Together in Worship resourcing website launched by team from across Mennonite educational institutions
A curated collection of free online worship resources from diverse Anabaptist Mennonite sources is now available at togetherinworship.net.
Together in Worship (TiW) aims to provide words, music, visual art, and teaching resources from Anabaptist sources that support leaders in communities with diverse worship practices. It is also a space where individuals and communities can submit resources they create.
The robust database is searchable by keyword and Scripture reference. Filters allow users to sort resources by act of worship, topic, event, season, and more. Scroll through the full text of resources to quickly find what you are looking for and then download a PDF for easy use. “I hope it will become the go-to place for Mennonite worship leaders,” said TiW leadership team member and Conrad Grebel University College professor Carol Penner.
Students from Conrad Grebel University College and Canadian Mennonite University curated hundreds of resources in Supervised Experience in Ministry and Practicum placements. Among other material, the more than 1,500 resources currently cataloged include:
- Resources from Mennonite World Conference
- Prayers and readings by contributors across Canada and the United States that were originally published on MennoMedia bulletin covers
- Video children’s stories
- Seasonal worship series from Leader magazine
- Anabaptist poetry
- Historic Anabaptist resources
- Resources from the authors of popular blogs including Carol Penner and Joanna Harader
- Teaching resources about Mennonite worship
Most of the resources catalogued right now are words for worship. However, the vision for the site includes music, video, visual art, and more. “Together in Worship aims to embrace the unique opportunities of online resourcing, including sharing multimedia sources, resources responsive to current events, material in languages other than English, and supports for contemporary worship,” explains Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre Visiting Fellow Sarah Kathleen Johnson who is chair of the TiW leadership team as well as the worship resources editor for Voices Together.
The vision for Together in Worship emerged from focus groups led by Johnson where participants consistently requested a free and searchable online source of trusted resources for worship. This grassroots vision became a reality through a bi-national leadership team that brings together scholars and leaders from across Mennonite educational institutions including the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre, Conrad Grebel University College, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Canadian Mennonite University, and Eastern Mennonite University. The website was built in collaboration with CommonWord bookstore and resource centre.
The next phase of development will focus on visual art resources for an intercultural church. It is supported by a 2021 Teacher-Scholar Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and a Marpeck Dean’s Grant received by TiW leadership team members Rebecca Slough and Jerry Holsopple. The first phase of development was supported by a 2019 Teacher-Scholar Grant received by Carol Penner and a Bequest Earnings Disbursement Fund grant from Shantz Mennonite Church. The TiW leadership team welcomes opportunities to collaborate with scholars and pastors in shaping resources for Christian worship.
Ways to connect with Together in Worship:
- Explore Together in Worship when planning worship
- Follow Together in Worship on Facebook and Instagram for posts that highlight timely resources
- Add a link to Together in Worship to your church website
- Volunteer to curate resources or, if you are a student, complete an online Supervised Experience in Ministry as a resource curator
- Submit resources for possible inclusion
- Donate to support the site financially
- Pray for the ministry of Together in Worship
Contact Together in Worship: togetherinworshipnet@gmail.com
Together in Worship leadership team (from top left): Jerry Holsopple (Eastern Mennonite University), Darryl Neustaedter Barg (Mennonite Church Manitoba, Canadian Mennonite University, Voices Together), Rebecca Slough (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Hymnal: A Worship Book), Katie Graber (Anabaptist Worship Network, Voices Together), Sarah Kathleen Johnson (Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre, Voices Together), Carol Penner (Conrad Grebel University College), and Arlyn Friesen Epp and AnaSara Rojas (CommonWord).
