KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
MUS 470 Foundation and Methods of Protestant Worship
Approved by Department: March 2, 2010
I. Course Description:
This course is a study of the history, theology, and practice of music and the arts in Protestant
worship. Designed for church musicians and students who are interested in music in the
Protestant church, this course will provide biblical and historical perspective and necessary
materials and resources to understand and develop creative worship experiences.
Prerequisites: Permission of the Instructor
3 semester hours
3 clock hours
II. Course Rationale:
Students who are planning to serve as Protestant church musicians need to have a working
knowledge of the basic concepts of worship in order to be effective in their endeavors. This
course will fulfill that need. The information in this course is designed to be useful for current
practicing church musicians as well as future church musicians, and any student who is
interested in music in the Protestant church. Students will study historical worship forms and
traditions, as well as develop creative ways to approach worship using various forms of the arts,
including visual arts, music, drama, movement, and multi-media.
III. Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Define the vocabulary of worship used in the Old and New Testament.
2. Describe the major themes that underlie biblical worship.
3. Explain the symbols used in biblical worship.
4. Discuss the history and institutions of biblical worship.
5. Discuss music and the arts as it relates to biblical worship.
6. Create various types of worship experiences: Traditional, Creative, Praise and Worship Style,
Lectionary.
IV. Assessment:
Assessment of each student’s level of accomplishment with reference to the course objectives
will be based upon a subset of the following:
1. Presentations.
2. Term paper.
3. Final Project. The student will create and direct a worship experience.
V. Course Outline:
1. Introduction to Biblical Worship
a. Old Testament Vocabulary of Worship
1. General expressions of worship.
2. Words for assemblies and festivals.
3. Terms for movement and gesture.
4. Musical terms in worship.
5. Terms for the place of worship.
6. Expressions of praise and acclamation.
b. New Testament Vocabulary of Worship
1. References to the practice of Jewish Worship.
2. Terms referring to Christian Worship.
3. Words relating to Visionary Worship.
c. Symbolism in Biblical Worship
1. Introduction to symbolism in worship.
2. Symbolic arts and gestures.
3. Symbolic structures
4. Symbolic objects
2. History and Institutions of Biblical Worship
a. Israelite and Jewish Worship
1. Worship in the Patriarchal Period
2. Mosaic worship in the Exodus
3. Canaanite Religious Influence
4. Worship during the Davidic Period
5. Worship from Solomon to the Exile
6. Worship during the Exile and Restoration
7. Worship during the Inter-testamental Period
b. The Tabernacle
1. Tabernacle of Moses
2. The work of the priest in the tabernacle.
3. The role of the worshiper (sacrificial ritual)
4. Features of Davidic worship
c. The Temple
1. The purpose of the temple.
2. Furnishings of the temple.
3. Features of temple worship.
d. The Synagogue
1. Origin of the synagogue
2. Elements of synagogue worship.
3. Order of First Century Synagogue Worship
e. New Testament Worship
1. History of New Testament Worship
2. Elements of New Testament Worship
f. Worship in the Early Roman Church
g. Worship during the Reformation Period
h. Renewal Movements in the History of the Church
3. Music and the Arts in Biblical Worship
a. Biblical Philosophy of Worship Arts
1. The worship arts in biblical perspective
2. Visual arts
3. Music as a worship art
4. Movement arts in worship
5. Literary arts
b. Music in Israelite Worship
1. The problem of biblical musicology
2. Music in Israelite communities.
3. Music in the temple.
4. Music in the synagogue.
c. Music in the New Testament
1. The Philosophy of Music in the New Testament
2. Hymns in New Testament Worship
4. Methods and Materials of Contemporary Worship
a. Description of Worship Renewal
b. Seven styles of Worship
VI. Instructional Resources:
Historical Surveys
Klauser, Theodor. A Short History of the Western Liturgy: An Account and Some Reflections.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1979.
Metzger, Marcel. History of the Liturgy: The Major Stages. Trans. Madeleine Beaumont.
Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1997.
Senn, Frank C. Christian Liturgy: Catholic and Evangelical. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997.
Wainright, Geoffrey, and Karen Westerfield Tucker, eds. The Oxford History of Christian
Worship. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.
Biblical and Early Church Worship Studies
Bechtel, Carol., ed. Touching the Altar: The Old Testament and Christian Worship. Grand
Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008.
Borchert, Gerald L. Worship in the New Testament: Divine Mystery and Human Response. St.
Louis: Chalice Press, 2008.
Bradshaw, Paul F. Early Christian Worship: A Basic Introduction to Ideas and Practice.
Collegeville, M.N.: The Liturgical Press, 1996.
Bradshaw, Paul, F. The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship: Sources and Methods for
the Study of Early Liturgy. Second edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Bradshaw, Paul F. and Lawrence A. Hoffman. The Making of Jewish Christian Worship. Notre
Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1991.
Brueggemann, Walter. Worship in Ancient Israel: The Essential Guide. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 2005.
Byars, Ronald P. What Language Shall I borrow? The Bible and Christian Worship.
Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008.
Hahn, Ferdinand. The Worship of the Early Church. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1973.
Neyrey, Jerome H. Give God the Glory: Ancient Prayer and Worship in Cultural Perspective.
Grand Rapids: wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007.
Tozer, A. W. Whatever Happened to Worship? ed. by Gerald B. Smith. Camp Hill, P.A.
Christian Publications, 1985.
Webber, Robert E. Ancient-Future Worship.Proclaiming and Enacting God’s Narrative. Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 2008.
Webber, Robert E. Blended Worship: Achieving Substance and Relevance in Worship. Peabody,
MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996.
Biblical and Early Church Studies
Bechtel, Carol M., ed. Touching the Altar: The Old Testament and Christian Worship. Grand
Rapids: Wm. B. Erdmans Publishing, 2008.
Borchert, Gerald L. Worship in the New Testament: Divine Mystery and Human Response. St.
Louis: Chalice Press, 2008.
Bradshaw, Paul F. Early Christian Worship: A Basic Introduction to Ideas and Practice.
Collegevuille, M.N..: The Liturgical Press, 1996.
Bradshaw, Paul F. The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship: Sources and Methods for
the Study of Early Liturgy. Second edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Brueggemann, Walter. Israel’s Praise: Doxology Against Idolotry and Ideology. Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 1988.
Brueggemann, Walter. Worship in Ancient Israel: The Essential Guide. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 2005.
Cuillman, Oscar. Early Christian Worship. London: SCM Press, 1953.
McEntire, Mark and Joel Emerson. Raising Cain, Fleeing Egypt, and Fighting Phillistines; The
Old Testament in Popular Music. Smyth and Helwys Publishing, 2006.
Middle Ages Worship Study
Harper, John. The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth
Century: A Historical Introduction and Guide for Students and Musicians. Oxford: Clarendon
Press, 1991.
Maag, Robin and John Witvliet, eds. Worship in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Change
and Continuity in Religious Practice. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004.
Vogel, Cyrille. Medieval Liturgy: An Introduction to the Sources. Washington D.C.: The
Pastoral Press, 1986.
Music and Worship
Abbington, James, ed. Readings in African American Church Music and Worship. Chicago: GIA
Pblications, 2002.
Begbie, Jeremy S. Theology, Music and Time. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Bewst, Harold. Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts. Downers
Grove, Intervarsity Press, 2003.
Cluck, Darrell W., Catherine S. George and J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Facing the Music: Faith and
Meaning in Popular Songs, St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1999.
Foley, Edward. Ritual Music: Studies in Liturgical Musicology. Beltsville, M.D.: The Pastoral
Press, 1995.
Hawn, C. Michael. Gather into One: Praying and Singing Globally. Grand Rapids: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company. 2003.
Hood, Stacey. Rekindling Your Music Ministry: A Guide for Congregations and Multiple or
Alternative Worship Patterns. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002
Hustad, Donald W. Jubilate II: Church Music in Worship and Renewal. Carol Stream, I.L.:
Hope Publishing, 1993.
Marini, Stephen. Sacred Song in America: Religion, Music, and Public Culture.
Illinois University Press, 2003.
Music, David W., and Milburn Price. A Survey of Christian Hymnody. Fourth edition, revised
and enlarged. Carol Stream, IL: Hope Publishing Company, 1999.
Incorporating the Arts in Worship
Begbie, Jeremy S. ed. Beholding the Glory: Incarnation Through the Arts. Grand Rapids: Baker
Book House, 2000.
Begbie, Jeremy S. ed. Sounding the Depths: Theology Through the Arts. London: SCM Press,
2002.
Brand, Hillary, and Adrienne Chaplin. Art and Soul: Signposts for Christian in the Arts.
Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2002.
Brown, Frank Burch. Inclusive Yet Discerning. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing,
2008.
Klein, Patricia S. Worship Without Words: The Sings and Symbols of Our Faith. Second edition.
Brewster, M.A.: Paraclete Press, 2006.
Turner, Steve. Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts. Downers Groive: Intervarsity Press,
2001.
Wuthnow, Robert. All in Sync: How Music and Art as Revitalizing American Religion.
Berkley: University of California Press, 2003.
Visual Arts and Worship
Adams, Doug. Eyes to See Wholeness: Visual Arts Informing Biblical and Theological Studies in
Education and Worship Through the Church Year. Prescott, AZ: Educational Ministries, Inc.,
1995.
Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane, editor. Art, Creativity and the Sacred: An Anthology in Religion
and Art. New York: The Crossroads Publishing Company, 1984.
Bustard, Ned, ed. It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God. Baltimore: Square Hal0o
Books, 2000.
Ferguson, George. Signs and Symbols in Christian Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1961.
Raguin, Virginia C. Glory in Glass: Stained Glass in the United States, Origins, Variety and
Preservation. New York: the American Bible Society, 1998.
Raguin, Virginia C. The History of Stained Glass: The Art of Light, Medieval to Contemporary.
London: Thames and Hudson, 2003.
Drama and Worship
Ayers, Timothy Wayne. Living Parables: Illustrating the Message With Drama. Lima: CSS
Publishing Co., 1998.
Cloninger, Curt. Drama for Worship: Contemporary Sketches for Opening Hearts to God. Two
volumes. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 1998, 1999.
Farley, Todd. The Silent Prophet. Pasadena: Mimeistry Inc., 2002
Major, Richard. Developing a Dynamic Drama Ministry. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 1999.
Mullholland, James. The Drama of Worship. Kansas City, M.O.: Lillenas, 1989.
Movement in Worship
Adams, Doug. Biblical Criteria in Modern Dance: Modern Dance as Prophetic Form. Austin:
The Sharing Company, 1979.
Davies, John Gordon. Liturgical Dance: An Historical, Theological and Practical Handbook.
London: SCM Press, 1984.
DeSola, Carla. The Spirit Moves: Handbook for Dance and Prayer. Richmond, C.A.: The
Sharing Company, 1977.
Fisher, Constance. Dancing Festivals of the Church Year. Austin: The Sharing Company, 1986.
Gagne, Ronald, Thomas Kane and Robert Ver Eecke. Introducing Dance in Christian Worship.
Revised edition. Portland: Pastoral Press, 1999.
Rock, Judith, and Norman Mealey. Performer as Priest and Prophet: Restoring the Intuitive in
Worship Through Music and Dance. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988.
Film and Faith
Baugh, Lloyd. Imaging the Divine: Jesus as Christ-Figures in Film. Franklin: Sheed and Ward.
1997.
Benne, Robert. Seeing is Believing: Visions of Life Through Film. Lanham: University Press of
America, 1998.