Explore a collection of thoughtful guides and instructions for conducting special services that hold deep meaning within Christian traditions. From Tenebrae services that evoke reflection during Holy Week, to ceremonies of blessing and renewal, our Special Services section offers insights into the sacred rituals that enrich our spiritual journeys. Whether you're a clergy member seeking to lead these services or a worshipper looking to understand their significance, our detailed resources provide step-by-step instructions and historical context to make each occasion a truly transformative experience.
Personal Helps
- How to cross yourself
- How I would choose a church
- How do I properly pray the Lord's Prayer
- What is the significance of keeping a personal prayer journal
- How can I cultivate a habit of daily devotional reading
Serving Others
- How to anoint someone
- How to lay hands on someone
- How to baptize someone in an emergency
- How to baptize by immersion
- What are the steps to perform a pastoral visitation to the sick and homebound
- How can I offer meaningful spiritual support to someone going through a difficult time
- What is the procedure for blessing a new home or place of business
Preaching
- How to preach a lousy sermon
- How to speak extemporaneously
- How to preach the lectionary
- A lectionary sermon: The Righteous Shall Live By Faith
- How can I effectively use anecdotes and stories to enhance my sermons
- What are the key elements of a sermon that engages with contemporary social issues
- How can I adapt my preaching style for a virtual or online congregation
Clergy Clothing
- How to dress for worship
- How to dress for public ministry
- What are the guidelines for wearing liturgical colors during different seasons of the church calendar
- How do I properly care for and store liturgical vestments to ensure their longevity
- What is the history and significance of wearing a clerical collar in various denominations
General
- How to iron and fold altar linens
- How can church members be trained to assist with setting up and arranging the worship space
- What are the best practices for maintaining a welcoming and inclusive church environment
- How can technology be integrated into worship services while maintaining the reverence of the setting
Special Services
- How to impose ashes on Ash Wednesday
- How to do the Stations of the Cross
- How do I organize and conduct a service of blessing for expectant parents
- What are the symbolic meanings behind the elements used in a renewal of wedding vows ceremony
- How can a church effectively commemorate a significant anniversary or milestone in its history
Holy Week
- How to conduct a Tenebrae service
- How to conduct a foot-washing service
- How can a Maundy Thursday service be adapted for an intergenerational congregation
- What are creative ways to incorporate art and visual elements into Good Friday worship
- How can the message of hope and resurrection be emphasized in a Holy Saturday service
Easter
- How to conduct an Easter Vigil service
- What are some ideas for involving children in an interactive Easter Sunday worship experience
- How can the theme of renewal and new life be reflected in the decoration of the Easter worship space
- What are the theological connections between the Easter season and the concept of Christian discipleship
Advent
- How to make and use an Advent wreath
- How can the Advent season be used as a time of spiritual preparation beyond traditional church services
- What are the cultural and historical roots of Advent, and how can they be communicated to a diverse congregation
- How can the Advent wreath lighting ceremony be adapted for virtual or outdoor gatherings