Books by Frank C. Senn

Embodied Liturgy marks a return to the body in thinking about Christian liturgy and sacramental practice. Rooted in phenomenology and incarnational theology, the book gives primary focus to the body as it considers the prayer offices and the liturgical calendar, sacrifices and sacraments, initiation and vestments, ritual theory and play, word and meal, fasting and feasting, penance and celebration, rites of passage, cultural perspectives, and the role of art, music, dance, and drama in worship. The author invites readers to return to the experience of their own body through guided yogic exercises. As a text for students and liturgical practitioners, the volume gives fresh voice to the experience and practice of worship as bodily acts. Embodied Liturgy is a dynamic, accessible new resource in liturgical and sacramental theology from one of the premiere scholars in the field. Frank C. Senn distills an established legacy of expertise in an innovative and inviting perspective on bodily acts of worship.

Building on his previous work on embodied liturgy, Frank C. Senn explores the relationship between the sacramental body and blood of Christ, the ecclesial body of Christ, and the body of the communicant. Drawing on the richness of the eucharistic prayer traditions and his own life experiences, this book expands our understandings of the Eucharist to include a life of gratitude (anaphora), cosmology and praise (preface), body and remembrance (anamnesis), Spirit and community (epiclesis), orthodoxy and world view (doxology), presence and union with Christ (communion), and initiation and reconciliation (fencing the table).

Worship is most meaningful and engaging, according to Frank Senn, when it is done, as Paul says, "decently and in good order." This means that good liturgy must strive to avoid makeshift arrangements and disorder. But it must also be attuned to its context, sensitive to the needs and resources of local communities of faith. How does one do that? Designed as a general introduction to Christian liturgy, this book explores the meaning, history, and practice of worship in Eastern and Western, Catholic and Protestant traditions. Its chapters cover the theology of worship, the historical development of Eucharist and the Prayer Offices, the lectionary and customs of the church year, other sacramental rites, and the use of music and the arts. As such, it is a perfect textbook for students seeking to understand the basics of liturgical worship, as well as a reliable guide for worship leaders. Written in the form of a handbook and designed with questions and answers for easy reference, Introduction to Christian Worship will help both novice and experienced worship leaders make informed decisions in their liturgical choices and practices.

Documents the full history of ordinary Christians' liturgical expression. This book, written by a distinguished liturgical historian and theologian, ventures behind the liturgical screen, behind the texts, and behind the rubrics to reconstruct the structures of everyday religious expression in Christian history.