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A Holy Eucharist service at a United Methodist church in the United States.

In Christianity, a church service is a term used to describe a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday, or Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism. The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be taught the "Word of God" (the Christian Bible) and encouraged in their faith. Technically, the "church" in "church service" refers to the gathering of the faithful rather than to the building in which it takes place.

Styles of service vary greatly, from the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions of liturgical worship to the evangelical Protestant style, that often combines worship with teaching for the believers, which may also have an evangelistic component appealing to the non-Christians and/or skeptics in the congregation. Quakers and some other groups have no formal outline to their services, but allow the worship to develop as the participants present feel moved.

From Jewish to Christian services[link]

The first miracle of the Apostles, the healing of the crippled man on the temple steps, occurred because Peter and John went to the Temple to pray (Acts 3:1). Since the Apostles were originally Jews, see Jewish Christians, the concept of fixed hours for services, and services therefore which differed from weekday to Sabbath to holy day, were familiar to them. Pliny the Younger (63 - ca. 113), who was not a Christian himself, mentions not only fixed times of prayer by believers, but also specific services—other than the Eucharist—assigned to those times: "they met on a stated day before it was light, and addressed a form of prayer to Christ, as to a divinity ... after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble, to eat in common a harmless meal. ."^[1]

The real evolution of the Christian service in the first century is shrouded in mystery. By the second and third centuries, such Church Fathers as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian wrote of formalised, regular services: the practice of Morning and Evening Prayer, and prayers at the third hour of the day (terce), the sixth hour of the day (sext), and the ninth hour of the day (none). With reference to the Jewish practices, it is surely no coincidence that these major hours of prayer correspond to the first and last hour of the conventional day, and that on Sundays (corresponding to the Sabbath in Christianity), the services are more complex and longer (involving twice as many services if one counts the Eucharist and the afternoon service). Similarly, the liturgical year from Christmas via Easter to Pentecost covers roughly five months, the other seven having no major services linked to the work of Christ. However, this is not to say that the Jewish services were copied or deliberately substituted, see Supersessionism.

Church services today[link]

A Roman Catholic Mass in Sehnde, Germany

Today a wide variety of church services exist, from the long and elaborate services of Eastern Christianity to the very basic Evangelical sermon. Though the majority of services are still conducted in church buildings designed specifically for that purpose, some services take place in "store front" or temporary settings. For those unable to attend a service in a church building a burgeoning televangelism and radio ministry provides broadcasts of services. A number of Websites have been set up as "cyber-churches" to provide a virtual worship space free to anyone on the Internet.

Church services are often planned and led by a single pastor or a small group of elders or may follow a format laid out by the dictates of the religion. Some churches are "lay led" with members of the congregation taking turns guiding the service or simply following format that has evolved over time between the active members.

A few begin their church services with the ringing of a bell (or a number of bells). The service usually involves the singing of hymns, reading of scripture verses and possibly a psalm, and a sermon. If the church follows a lectionary, the sermon will often be about the scripture lections assigned to that day. Eucharistic churches which usually have Holy Communion either every Sunday or several Sundays a month. Less liturgical congregations tend to place a greater emphasis on the sermon.

Vocal music is traditionally sung by a choir or the congregation (or a mixture of the two), usually accompanied by an organ. Sometimes other instruments such as piano, classical instruments, or modern band instruments may be part of the service, especially in churches influenced by the contemporary worship movement. Some churches are equipped with state-of-the-art multi-media equipment to add to the worship experience. The congregation may sing along in hymnals or words to hymns and worship songs may be displayed on a screen. More liturgical denominations may have the words to specific prayers written in a missalette, prayer book or pew bulletin which the congregation follows.

Many churches will take up a collection during the service. The rationale for this is taken from 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 1 Corinthians 9:9-11 and 1 Timothy 5:16-18. But some churches eschew this practice in favor of voluntary anonymous donations for which a box or plate may be set up by the entrance, or return-address envelopes may be provided that worshippers may take with them.

Some churches offer Sunday school classes. These will often be for younger children, and may take place during the whole of the service (while the adults are in church), or the children may be present for the beginning of the service and at a prearranged point leave the service to go to Sunday school. Some churches have adult Sunday school either before or after the main worship service.

Following the service, there will often be an opportunity for "fellowship" in the church hall or other convenient place. This provides the members of the congregation a chance to socialize with each other and to greet visitors or new members. Coffee or other refreshments may be served.

Notes[link]

See also[link]

• Church attendance
• Christian liturgy
• Compline
• Canonical hours
• Divine Liturgy
• Divine Service (Lutheran)
• Evening Prayer (Anglican)
• Easter Vigil
• First Communion
• Garter service
• Mass (liturgy)
• Morning Prayer (Anglican)
• Service As Worship
• Service of worship

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Church services

• A 'Cyber-Church'

Never shout never
Christofer Drew; Hayden Kaiser; Taylor Macfee
Background information
Also known as	NeverShoutNever! NeverShoutNever Chris Drew and The Shout
Origin	Joplin, Missouri, United States
Genres	Indie pop, indie rock, acoustic, rock, progressive rock, New Age
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Warner Bros. Sire Loveway
Associated acts	Eatmewhileimhot The Ooolala The Modern Racket GONZO
Website	nevershoutnever.com
Members
Christofer Drew Ingle Taylor MacFee Hayden Kaiser
Past members
Caleb Denison

Never Shout Never is an American rock band, formed in Joplin, Missouri in 2007. The band has released three albums and six extended plays. The name "NeverShoutNever" and later "Never Shout Never" originally referred exclusively to Christofer Drew Ingle before the touring band previously referred to as "The Shout" took up the name "Never Shout Never" with Ingle as front man.

History[link]

Christofer Drew Ingle began making music as Never Shout Never in September 2005. His first exposure came through the internet, where he achieved success on MySpace before issuing the extended play, The Yippee Ep on July 29, 2008.^[1] On July 30, 2008, he was featured on TRL, where he performed his single "Bigcitydreams."^[2] He toured with Hellogoodbye and Ace Enders in the fall of 2008.^[3] .

As of November 17, 2008, the official spelling of Ingle's alias became NeverShoutNever! Although in 2008, the band had a slight name change and excluded the "!" from Nevershoutnever! To make ' Never Shout Never" (example song: Awful) It had previously been listed as Never Shout Never on iTunes and his management company's site.^[4] An official statement regarding the reason behind the spelling change has not been made available.

Never Shout Never started touring with The Ready Set, The Honorary Title, and The Bigger Lights in late February 2009^[5] and then toured with bands such as Forever the Sickest Kids, The Cab, We the Kings, and Mercy Mercedes, among others in spring 2009 as part of The Bamboozle Roadshow 2009.^[6] He played at both The Bamboozle Left 2009^[7] and The Bamboozle 2009.^[8]

The Summer was released on June 23, 2009. The first single off the EP, titled "Happy," was released on iTunes on March 3, 2009.^[9] he performs at warped tour all over the country.

It was announced on May 29, 2009, that Ingle had signed to Warner Bros. Records, ending a major-label bidding war.^[10] As part of the deal, Ingle will run and make releases on his own imprint label, Loveway Records.^[11]

The debut album from Never Shout Never, What Is Love?, was produced by Butch Walker and released in January 2010.^[12][13] Never Shout Never's second full length album, Harmony, was released in August of the same year.

In November 2010, Never Shout Never co-headlined the Harmony Tour, where they had fans gather can foods to help those in need. As a gift to the fans, Never Shout Never and The Maine released a live split EP. As of December 21, 2010, the split EP is available for free download on Never Shout Never's website.

The band's hometown, Joplin, Missouri, was destroyed by a tornado on May 22, 2011. Following the destruction, Christofer began a relief fund with United Way to raise $1 million for his hometown.^[14] To raise awareness about the devastation of Joplin, Christofer took video footage of the destruction and posted it on YouTube on June 1, 2011. The video, which features the song "Time Travel", encouraged viewers to donate to the relief of the town via his United Way fund.^[15]

Never Shout Never's third full-length album, Time Travel was released on September 20, 2011.^[16]

Never Shout Never will be doing another US tour in April 2012 with Koji, Kurt Travis and Renee and the Translators. The band said to be returning to Europe in the summer, and they said to be returning to Brazil, Argentina and Chile later on in 2012.

Christofer Drew revealed in a new interview with Alter The Press! on May 8th, 2012, the band's fourth full-length will be titled, "Indigo" and will be released later in the year.

Discography[link]

• What Is Love? (Sire, 2010)
• Harmony (Sire, 2010)
• Time Travel (Sire, 2011)
• Indigo (Sire, 2012)

Members[link]

Current members[link]

• Christofer Drew Ingle – vocals, piano, guitar, ukulele, banjo, harmonica, washboard, tambourine, drums (2007-present)
• Taylor MacFee – bass, vocals (2009–present)
• Hayden Kaiser – vocals,guitar, drums and bass (2007–present)

Former members[link]

• Dustin Dobernig – piano (2009–2010)
• Nathan Ellison – drums (2009–2010)
• Caleb Denison - drums, guitar, vocals (2009–2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Never Shout Never Website
• Never Shout Never on Myspace
• Never Shout Never at MTV
• Never Shout Never at Purevolume
• Interview with Never Shout Never on Shockhound
• Interview with Never Shout Never on Thought Catalog

Anglicanism portal

Barbara Brown Taylor (born September 21, 1951) is an American Episcopal priest, professor, and theologian and is one of the United States' best known preachers.^[1]

Taylor was ordained in 1984,^[1] and became the rector of Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church in Clarkesville, Georgia in 1992.^[2] In 1996, she was named one of the twelve "most effective" preachers in the English-speaking world by Baylor University.^[3] She later left parish ministry and became a full-time professor at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia.

She was awarded the 1998 Emory Medal by the Emory Alumni Association of Emory University for her distinguished achievement in education.^[4] In February 2009, Barbara Brown Taylor led the 2nd annual Piedmont College religion conference in Athens, Georgia.^[5] Taylor was also the keynote speaker at the conference in previous years.^[6] She has written twelve books on faith and spirituality.^[1][7] In February 2010, days before Piedmont College's religion conference, Taylor ranked in the top ten most influential living preachers in a poll conducted by the Southern Baptist Convention^[8]

Bibliography[link]

• The Preaching Life. Cowley Publications. 1993. pp. 174. ISBN 978-1-56101-074-5. 
• Gospel Medicine. Cowley Publications. 1995. pp. 161. ISBN 978-1-56101-110-0. 
• Bread of Angels. Cowley Publications. 1997. pp. 176. ISBN 978-1-56101-142-1. 
• God in Pain. Abingdon Press. 1998. pp. 138. ISBN 978-0-687-05887-7. 
• Mixed Blessings. Cowley Publications. 1998. pp. 129. ISBN 978-1-56101-162-9. 
• When God is Silent. Cowley Publications. 1998. pp. 129. ISBN 978-1-56101-157-5. 
• Home By Another Way. Cowley Publications. 1999. pp. 212. ISBN 978-1-56101-167-4. 
• Speaking of Sin: The Lost Language of Salvation. Cowley Publications. 2001. pp. 104. ISBN 978-1-56101-189-6. 
• The Luminous Web: Essays on Science and Religion. Cowley Publications. 2001. pp. 109. ISBN 978-1-56101-169-8. 
• The Seeds of Heaven: Sermons on the Gospel of Matthew. Westminster. 2004. pp. 113. ISBN 978-0-664-22886-6. 
• Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith. HarperOne. 2007. pp. 272. ISBN 978-0-06-087263-2. 
• An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. HarperOne. 2009. pp. 240. ISBN 978-0-06-137046-5. 

References[link]