Subject: Places of worship can inspire, evoke humility, bring together communities, or provide solace. In a richly illustrated volume of photographs featuring sacred spaces across America, House of Worship illustrates how through design a physical space becomes scared. Remarkable for an architecture that expresses spirituality, each of the structures represented in this book are notable in their design--and spirit. Included are great photographers' pictures of churches of various denominations, Buddhist temples, small chapels, mosques, and synagogues that are presented by inspiring informative texts

While all mosques stem from a common tradition of reverence, differing sects, regions and practices have led to many innovations and novel architectural forms. Mosques is the latest addition to the “Ultimate collection,” and is a journey though centuries and continents that brings readers to the threshold of 100 of the world’s most historically significant buildings that are home to worshippers of the fastest growing, and second largest, religion in the world.

What makes a building or space sacred? In his two previous collections of photography, Mark Schacter travelled the roads of Canada and the waters of the Great Lakes. In Houses of Worship, Mark Schacter has travelled around North America photographing churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and gurdwaras -- the architectural homes of the many faiths practiced in North America. From the grandest and most opulent temples to the simplest country churches all of these buildings welcome wor�shippers through their doors. In order to better understand the importance of these architectural structures to the various faiths, Mark has interviewed leaders from each of the religions.

"The liturgical reforms that have guided congregations over the last few decades have transformed what different denominations know about themselves and their worship. Worshipers are no longer spectators, but active participants in the ritual acts that once were the possession of the clergy. As the liturgy is modified, church buildings are altered." "How does all such change affect the architectural style of church buildings? Vosko provides a foundation for building or renovating a place of worship and presents a thorough checklist for spaces, art, furnishings, and appointments. He discusses many concerns and offers practical advice. He also presents issues that need further consideration in every project."--BOOK JACKET.

In Detroit's Historic Places of Worship, authors Marla O. Collum, Barbara E. Krueger, and Dorothy Kostuch profile 37 architecturally and historically significant houses of worship that represent 8 denominations and nearly 150 years of history. The authors focus on Detroit's most prolific era of church building, the 1850s to the 1930s, in chapters that are arranged chronologically. Entries begin with each building's founding congregation and trace developments and changes to the present day. Full-color photos by Dirk Bakker bring the interiors and exteriors of these amazing buildings to life, as the authors provide thorough architectural descriptions, pointing out notable carvings, sculptures, stained glass, and other decorative and structural features. Nearly twenty years in the making, this volume includes many of Detroit's most well known churches, like Sainte Anne in Corktown, the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Boston-Edison, Saint Florian in Hamtramck, Mariners' Church on the riverfront, Saint Mary's in Greektown, and Central United Methodist Church downtown. But the authors also provide glimpses into stunning buildings that are less easily accessible or whose uses have changed-such as the original Temple Beth-El (now the Bonstelle Theater), First Presbyterian Church (now Ecumenical Theological Seminary), and Saint Albertus (now maintained by the Polish American Historical Site Association)-or whose future is uncertain, like Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church (most recently Abyssinian Interdenominational Center, now closed). Appendices contain information on hundreds of architects, artisans, and crafts-people involved in the construction of the churches, and a map pinpoints their locations around the city of Detroit. Anyone interested in Detroit's architecture or religious history will be delighted by Detroit's Historic Places of Worship.

• Plain language exploration of the theology of worship • Valuable resource for individuals, seminarians, service planners • Structure and chapter discussion guides facilitate use for parish workshops Professional theological terminology is often inaccessible to the average Christian. The House of Meanings presents liturgical theology in accessible ways, free of technical language. The book is designed for individual reading and structured to be a resource for a series of parish workshops, especially during the Easter season. Chapters conclude with a discussion guide intended to assist parishioners in developing their own sense of the value of worship and its relationship to our dai-ly lives. Dedicated to deepening parishioners’ understandings of the Church and how it has both gathered and sent into service to the world, The House of Meanings will be useful not only to congregations, but to seminarians and anyone planning or evaluating worship

Just ten years after it was first published, Worship That Works is already a classic text of the Unitarian Universalist liturgical arts. Following a road trip in which they visited congregations of various sizes and traditions, the authors offer essential theory and best practices for lay worship leaders, ministers, and student ministers alike. Significantly updated, this second edition includes revisions and new chapters on multicultural worship, multigenerational worship, and new models of services for contemporary practices.

House of Worship Sound Reinforcement provides everything you need to know to become a sound technician in a house of worship and beyond. Starting with the basic foundations of sound, you'll progress into learning how the sound in your house of worship is captured with microphones and transduced into electricity. From there, you will explore the wonders of the mixing console, where all the audio you're capturing is sent, processed, and mixed together. Next up will be a thorough examination of how sound is projected not only to the congregation but also back at the worship team through the speaker system. After delving into the world of digital processors, you will learn how to create an optimal environment for projecting sound in your worship space, which includes properly setting up your system. Finally, you will discover what it takes to maintain your system as well as how to readjust and/or create a new system for outreach events. Although the concepts in this book are complex, they are conveyed in non-technical language, so even if you have no experience with sound reinforcement, the book's contents are easy to follow and put into practice. The authors focus on real-world situations and setups and avoid discussions of physics and math, which can be confusing and intimidating. Whether you are just beginning your journey into live sound, you've been mixing at your own house of worship for a period of time, or you have years of experience already logged in, you will surely find useful information, tricks of the trade, and sound advice in this book that will serve you for years to come.

Together, we journey . . . to learn more and more of what it really means to bring meaningful offerings to the heart of God. Thoughts, words, deeds, and songs--the whole of our lives can be a response to His immeasurable worth. This book is for all those who find themselves on such a pilgrimage: lead worshippers, pastors, musicians, dancers, singers--anyone with a heart to pursue the depths of worship. Within these pages you'll find a mixture of creative Bible insights and hands-on advice for how to lead worship and write congregational songs. The Heart of Worship Files will sharpen you in your quest to know Jesus and make Him known to others.