, OH - Chair, Christian Education Ministry
The LOGOS Ministry, Pittsburgh, PA - Board of Directors

DEBORAH L. COE [M.S. Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN]
First Presbyterian Church, Crown Point, IN - Volunteer

VIRGINIA COLVIG [Student, Community Colleges of Spokane, Pullman, WA]
Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Moscow, ID - Volunteer
Pullman Baptist Church [American Baptist], Pullman, WA - Volunteer

AMY ROSS CRANE [M.A.L.S., University of South Florida, Tampa, FL]
River Community Church, Prairieville, LA - Children's Ministries Volunteer

JAYMIE D. DERDEN [B.S. Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX]
State Street United Methodist Church, Bristol, VA - Certified Director of Christian Education/Elementary Children's Coordinator

JUDE DENNIS FOURNIER [M.R.E. Religious Education, Mundelein College/Loyola University, Chicago, IL]
Aquinas Newman Center, Albuquerque, NM - Volunteer
Archdiocese of Santa Fe, NM – Christian Education Consultant
Hospice of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM - Pastoral Counselor

DEBORAH MILLIGAN FREEMAN [M.A. Speech & Theatre, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK]
Lincoln Christian School, Lincoln, NE - Drama Director & Speech Coach
Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE - Adjunct Professor of Communication
New Covenant Community Church, Lincoln, NE - Volunteer

LORETTA GRATIAS-BREMER [M.A. Human Resources, National Louis University, Evanston, IL]
Christian Education Consultant
Presbyterian Church of Western Springs, IL - Volunteer

BETH HERRINTON-HODGE [M.A., Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, VA; M.Div., San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA]
Congregational Ministries Publishing, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, KY - Associate for Curriculum Development - Children and Youth
First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville, KY - Volunteer

VIVIAN HOUK [M.A. Human Development, Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, CA]
Abbey Way Covenant Church, Albertville, MN - Volunteer

MARY JANE HUBER [B.A. Christian Education, Defiance College, Defiance, OH]
Cornerstones Publishing, Inc. - Co-President
Redeemer United Church of Christ, Sussex, WI - Volunteer

KATHY HUNTER [B.S. Education and Music, Mankato State University, Mankato, MN]
Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church, Golden Valley, MN - Puppet Artist/Volunteer

KURT HUNTER [B.S. Physics, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE & B.S. Electrical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO]
Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church, Golden Valley, MN - Puppet Artist/Volunteer

PATRICIA E. JANSSEN
Beulah Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA - Volunteer
The LOGOS Ministry, Pittsburgh, PA - Director of Publications & Products

STEPHEN C. KOLDERUP [M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ]
Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA - Interim Pastor

SUSAN K. LENNARTSON [B.A. Physical Education & Health, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN]
Eagle Brook Church, White Bear Lake, MN - Director of Women's Ministries & Children's Ministries Resource

ANNA L. LIECHTY [M.S. Education, Indiana University, South Bend, IN]
Active Learning Associates, Inc., Mishawaka, IN - Vice President
Educational Consultant/National Board Certified Teacher of English
First Presbyterian Church, Plymouth, IN - Volunteer
First United Church of Christ, Plymouth, IN - Volunteer

CHARLOTTE MC GOWAN [M.A. Religious Education, United Seminary, Dayton, OH]
Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, Cleveland Heights, OH - Volunteer

JEANNE MC IVER [B.S. Education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH]
Southminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton, OH - Certified Christian Educator/Director of Christian Education

CYNTHIA G. MERTEN [B.A. Religion and History, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH]
First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, MI - Certified Associate Christian Educator/Director of Christian Education

L. EDWARD PHILLIPS [PhD., University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN]
Associate Professor for the Practice of Christian Worship, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC
Reconciliation United Methodist Church, Durham, NC - Volunteer

SARA WEBB PHILLIPS [M.Div., Candler School of Theology, Atlanta, GA]
Bethesda United Methodist Church, Durham, NC - Pastor
Homily Service & Liturgy Journals, The Liturgical Conference, Evanston, IL - Editor and Co-Editor
Reconciliation United Methodist Church, Durham, NC - Volunteer

LAURA L. PRICE [B.S. Education, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI]
University Presbyterian Church, Rochester Hills, MI - Certified Associate Christian Educator/Director of Christian Education

PAMELA MERS RIEDY [M.A. Education, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL]
Cornerstones Publishing, Inc. - Co-President
Glenview Community Church [United Church of Christ], Glenview, IL - Volunteer

CATHY SKOGEN-SOLDNER
Composer, Cathy's Music, Arden Hills, MN
Saint Agnes Catholic School, St. Paul, MN - Music Teacher
Saint Timothy Lutheran Church, Roseville, MN - Volunteer

JANE CORS SMITH [M.Div., University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN]
Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, WV, Martinsburg Vicariate, Kearneysville, WV – Director of Faith Formation
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Martinsburg, WV - Volunteer

KIM TRIMBOLI [B.A. Christian Education/Religion, Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC]
Hilliard Presbyterian Church, Hilliard, OH - Director of Christian Education

BETH WAGNER [M.Div., McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL]
St. Luke Union [Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) & United Church of Christ] Church, Bloomington, IL - Interim Pastor

KENNETH R. WEZEMAN [M.Div., Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI]
First Presbyterian Church, South Bend, IN - Volunteer
Rotation.org - Resource Coordinator
Worship4life.net - Webmaster

PHYLLIS VOS WEZEMAN [M.S. Education, Indiana University, South Bend, IN]
Active Learning Associates, Inc., Mishawaka, IN - President
First Presbyterian Church, South Bend, IN - Director of Christian Nurture
Worship for Life Resource Collection - Project Director

ROSEMARY G. WIDMER [M.A. Education, Ball State University, Muncie, IN]
College Mennonite Church, Goshen, IN - Pastor

KAREN WITT [B.S. Biology, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA]
Sandia Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, NM - Certified Associate Christian Educator/Director of Children's Ministries

Who made this possible?

Worship for Life has been developed under the auspices of The LOGOS Ministry, Pittsburgh, PA; made possible through Worship Renewal Grants from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, MI; with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.; and published by Logos Productions Inc.

This web site has been made possible by generous contributions from the following:

• Linda Babcock

• Ginny Harville Baker

• Cathy Bengson

• Rosalie Branigan

• Susan Butler

• Amy Crane

• Shirley Carlson

• Jaymie Derden

• Jude Fournier

• Vivian Houk

• Kathy Hunter

• Kurt Hunter

• Stephen Kolderup

• Ann Liechty

• Jeanne McIver

• Cindy Merten

• Sara Webb Phillips

• Cathy Skogen-Soldner

• Kim Trimboli

• Beth Wagner

• Ken Wezeman

• Phyllis Wezeman