Items marked with an * are considered basic books that all pastors and planners should have in their working library or access to in their church library.
A Little Heaven Below: Worship at Early Methodist Quarterly Meetings
by Lester Ruth (Abingdon Press, 2000; ISBN: 0687090245). Ruth explores the distinctly social and spirited worship of the early American Methodists and asserts their uniquely rich liturgical practices.
Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship
by Thomas G. Long (Alban Institute, 2001). This book is a genuinely helpful resource for churches and leaders confused by the one-sided calls for relevance and vitality over against faithfulness and tradition. This book explores nine characteristics of congregations that steer between the polar positions.
By Water and the Spirit: Making Connections for Identity and Ministry
by Gayle Felton (Discipleship Resources, 1997). Contains the official text of our United Methodist statement on baptism, plus commentary and a six-session study guide.
Come, Let Us Worship: The Korean-English United Methodist Hymnal
(The United Methodist Publishing House, 2001). This is an official hymnal and worship book of the UMC. The ritual and hymnody are thoroughly bilingual. Like The United Methodist Hymnal, it contains both general services, liturgical psalter, hymns, and other acts of worship. (Basic and essential for Korean-English language contexts.)
Come to the Waters: Baptism and Our Ministry of Welcoming Seekers and Forming Disciples
by Daniel T. Benedict (Discipleship Resources, 1997). Proposes an alternative for making the gospel accessible to all people, especially adults who have little or no experience with the life and faith of Christians. Contains worship services for use with seekers and peoples moving toward baptism or reaffirmation of baptism.
*Creative Preaching on the Sacraments
by Craig A. Satterlee and Lester Ruth (Discipleship Resources, 2001). This book offers preachers practical guidance and examples of preaching that interprets the sacraments and moves them to the center of the congregation's life.
Creative Styles of Preaching
by Mark B. Elliott (Westminster John Knox Press, 2000). Discusses and exemplifies a range of preaching styles: narrative, evangelistic, African American, topical, and so forth.
Early Christian Creeds, 3rd edition
by J. N. D. Kelly (Longman, 1972).
Fiesta Cristiana: Recursos para la Adoracion (Resources for Worship)
written and compiled by Joel N. Martinez and Raquel M. Martinez (Abingdon, 2003). This is a companion to the Spanish language United Methodist hymnal, Mil Voces Para Celebrar. It serves the purpose that The United Methodist Book of Worship serves for The United Methodist Hymnal and contains resources for the Christian year; numerous bilingual (Spanish-English acts of worship), culturally specific rituals; and much more. It also has additional songs, music resources, and musical settings for Holy Communion.
*Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: Worship
This booklet is a basic resource for the layperson who leads the congregation in planning worship with the pastor. It offers step-by-step guidance for getting started, things to think about, and ideas for what such leaders can do to move the congregation toward vital worship.
*The Hymns of The United Methodist Hymnal
edited by Diana Sanchez (Abingdon Press, 1989). This handy reference volume contains a brief introduction to the hymns of the 1989 Hymnal and anecdotal and performance notes on every hymn in the Hymnal.
The Inward Ear: A Sermon Evaluation Method for Preachers and Hearers of the Word
by William H. Roen (Alban Institute, 1989 — OUT OF PRINT). Gives specific attention to offering critical feedback to preachers in a collegial or congregational setting.
Let the Whole Church Say Amen! A Guide for Those Who Pray in Public
by Laurence Hull Stookey (Abingdon Press, 2001). Gives practical guidance, tools, and exercises for both inexperienced and veteran leaders in public prayer. A very good tool for elders and deacons, lay speakers, and others who craft prayers in which the congregation can join and say, "Amen."
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
by Ted A. Campbell (Abingdon Press, 1999). This book is a particularly helpful resource for instructors of the course on public worship. It lays out in an orderly way the historic creeds of the church in relationship to uniquely Methodist doctrine and doctrinal standards. It is also helpful because it considers simultaneously the doctrinal resources of the four historic (Pan Methodist) American Methodist churches: AME, AMEZ, CME, and UM.
Mil Voces Para Celebrar: Himnario Methodista
(The United Methodist Publishing House, 1996). Official United Methodist Spanish-language hymnal and worship book. Like The United Methodist Hymnal, it contains both general services, liturgical psalter, hymns, and other acts of worship. (Essential and basic for Spanish-language contexts.)
Preaching
by Fred B. Craddock (Abingdon Press, 1985). An excellent basic text, containing both a theology of preaching as well as pragmatic concerns for text selection, interpretation, illustration, and delivery.
The Preaching Life
by Barbara Brown Taylor (Cowley, 1993). Invaluable reflection upon the discipline of preaching in a congregation's life, both for the novice and experienced preacher.
Preaching to Head and Heart
by Thomas Swears (Abingdon Press, 2000). Demonstrates the essential connection between intellectual and emotional content in the sermon. Describes how preaching with integrity involves the whole person and personality of the preacher.
* Revised Common Lectionary Prayers: Proposed by the Consultation on Common Texts
(Augsburg Fortress Press, 2002). A rich collection of prayers to go along with the Revised Common Lectionary, including thematic/seasonal prayers, intercessory prayers, and prayers related to the particular readings.
*The Faith We Sing
(Abingdon Press, 2000). This collection of diverse songs and hymns from many genres supplements the 1989 Hymnal and contains a wide range of praise and worship, new hymns, global praise, and some old chestnuts. There are over a dozen editions of this book including the pew edition, the singers edition, several accompaniment editions, MIDI, presentation CD-ROM for power point, planner's edition, and a searchable CD with all of the hymns from the Hymnal and The Faith We Sing with indexes.
*The Revised Common Lectionary: The Consultation on Common Texts
(Abingdon Press, 1992). This is the official text of the Revised Common Lectionary published by the Consultation of Common Texts. It contains the ecumenical lectionary tables and introductory material about the development and conceptual framework of the lectionary table.
*Sacraments and Discipleship: Understanding Baptism and the Lord's Supper in a United Methodist Context
by Mark W. Stamm (Discipleship Resources, 2001). Stamm's book explores how the sacraments of the church shape and sustain us as disciples.
Sharing the Word: Preaching in the Roundtable Church
by Lucy Atkinson Rose (Westminster John Knox, 1997). Reflection upon what preaching has become and should be in the modern church. Excellent discussion starter for beginning and experienced preachers.
* Songs of Zion
(Abingdon Press, 1981). A classic collection of 250 hymns, spirituals, and gospel songs in the African American heritage. For use by all United Methodists.
The Sunday Service of the Methodists: Twentieth-Century Worship in Worldwide Methodism
edited by Karen Westerfield Tucker (Abingdon Press, 1996; ISBN: 0687011345). The chapters of the book explore the worship practices and understandings of Methodism in various regions of the world. The introduction to the book is especially helpful for the course on public worship, as Westerfield Tucker briefly enumerates the characteristics of Methodist worship.
When God Is Silent
by Barbara Brown Taylor (Cowley, 1998). A series of lectures arguing for humility before the text and for an economy of words.
* The United Methodist Hymnal
(The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989). The people's book of worship.
* The United Methodist Book of Worship
(The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992). The planner's companion to the hymnal.
* United Methodist Altars: A Guide for Congregations (Revised Edition)
by Hoyt L. Hickman (Abingdon Press, 1996). A very useful book for pastors and others who arrange and care for the "things" of worship.
The Witness of Preaching
by Thomas Long (Westminster John Knox Press, 1989). An excellent basic preaching text, particularly on the form and function of the sermon.
* Worshiping with United Methodists: A Guide for Pastors and Church Leaders
by Hoyt L. Hickman (Abingdon Press, 1996). Anyone who plans and leads worship in a United Methodist congregation can benefit from this clear and serviceable commentary on our Basic Pattern of Worship.
