In God's Presence: Encountering, Experiencing, and Embracing the Holy in Worship
Theintegrated worshipthat Graham Standish advocates is just what so many churches—and worshipers—need in our fragmented and dis-integrated time. Rather than chasing each fad, Standish encourages to develop worship experiences that are just as beautiful and diverse as our theology. This book will both challenge and hearten many church leaders.(Tony Jones, Theologian-in-Residence, Solomon's Porch, Minneapolis, MN, and author, "The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier")Churches, Graham Standish observes, have a predictable tendency to slide from vibrancy to mere functionality. Wisely using his pastoral experience in leading a Presbyterian congregation toward the renewal of worship, Standish provides a wealth of insightful counsel about how to help churches stem and reverse this tide. Particularly welcome is his conviction that the true renewal of congregational worship is not about technique but about the recovery of a deep sense of the holy.(Thomas G. Long, Bandy Professor of Preaching, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA)I find most books about worship to be watered down and very 'fuzzy feeling' centered. Not this one. Graham takes the experience of worship and knits it expertly with lots of thought provoking theology, captivating church history, and 'down to earth' rationale. This is so refreshing. As I readIn God’s Presence, I was constantly reminded that worship is supposed to be Jesus centered. This reality should cause us to drop the masks of superficial worship and draw deeper to God- mind, body and spirit.(Jim Walker, Pastor, Hot Metal Bridge)