A Place of Encounter: Renewing Worship Spaces

D. Foy Christopherson

Aug 2004 · Worship Matters Book 4 · Augsburg Fortress

About this ebook

One of the four particular dimensions of the church's worship addressed in the ELCA's Principles for Worship (Renewing Worship, vol. 2) is worship space. Using the principles developed in this volume, Foy Christopherson shares with the reader what Lutherans care about when thinking about space for worship, and why they care about it. Centers of liturgical action (assembly, font, ambo, altar-table) and concepts of sacred, formational, and missional space are discussed, as well as architectural, environmental, historical, and local considerations when planning or renewing worship spaces.

About the author

D. Foy Christopherson's training in worship and the arts, theology and theatre, music and design bring clarity and insight to this treatment of how worship spaces serve. His experience as a parish pastor, workshop and conference leader, congregational consultant, and former director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's art and design studio assure his treatment is relevant, accessible and focused on the local congregation. Christopherson has been a contributing writer for eight volumes of Sundays and Seasons annual worship planning guide.

Christopherson studied theatre and communication at Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD) and is also a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus, OH). He is currently working on a degree in Liturgical Studies at St. John's University School of Theology in Collegeville, MN. He has served calls with Augsburg Fortress and as a parish pastor in Madison, WI, where he was known for his creativity and celebration of the inherently dramatic nature of the Gospel. He has passion for the study and leadership of worship in today's church.