Thoughts on faith, culture, and public life.
Rick Warren planted Saddleback Valley Community Church in Orange County, California, in 1980. By Rod Benson Rick Warren’s IMPACT model, developed at Saddleback Valley Community Church in Orange County, California, is a practical method for sequencing songs within a worship service. Its historical importance lies in the way it brought Southern Baptist revivalism, charismatic musical …
Continue reading "Exploring Rick Warren’s IMPACT model for designing worship services"
By Rod Benson Until last week, I had never heard of the Manly Wormhole. At the northern end of Sydney’s beautiful Queenscliff Beach—the northernmost section of the beachfront commonly called Manly Beach—the smooth sand meets a rockpool at the foot of a rugged headland. Beyond the pool, around an exposed rock platform, a narrow tunnel …
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Invocation + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pause for reflection Good morning, heavenly Father.We worship you, the creator and sustainer of the universe. Good morning, Lord Jesus.We worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world. Good morning, Holy Spirit.We worship you, sanctifier of the people …
Continue reading "Morning prayer for Wednesday 30 September 2026"
The Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions, Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches, Bossey, Switzerland, November 2023. By Rod Benson Genuine fellowship between leaders of different religious traditions is crucial, generative, and beautiful to observe. At the same time, such relationships can be hard to sustain without concerted effort by all parties …
Continue reading "Working together across difference: Ten practices for ecumenical leaders"
Jan van Eyck, "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb," c. 1390-1441 In the early chapters of the Book of Genesis, there are four rivers. Two are unknown to us today; the others are the Tigris and the Euphrates, flowing through present-day Iraq. At the end of the Bible’s narrative arc, there is also a river. John …
