September 2025 – December 2025
Learn the basics of writing prayers and choosing music for worship
services. We’ll focus on how to build worship services with a thematic
unity, and explore the theological themes that arise during the Season
of the liturgical year that follows Pentecost.
Upon completion of this unit, the participant will have:
- Crafted prayers for worship that
- Emerge from the participant’s spiritual practice of listening to scripture
- Read scripture from the lectionary for the season of Pentecost
- Received feedback from people in the worship service and
from other participants in the course
- Reflect the United Church’s commitment to inclusive language and intercultural sensitivity
- Developed an understanding (historical and theological) of the role
of prayer and music in public worship and ways to engage congregations
faithfully and creatively in worship through their prayers and singing
- Chosen music that complements the prayers and scriptures of a worship service
- Become familiar with theological themes related to the season of
Pentecost such as mission and evangelism, transformation, the church,
and testimony
- Begun to develop a list of resources for public prayers and music resources
Dates and Times
Orientation September 16 ~ 7:30 - 8:30 (Eastern)
Introduction September 18 ~ 7:30 - 8:30
(Eastern)
Session One Week of September 29 -October 2
Session Two Week of October 13 -16 (the Monday is
Thanksgiving Monday — the groups who meet on Monday could negotiate if they
want to change their day of meeting that week)
Session Three Week of October 27 -30
Session Four Week of November 10 -13
Session Five Week of November 24 -27
Session Six Week of December 8 -12
Final Assignment Due: January 6th
Structure of the Course
Orientation Webinar -- September 16, 2025 7:30 - 8:30 pm ET
This is mandatory for NEW students, and Optional for returning students. It's an opportunity to learn about course expectations and how to use this course page.
Christine Jerrett and Andrea Livingstone (of United-in-Learning) will introduce you to:
- How the online LLWL training program works
- Our online meeting platform
- How to post assignments and comment on each other's work
Introductory Webinar -- September 18, 2025 7:30 - 8:30 pm ET
Six Learning Modules
Each learning module takes two weeks, and includes self-study (reading and reflection), interaction on forums with others in your small group. It culminates with a live meeting with your small group. It's important to have all of the reading and forum posting complete before each small group meeting.
Final Assignment
The Final Assignment gathers up what you have been learning. It is due January 6, 2026.
Six Small Group Meetings
Small groups meet every two weeks over a 12 week span
Every two weeks students are assigned 3-6 readings, videos or podcasts. Students
will be asked to read/view these during the first week of each 2-week
section, and write a short reflection on each of these which will be
posted in a threaded discussion forum. During the second week of each
2-week section students are asked to comment on the posts of at least 2
other people in their small group.
Each 2-week section culminates with a "live" meeting on Zoom of your small group.
Meetings
times for small groups will be posted when registration opens for this
Unit.
****** You will have the opportunity to select your groups during the registration process ******
