The Worship Studies Course is one many of us have taken over the years, and is perhaps one of the most important training opportunities offered by the national Unitarian movement, given that many of our congregations now have worship led by a mixture of Ministers and lay worship leaders. That our movement supports and enables all of us who are willing and able to minister and create worship spaces is one of our great strengths!

I was fortunate enough to take part in the Worship Studies Course which ran in June 2021, alongside seven others of Unitarian and other spiritual backgrounds. The first-ever virtual Worship Studies Course, it was ably led by Helen Mason and Rev. Ant Howe, with a range of excellent speakers including Rev. Sue Woolley, Rev. Winnie Gordon, and many more. I thought it would be good to share the perspective of those on the course with the wider movement, so I asked them what they thought. Here’s what they said:

What stood out most as the thing you learnt from the course?

“It focused me on the purpose of collective worship and the rich opportunities within services to deliver messages which are meaningful and of value to those of different faiths and none. It reminded me that almost anything can be seen through a spiritual or personal growth lens and that our own experiences and views, combined with broader principles, can be valuable and enable others to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions.”

“Much stood out for me, but I think the most important was to be authentic.”

“The training team were very excellent at giving good sound advice on how to undertake a service, with great interaction as well as a nice steady pace. The main thing I did learn was the service is not about my thoughts on how it should be delivered but on how it is received by those attending.”

“One aspect of the course which really stood out as joyful and positive was the ability on Zoom to experience special moments such as ‘telling a story’ or small group activity where participants talk about themselves and their feelings. Here it was possible to empathise with the group or person and feel there was something sacred about the moment. On Zoom you expect this emotional side of computer training to not come over, but I think we all felt there were special moments in one form or another.”

What was the most surprising thing you found about it?

“That the course was so inclusive in terms of how worship messages should be pitched, to embrace Unitarians, those of other faiths, interfaith, or those with no spiritual beliefs. Coming from an interfaith background, this was even more inclusive than my previous ministry training.”

“The most surprising thing I found about is ‘less is more’.”

“I know it sounds a cliché, but the main things I found was I had some of the same queries and feelings as those of my other colleagues attending. I enjoyed the diverse and openness of my fellow participants. A great interactive series of discussions, and positive and very constructive feedback was provided. I always say you never stop learning, and this course has proven that statement perfectly.”

“I loved the talks from all the tutors on ‘what makes a good sermon?’ I remember Rev. Ant Howe’s breakdown of a good sermon and I think it made it a lot clearer to me. All the tutors gave us their own special strengths and experiences, and there was plenty to go on.”

What are you going to do next, or do differently, as a result of having completed it?

“I plan to continue with the Unitarian College training and am already signed up for another couple of courses. I’m also hoping to lead worship more frequently within my home church and also as a pulpit guest elsewhere, either virtually or in person.”

“I would like try to build the concepts that I learnt on the course into services that I lead or am involved in.”

“My aim is to put the constructive feedback as well as encouragement given to me during the course into my future services. I also got an insight in to how I could use different forms of delivery.”

Would you recommend it to others?

“Definitely. The course was very substantial with a huge volume of content delivered in a very accessible way in a short period of time. The tutors were really personable, kind and supportive. The students were also mutually supportive and quickly created a circle of trust and kindness. I learned so much about leading worship, about the Unitarians and about myself. I would have no reservations in recommending this course to anyone who wishes to lead worship, experienced or complete novice.”

“I would definitely recommend the course to others, not only because of the great teaching but also because of the great feeling of support and community that we established in a short time.”

“I have no hesitation in recommending this course to any person wishing to learn more about how to take service of worship, along with in the delivering of it. The training team imparted some wonderful ideas and different forms to undertaking a worship service.”

About the course

Are you interested in leading Unitarian services? Do you already lead worship yourself for your congregation, and want to improve the quality of your worship leadership? Do you need help with leading online worship?

The Worship Studies Course is an online course for all interested Unitarians in conducting high quality worship. Led by Unitarian Ministers and experienced lay people, the course consists of eight modules, including: exploring your own theology of worship, elements of a great service, hymns, music and copyright, storytelling, and voice and communication. If you’d like to find out more, contact Unitarian College at: Unitarian College or call: 07494 495 743.