What do you long to encounter in worship? How does ritual—its rhythms, gestures, and patterns—shape your life, your ethics, and your witness to the Word? And what awakens the power and grace that make worship come alive?
Across six three‑day learning segments, we will engage Patterned by Grace, explore the meaning and practice of liturgy through short, thought‑provoking assignments, and participate in online discussions with one another and with the book’s author. Together, we will cultivate a deeper groove in heart and mind where worship and liturgy ignite our imagination, our faith, and our daily living.
This course is designed for lay persons, pastors, and church staff who want to discover—or rediscover—the formational and transformational work of the Spirit in the Church’s historic worship. It is especially valuable for Lay Servants, Lay Speakers, Certified Lay Ministers, and as a rich refresher for pastors. The course is ecumenical in scope and welcomes learners from diverse traditions.
Learners are required to obtain Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us.
In addition to Blackboard interactions, 3 optional Zoom meetings will be held on Wednesday evenings at 7pm CDT, with learner input. The meetings will be recorded.
This course has been approved by Discipleship Ministries as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. It provides the required 10 contact hours.
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 3
Price: $115
CEUs: 1.0
Required books: Yes
Blackboard: Yes
Zoom: Yes, optional
Certification or Series: Yes (Lay Servant Ministries)
Read course description for details.
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About the Instructor
Daniel Benedict has devoted more than 50 years to worship planning and leadership as a scholar, writer, teacher, and pastor. Since 2006 he has taught hundreds of students through BeADisciple.com. From 1993 to 2005, he served as director of worship resources for Discipleship Ministries. His work centers on shaping congregational life around the sacraments and the means of grace and fostering shared liturgical leadership between clergy and laity. Passionate about cultivating fulsome celebrations of Holy Communion, he mentors clergy, laity, and congregations in bringing energy, presence, and flow to Word and Table (the Eucharist). Among other books, he is the author of Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us, an introductory resource for liturgy students.
Past Students Said…
“I appreciated the responses from everyone, especially the extra material and thought-evoking follow-up questions. I was looking for something to challenge me, and this course definitely did!”
“I appreciated the emphasis on liturgy equipping (shaping) us for mission and ministry in the world. Honestly, before this book and this class, I’ve not considered that liturgy (besides preaching) has any role other than facilitating our worship of God. Big revelation here for me after almost 19 years of vocational ministry.”
