Looking for worship material specifically tailored for holidays and other special, out-of-the-ordinary occasions? If so, then you’ll draw on this compendium of services for fresh ideas throughout the year. Each of these 13 services actively involves the congregation through the singing of several hymns, as well as scripture and dramatic readings that can be performed either with or without costumes. Because these flexible services can be presented with as few or as many participants as desired, they are ideal for both large and small congregations. Many of these versatile pieces can even be used without a pastor, so this is an excellent resource to have on hand for pastoral vacations or other occasions when the laity is in charge of worship. Best of all, this collection couldn’t be more convenient to use – every service comes with brief instructions and a sample form for your worship bulletin. Services are included for:

• New Year’s Day
  
• Valentine’s Day
  
• Ash Wednesday
  
• Lent
  
• Palm/Passion Sunday
  
• Maundy Thursday
  
• Good Friday
  
• Easter
  
• Pentecost Sunday
  
• Trinity Sunday
  
• Reformation Sunday/All Saints’ Day
  
• Thanksgiving
  
• Christmas Eve

Mary Lu Warstler is a pastor’s wife who became a United Methodist pastor herself, serving congregations in Akron and Bucyrus, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Akron and the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, her sermons have appeared in Pulpit Digest and Clergy Journal. Warstler’s CSS publications include Angels We Have Heard and Three For The Third Day.