Seminar | Gratitude in Preaching and Worship

Seminar details:

When we have received God’s grace, giving thanks is simply the right thing to do. It’s right and fitting to thank God for the mighty works of creation and redemption through Jesus Christ. We owe God our thanks for these magnificent things. So, naturally, Biblical writers not only thank God for such blessings; they also summon us to join them. They treat gratitude as an especially urgent necessity.

What’s wonderful is that giving thanks is both our duty and our joy! In a delightful paradox, if we do what’s right in this way we also thrive.

But how do we get gratitude? What keeps us from getting it? What happens to us if we do have it? How can we thank God when we’re up to our neck in trouble? If we do succeed in being thankful, how will we live?

In this seminar sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Preaching, co-leaders Neal Plantinga and Scott Hoezee will lead pastors in five mornings of conversation on these vital themes, pondering at each step along the way how preaching can help all people in the church answer these questions on living a grateful life before God.

Leaders:

• Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Calvin Theological Seminary President Emeritus, Senior Research Fellow, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
• Scott Hoezee, Calvin Theological Seminary Professor of Preaching, Director of the Center for Excellence in Preaching

Funds provided by the Center for Excellence in Preaching (CEP) at Calvin Theological Seminary.

Daily Schedule:

On each of the five days, our seminar begins promptly at 8:45am with Morning Prayers and concludes at noon with lunch. Afternoons are free.

Application information:

Persons involved full-time in church ministries and those who prepare such persons for ministry are welcome to apply. Thanks to generous underwriting by the CEP, the cost of coming to this week-long event will be very modest. The church of each participant accepted into the seminar will be asked to pay a $150 registration fee for its pastor, who will also receive a stipend from the CEP to help offset travel costs. Lodging will be provided for no additional cost at the Prince Conference Center on the Calvin University campus, beginning Sunday, July 21.

Meals will include breakfast and lunch each day, Monday-Friday. Articles, web links, or other resources that will be used for the seminar will be sent to the participants ahead of time and early enough that participants will have ample opportunity to study these materials prior to the start of the seminar in July.

If you have any questions about the seminar, please contact us.

TO APPLY:

The application deadline has passed. Seminar participants will be notified in early April, 2024.

The physical address of Calvin Seminary where the seminar will be held:
Calvin Theological Seminary
3233 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546