This resource—LSTC’s foundational course in worship leadership—is an interdisciplinary exploration of sacramental history, theology and practice. The resource approaches diverse topics from sacramental perspectives while developing skills in worship planning and leadership, especially using the core worship resources of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Two crucial modes of thought are intentionally cultivated: critical theological thinking and a core biblical and confessional commitment to the practices of word and sacrament. The resource launches the introduction of a liberation, decolonial frame, and includes an exploration of the landscape of spirituality in worship, help in navigating and leading others in the liturgical environment of public worship, and support for tracing lines of connection from public worship into wider landscapes.

In this course, you will gain a deep and thoughtful understanding of worship as both sacred practice and public proclamation. You’ll learn how to plan and lead liturgy using the core worship resources of the ELCA, grounding your leadership in the theology of word and sacrament. As you explore the historical and theological roots of sacramental practice, you’ll also engage with liberation and decolonial perspectives that invite you to see worship as a space of justice, inclusion, and transformation.

Throughout the journey, you’ll develop the skills to think critically and theologically about worship, grow in your capacity to lead with pastoral sensitivity, and reflect on how spirituality, ritual, and community intersect in the life of the church. You’ll leave this course not only equipped to serve faithfully at the altar but also prepared to connect the power of worship to the wider world.

Dr. Christian Scharen is the Associate Professor and Gordon Braatz Chair of Worship at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. A practical theologian, he was ordained a pastor in the ELCA in 2001. He holds the Ph.D. in Religion from Emory University and has written or edited more than a dozen books and many articles, book chapters, and research reports. His research and writing focus on theology, worship and the arts, pastoral leadership, social justice, and theological education. His early work on theological ethnography helped spark an international movement bringing together sociology and theology in the study of the church. His most recent book is co-authored with Aana Vigen, Ethnography as Christian Theology and Ethics: A Completely Revised 2nd Edition (T&T Clark). He is currently working on a decolonial theological memoir about his family, the Ingalls of The Little House on the Prairie books, and a book on Christian worship before and after Christianity became the religion of Empire. He enjoys cooking, poetry, and music, especially learning to play on his grandfather’s 1910 Washburn bowl back mandolin. He is married to Pierrette Comulada, and together they have three adult children, Isaiah, Finn, and Owen, and a bulldog named Walt.

M1:Worship as a Practice of Radical Welcome

In this module, we’ll establish the foundation for discovering worship by exploring the meanings of key terms like worship, liturgy and practice. The concept of practice is essential to understanding what we do in worship and you’ll also have the opportunity to actively engage in "practicing" a core worship practice—the Orans prayer posture—, used especially by worship leaders. You'll also discover how radical welcome serves not only as a powerful expression of Jesus’ own practice of table fellowship but also as a transformative practice that challenges dominant social structures and rejects exclusion.

• MO1: Explain the core terms of worship, liturgy and practice.
• MO2: Describe the notion of practice as fundamental to worship.
• MO3: Apply the concept of radical welcome within Christianity as a worship leader.

---

M2: Worship as a ‘Little Easter’

In this module, you will explore the Great Three Days—Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil—which stand at the center of the Christian faith and the liturgical year. These days are not just historical remembrances but living, sacred moments where the church enters into the mystery of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

While Easter is the great celebration of the resurrection, every Sunday is a “little Easter”, a weekly remembrance of Christ’s victory over death. You will examine how these sacred days have been celebrated, forgotten and reclaimed over time—and why their practice remains vital for the worshiping life of the church today. You will also reflect on your own worship experiences and how these sacred days have impacted you.

• MO1: Explain the interconnection of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil at the heart of the Christian year.
• MO2: Analyze the historical decline of the Great Three Days.
• MO3: Assess the significance of the Great Three Days for contemporary mission and ministry.

---

M3: Worship as Daily Prayer

In this module, you will explore the theology, history and structure of daily prayer, or the Prayer of the Hours, and its role in Christian worship. You will examine its biblical roots, monastic development, and how it differs from Sunday worship. You will create and lead a midday prayer service, gaining experience in its structure and leadership. Additionally, you will engage in guided chanting practice, deepening your understanding of this ancient tradition. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to incorporate daily prayer into both worship leadership and personal devotion.

• MO1: Explain the origin of daily prayer.
• MO2: Distinguish between the Order of Daily Prayer and Sunday worship.
• MO3: Create and lead a prayer service.
• MO4: Carry out prayer chants.

---

M4: Worship Parts: Gathering

In this module, you will explore the structure of the opening section of the Ordo for Sunday morning worship, known as the Gathering, and have the opportunity to practice greeting, the sign of the cross and confession. Learners will also learn about and create their own collect prayer.

• MO1: Explain the purpose and key elements of the Gathering in the Ordo.
• MO2: Describe the form of the collect.
• MO3: Create an original collect.
• MO4: Describe a confession to prepare the congregation for worship.

---

M5: Worship Parts: Word

In this module, you will learn the shape of the second section of the Ordo for Sunday morning worship, the Word, how the pattern of the church year and lectionary shape the use of Scripture in worship, and have a chance to practice using expansive language for worship.

• MO1: Describe the purpose and key elements of the Word in the ordo
• MO2: Explain the structure of the church year and its relationship to the lectionary
• MO3: Create a thematic arc for worship planning in Lent
• MO4: Analyze use of language for both humans and God in worship

---

M6: Worship Parts: Sacrament

In this module, you'll explore sacraments and how they engage body and spirit through material elements like water, bread and wine. You'll consider how daily life can be sacramental and reflect on the connection between sacraments, creation and ecology. Finally, you'll trace the historical development of baptism and Eucharist, examining how architecture and empire shaped their practice.

• MO1: Explain the concept and significance of the sacrament in the Lutheran church.
• MO2: Explain the relationship between the theology of the sacraments, the doctrine of the Incarnation, and the theology of creation
• MO3: Evaluate sacramental practices through the lens of architectural history

---

M7: Worship Parts: Baptism

In this module, you will explore the purpose and key elements of Baptism within the ordo. You will also look into the historical loss of the catechumenate—a structured process of preparation for Baptism—and its contemporary recovery in liturgical practices. Finally, you will demonstrate your understanding by designing and leading a baptismal liturgy, incorporating the practice of anointing.

• MO1: Explain the purpose and key elements of Baptism in the ordo.
• MO2: Explain loss of catechumenate and its recovery.
• MO3: Demonstrate the ability to design and lead a baptismal liturgy, incorporating the practice of anointing.

---

M8: Eucharist

M9: Worship Parts: Sending

M10: Worship and Pastoral Care

M11: Worship and Life Passages

M12: Worship and the Heart of it all: The Great Three Days