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"What if the way we worship isn't just an expression of our faith, but is what shapes our faith?" This is the question posed by pastor/author/worship leader Glenn Packiam as he examines the concept of corporate worship in the light of an ancient Christian faith with his e-book Discover The Mystery of Faith from David C Cook and companion eight-track EP The Mystery of Faith from Integrity Music, both releasing March 5.
Packiam, who serves as pastor of new life DOWNTOWN in Colorado Springs, Colorado, says the projects represent a renewal of his love of theology and the history of the Church as well as his journey to answer that basic question. He shares a bit of this journey at The Story Behind The Mystery of Faith.
"I've been looking at congregational worship through new eyes," he explains, "because corporate worship doesn't just reflect our faith, it shapes our faith. And if that's true, then we need to look at the kind of faith that is being produced by our worship services-the singing, the preaching, everything we do when we gather. I can't help but wonder if the anemic faith that plagues the Church today is due, at least in part, to sloppy corporate worship."
"For decades, church leaders told us that how we worship is simply about forms and methods and that we should adjust them based on the people we want to reach," Packiam continues. "But for centuries, the Church Fathers told us that the way we worship and pray together becomes the way we believe, and that we must make sure that everything speaks of Christ and the Gospel. So maybe it's time to take a closer look at what we say, and sing, and do each week."
With his book Discover The Mystery of Faith, Packiam draws from his own discovery of ancient worship practices, helping modern believers understand why the Church has made creedal proclamations and Psalm-praying a regular part of their worship. And he challenges Christians to discover why the Lord's Table has been the climactic point of the liturgy's "re-telling of the salvation story." "When our worship becomes a rich feast, our faith is nourished and no longer anemic," he adds. "The more our worship speaks of Christ, the more we enter into The Mystery of Faith."
With The Mystery of Faith EP, Packiam shares six new songs woven together with the Nicene Creed and a spoken-word prayer to express the shared foundational beliefs of Christianity while "telling the story of our faith." The songs were penned by Packiam with guest co-writers Desperation Band's Jon Egan ("Magnified"/"I Am Free"), Dove Award winning "Songwriter of the Year" Jennie Lee Riddle ("Revelation Song"/"One True God), Dove Award winning producer/songwriter Ian Eskelin ("Crazy Love"/ "Beautiful, Beautiful") and best-selling author Ian Cron (Chasing Francis).
The complete tracklist for The Mystery of Faith EP is:
1. Victorious God (Written by Glenn Packiam and Ian Eskelin)
2. For The Life Of The World (Written by Glenn Packiam and Jon Egan)
3. The Nicene Creed (Version from 381 AD; this translation from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer)
4. Grace Flows Freely Down (Written by Glenn Packiam and Jack Mooring)
5. Prayer of Confession (From the Book of Common Prayer, 1979)
6. We Confess (Written by Glenn Packiam and Ian Cron)
7. The Lord Be With You (Written by Glenn Packiam and Ian Cron)
8. Mystery of Faith (Written by Glenn Packiam and Jennie Lee Riddle)
Worship Leader magazine calls the project "fresh and present and filled with theological richness," and adds that "...worshiping with this release, you will claim the victory of Christ, recognize need forGod's redemption, pass the peace of Christ, revel in The Mystery of Faith, and … get this … sing a confessional song. Talk about an EP filled with songs that needed to be written."
Both the EP and Discover The Mystery of Faith e-book will be available through all major digital media providers including iTunes and Amazon, with iTunes offering a special "LP" version of The Mystery of Faith that includes devotional videos and two bonus songs (acoustic versions of Packiam's "Forgiven Forever" and "Our Messiah Reigns").
About Glenn Packiam:
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Glenn Packiam is the lead pastor of new life DOWNTOWN, an extension of New Life Church, where he serves on the executive team. As one of the founding leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band, and a worship leader/songwriter for New Life, Packiam has been featured on several Desperation and New Life Worship CDs. He also released three, solo studio projects, Rumors and Revelations, The Kingdom Comes and The Mystery of Faith. In addition, he is the author of LUCKY: How The Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People, Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith, Butterfly in Brazil and Discover The Mystery of Faith. Packiam holds a B.A. inTheological/HistoricalStudies and a Masters in Management. After doing two years of graduate work at Fuller Theological Seminary, he is now beginning a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry at Durham University, in the UK. For additional information,visit http://glennpackiam.com.
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