Impressive collection of over 350 hymns and songs will help United Methodists Sing a New Song to the Lord!

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 13, 2006, 2006 /GBOD/ -- Upper Room Ministries will host the national, introductory launch and celebration of its new Worshipbook, “Sing a New Song to the Lord,” August 28 – 31, 2006. The event takes place at the General Board of Discipleship, located at 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, Tenn., with worship services at the Upper Room Chapel and the Scarritt-Bennett Center. The event begins at 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 28 and concludes before noon Thursday morning, August 31.

“In the spirit of the Wesleyan tradition, the Upper Room Worshipbook is truly a resource for the whole Church, for it forms the heart and imagination and makes us want to follow Jesus,” says Karen Greenwaldt, top executive for the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church.

Jerry Haas, Director of the Upper Room Ministries’ Academy for Spiritual Formation and Emerging Ministries said that the new Upper Room Worshipbook is solidly grounded theologically and rich with scriptural imagery.

“It is so well done, it practically sings itself!” Haas said.

Edited and compiled by Elise Eslinger, United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, the Upper Room Worshipbook: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation, is an impressive collection of some 350 hymns and songs, with fresh, new prayers and liturgies.

“The liturgies – Morning Prayer, Midday Prayer, and Night Prayer – together with the four Great Thanksgivings for Holy Communion – are suitable for individual, small group, retreat or congregational use,” Haas continued.

Unique to this resource is the wide-ranging collection of Psalms, with various musical settings and arrangements. New hymn texts and new songs complete every section, including a variety of music from across the globe.

“In this one resource we find a collection of songs that feature texts that are theologically meaningful and deeply creative; a happy blend of lively new tunes and new texts set to well-loved hymn tunes,” said Melissa Tidwell, director of marketing for The General Board of Discipleship

“Songs are included that fill special needs of worship planners in selecting music that calls participants away from the rush and business of daily life, that lift up the goodness of creation, and that creatively enhance our repertoire of images for the divine,” says Tidwell.

The "official" launch and celebration event begins with opening worship on Monday evening, with the Rev. Safiyah Fosua preaching in the Upper Room Chapel.

This will be an exciting, fun-filled and high-quality event, with leadership coming from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The three-day event features interpretative presentations, worship experiences, hymn sings and workshops.

Among the outstanding group of worship/music leaders are:
· Elise Eslinger, Editor and Compiler, Director of Institute of Applied Theology, United Seminary in Dayton
· Dick Eslinger, Professor of Homiletics, United Seminary in Dayton
· Don Saliers, William R. Cannon Professor of Theology and Worship, Candler School of Theology
· Nancy Bryan Crouch, Publisher, Order of St. Luke Publications
· Larry Peacock, Retreat Director and Author
· Matt Berryman, Orange Park UMC, Florida
· Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources, GBOD Staff
· Safiyah Fosua, Director of Invitational Preaching, GBOD Staff
· Julio Vargas, Puerto Rico
· Judy Holloway, Central Texas Conference
· Ginger Howl, Oklahoma Conference
· Irene Brownlee, North Carolina Conference
· Billie Stearns, Colorado

All of the liturgies will be prayed, creating a “retreat-like” feeling, beginning with Morning Prayer at 7:30 a.m. at Scarritt-Bennett; Holy Communion will be offered daily in the historic Upper Room Chapel; Night Prayer (compline) will conclude the day.

Lecture presentations by the Eslingers, along with workshops in the Denman Building, will provide a theological framework for this resource. Workshop topics include: "Reaching the Rising Generation through Liturgy," "Hispanic Enrichment," "Creating Holy Space," "Spiritual Formation and Preaching," "Creative Use of the Psalms," "Worship Planning and Leadership," "Liturgy as Communal (Subversive) Act," and "Spirituality and Fun."

Sponsored by the The Upper Room, a Division of the General Board of Discipleship, this event is open to the public. For more information, or to register, contact Gina Manskar at 1-877-899-2781, ext. 7131 (or at 615-340-7131). E-mail: gmanskar@gbod.org. The registration fee is $100, which includes a complimentary copy of the book. A meal ticket may also be purchased for $90 (8 meals). Lodging and meals may also be obtained for $225 (3 nights, 8 meals). The deadline to register is July 28.

The General Board of Discipleship’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. An agency of the United Methodist Church, The General Board of Discipleship is located at 1908 Grand Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, call toll-free the Media Relations Office at (877) 899-2780 Ext. 7017.