THURSDAY
5:00-7:30 PM Registration & Bookstore Open

7:30 PM Opening Convocation
Hymn Festival, led by Dr. Paul S. Jones
Worship Preaching by Dr. Terry L. Johnson
Our worship services will use liturgies from the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation. These model the biblical nature of Reformation worship. Tonight’s opening service is taken from Martin Bucer’s Strasbourg liturgy.

FRIDAY
9:00 - 10:15 AM WORKSHOPS (choose from among these)

WORKSHOP 1 > The Virtues of Hymnody: Why and How?
Dr. Paul S. Jones will lead an informed discussion on the nature, history and necessity of God-centered hymnody, and why it is so important for the Church today.

WORKSHOP 2 > Luther’s Babylonian Captivity of the Church
One of our featured guests will be the world renowned expert in the history of Reformation liturgies, Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old. In this workshop, part of his series on “Reformation Worship in the Sixteenth Century,” Dr. Old will discuss the contributions of the German reformer Martin Luther for Reformation worship. This workshop track is also offered for M. Div and D. Min. credit.

WORKSHOP 3 > Bringing the Reformation of Worship to your Church
Churches participating in a Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) grant will discuss their implementation of Reformation worship methods, focusing on singing psalms, expository preaching, and the use of historic liturgies. If you wish to hear about this work, come and participate in this discussion led by Dr. Mark Ross, Dr. David Hall, Dr. T. David Gordon, and Dr. Jon D. Payne.

WORKSHOP 4 > Leading in Worship
What are the principles that guide public worship? How and who should lead it? These and other practical issues will be discussed by one of our plenary speakers and author, Dr. Terry L. Johnson, Sr. Pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA.

BREAK

10:30 - 11:45 PM WORKSHOPS (choose from among these)

WORKSHOP 5 > Re-Discovering Psalm Singing: A Pastoral Approach
Dr. Terry L. Johnson will lead you into a journey against the grain, backwards toward strong Reformation practices in worship. The vitality and spirituality of singing the psalms, along with hymns, will be discussed. Resources from a leader in this field will be provided.

WORKSHOP 6 > Zwingli’s Recovery of Covenant Theology
Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old will survey and discuss the contributions of the Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli in his recovery and use of covenant theology forworship. This class is also offered for seminary and D. Min. credit. We invite you to learn from this comprehensive research.

WORKSHOP 7 > Communion as a Means of Grace
Many Christians are not be able to articulate why and how communion is a means of grace. This workshop, led by the Stated Clerk of the PCA, Dr. L. Roy Taylor, explores how a biblical understanding and practice of communion helps us to grow in grace.

WORKSHOP 8 > The Elements of Christian Worship
Based on his recent book, In the Splendor of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship for the 21st Century (Tolle Lege Press, 2008), Dr. Jon D. Payne will discuss the various elements of a worship service from the call to worship to benediction. All who regularly design worship services will find this workshop informative and practical. (Materials provided)

LUNCH

1:15 – 3:00 PM Pastors Symposium (open to all)
Join for a discussion with Pastors who will speak to Pastors and other leaders of worship. Come ask your practical questions to and listen to stimulating answers from Dr. T. David Gordon, Dr. Mark Ross, and Dr. Terry L. Johnson.

3:30 – 4:45 PM Erskine D. Min Class/RTS-A
“Bucer on the Reform of Worship” by Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old

6:00 PM Banquet (Fellowship Hall)
Your registration includes this sumptuous banquet. If not registered, tickets at the door are $11.50.

7:30 PM Public Worship
Combined Hymn Festival, led by Dr. Paul S. Jones
Worship Preaching by Dr. Mark Ross/Dr. Sinclair Ferguson
In this public worship service, we will use the Genevan liturgy of John Calvin. The simplicity of this service can be duplicated — and has been — in many churches, small and large.

SATURDAY

9:00 - 10:15 AM WORKSHOPS (choose from among these)

WORKSHOP 9 > The Joy of Hymnody: A Brief Course
Dr. David Hall recently created a 6-week curriculum for reinforcing the vitality of hymnody in Lord’s Day worship. This studyis produced and recommended for participants of [CICW grant]. If your church is looking for practical assistance in growth in singing rich praises, join us to receive a copy of this curriculum and to discuss ways to improve this area. Also Dr. T. David Gordon will summarize his new “Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns.”

WORKSHOP 10 > Calvin’s Psalter of 1542
In this workshop, Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old will survey and discuss the contributions to worship by the Swiss reformer John Calvin. Familiarity with Calvin’s worship theory and practice is essential for appropriating Reformation worship.

WORKSHOP 11 > Did the Puritans Invent the Regulative Principle of Worship?
Rev. Glen Clary, one of the finest young researchers in this field, will present a paper on the Regulative Principle as understood by Zwingli and the Radical Reformers. Come and hear how the magisterial reformers applied Sola Scriptura.

WORKSHOP 12 > Planning Worship
Rev. Carl Robbins, pastor of Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC, will explain the key variables to planning ordinary Lord’s Day services and how to stress biblical appropriation of those aspects. Enjoy the variety, the freshness, and the depth of planning biblically-ladened services for Christ's church.

BREAK

10:30 - 11:45 AM WORKSHOPS (choose from among these)

WORKSHOP 13 > Help for the Church Musician
Dr. Paul Jones and Judy Dodd will lead discuss the challenges for church musicians, and what they’ve learned about seeking to glorify God with traditional music. Tips from these and other leaders in this field will be provided. Come and meet some of the finest practitioners in this field and enjoy our Musicians Luncheon afterwards.

WORKSHOP 14 > John Knox and the Reform of Worship
Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old will explore the contributions of the Scottish reformer John Knox for Reformation worship. This class is also offered for seminary and D. Min. credit. For information contact ross@erskine.edu of Erskine Theological Seminary. For information about M.Div credit contact mkoehn@rts.edu of RTS-Atlanta.

WORKSHOP 15 > Why Systematic Expository Preaching?
Dr. David W. Hall and Dr. Jon D. Payne will lead a session for participants on why preaching sequentially through books of the Bible (lectio continua) should be the primary method of preaching in worship.

WORKSHOP 16 > Must we Sing the Psalms?
Dr. Mark Ross will present the thesis that New Testament worship can no more omit the Psalms than NT ethics can ignore the Law and Prophets. This workshop focuses on Calvin’s treatment of the Psalms as forms of prayer, and as the best pedagogy for prayer in the Scriptures.

LUNCHEON FOR CHURCH MUSICIANS (complimentary but RSVP by October 10)

1:00 -2:00 PM Guest Organ Concerts
Conference Director Judy Dodd will assemble a cadre of guest organists for a free concert at 1:00 PM. Guests may be invited, at no charge. Come enjoy the talents of superb Reformed musicians.

6:45 PM Westminster Organ Concert
An annual Concert of Sacred Organ Music, featuring the Fulbright Scholar Mr. Samuel Metzger, who was until recently the Organist at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and now is Senior Organist at the New Presbyterian Church in Pompano Beach, FL.

7:30 PM Public Worship
Combined Children’s Choirs and Congregational Psalm Sing
Worship/Preaching by Dr. Jon D. Payne
This worship service features the liturgy of John Knox. The emphasis on singing psalms is associated with the Scottish tradition, but it is far older and more durable than that, extending back to the Songs of Zion in the Old Testament and the singing of our Lord Jesus. Dr. Jon D. Payne will bring us another example of expository preaching from the witness of the Reformation, which lives on today.

SUNDAY

Join us for the conclusion of the conference as we join for corporate worship in the beautiful sanctuaries of Midway Presbyterian Church (Powder Springs, GA) or Grace Presbyterian Church (Douglasville, GA).

9:45 AM A Combined Sunday School Class on Worship

11:00 AM Closing Service
The final service of our conference will feature a historic liturgy, used in the regular worship service of our two host churches. Dr. Mark Ross will be preaching at Midway and Dr. Jon Payne at Grace, Douglasville.

6:00 PM Regular Evening Worship at Midway
(with Dr. David W. Hall preaching) or at Douglasville (with Dr. Jon Payne preaching). See how evening services are returning in vitality.