These powerful, Christ-centered sermons by a master of the pulpit stirred hearts and minds when they were first delivered. They are no less powerful today. Including the republication of Howard Hageman's well-known We Call This Friday Good, the sermons contained in this volume focus on the church year. Hageman's words never fail to bring fresh insight to those very seasons where it seems that everything has already been said.
Although liturgical tradition in Reformed churches is a frequently probed subject, information in certain aspects of the field is limited. To alleviate this situation, Dr. Hageman places major emphasis in this book on some lesser known areas of Reformed worship. At the same time he touches on highlights of Reformed liturgical history, particularly the relative significance of sermon and sacrament. The importance of Zurich's contribution to Reformed tradition is comparatively unrecognized. As Dr. Hageman states, Know it or not, down to relatively recent times the Reformed churches have, practically speaking, acknowledged Zwingli as their liturgical master. This he attributes in part to the fact that when Calvin came to Geneva five years after Zwingli's death, he found the Zurich point of view too firmly entrenched there to be materially changed. Additional territory unfolds with an examination of the dark age of Reformed Protestantism - the period between the closing of the Westminster Assembly of Divines and the advent of Schleiermacher. An impartial observer surveying the liturgical life of late eighteenth century Reformed churches could have justifiably concluded that it was nearly finished. Pointing out that signs of recovery were already visible, the author notes that these churches were on the verge of a liturgical development that was to prove more productive than any in their history. Dr. Hageman concludes with a discussion of theories which should undergird and test any liturgical developments in Reformed churches. A primary factor here is the principle that pulpit and table are inseparable parts of a single whole. He emphasizes, however, that if the Reformed churches really understand their position, they have every reason for being liturgically fresh and creative. Their liturgy must seek to establish models, not rigid requirements. Concise yet comprehensive, this treatment of liturgical history is valuable for pastors and students of church history. Concerned laymen, including organists, choir directors, and choir members, will find it a useful aid in understanding worship patterns of Reformed churches.
Most of the essays contained in this volume were delivered as lectures at the Annual Convocation of Lancaster Theological Seminary in January 1963. The Lancaster convocation marked the opening on this side of the Atlantic of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism. At about the same time a similar celebration was being held at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, the home of the Catechism." -- From the introduction.
These powerful, Christ-centered sermons by a master of the pulpit stirred hearts and minds when they were first delivered. They are no less powerful today. Including the republication of Howard Hageman's well-known We Call This Friday Good, the sermons contained in this volume focus on the church year. Hageman's words never fail to bring fresh insight to those very seasons where it seems that everything has already been said.
Most of the essays contained in this volume were delivered as lectures at the Annual Convocation of Lancaster Theological Seminary in January 1963. The Lancaster convocation marked the opening on this side of the Atlantic of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism. At about the same time a similar celebration was being held at the University of Heidelberg in Germany, the home of the Catechism." -- From the introduction.
Although liturgical tradition in Reformed churches is a frequently probed subject, information in certain aspects of the field is limited. To alleviate this situation, Dr. Hageman places major emphasis in this book on some lesser known areas of Reformed worship. At the same time he touches on highlights of Reformed liturgical history, particularly the relative significance of sermon and sacrament. The importance of Zurich's contribution to Reformed tradition is comparatively unrecognized. As Dr. Hageman states, Know it or not, down to relatively recent times the Reformed churches have, practically speaking, acknowledged Zwingli as their liturgical master. This he attributes in part to the fact that when Calvin came to Geneva five years after Zwingli's death, he found the Zurich point of view too firmly entrenched there to be materially changed. Additional territory unfolds with an examination of the dark age of Reformed Protestantism - the period between the closing of the Westminster Assembly of Divines and the advent of Schleiermacher. An impartial observer surveying the liturgical life of late eighteenth century Reformed churches could have justifiably concluded that it was nearly finished. Pointing out that signs of recovery were already visible, the author notes that these churches were on the verge of a liturgical development that was to prove more productive than any in their history. Dr. Hageman concludes with a discussion of theories which should undergird and test any liturgical developments in Reformed churches. A primary factor here is the principle that pulpit and table are inseparable parts of a single whole. He emphasizes, however, that if the Reformed churches really understand their position, they have every reason for being liturgically fresh and creative. Their liturgy must seek to establish models, not rigid requirements. Concise yet comprehensive, this treatment of liturgical history is valuable for pastors and students of church history. Concerned laymen, including organists, choir directors, and choir members, will find it a useful aid in understanding worship patterns of Reformed churches.
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