School of Graduate Research Student Theses
Permanent URI for this community
Browse
Browsing School of Graduate Research Student Theses by Subject "D - Liturgy"
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- PublicationExamining Contemporary Congregationsl Song - beyond sung theology(2013-05-02) Magee, Fay R.What Christians sing as they worship is a focus of considerable attention in the contemporary church and yet it has been a contentious issue at almost every period of Christian history. Since the mid-twentieth century, significant social, cultural, and technological changes, all against a backdrop of increasing global consciousness, have affected the way music functions and the ways opinions about repertoire and performance practices are formed. The primary focus of this project is the analysis of eight songs composed between 1983 and 2001. The essential question is how musical analysis contributes to a greater understanding of the nature of contemporary congregational song and various performance practices. This project will focus on analysis of harmonic structures as the major element. This will provide a framework from which comparisons of other musical elements can lead to a greater awareness of the issues of music and worship, and of music and theology. Developing a greater understanding of how music works enables more receptive and discerning listening and participation. The more difficult aspect of congregational song, that of it being not just 'sung theology’, can be explored to some degree from a clearer understanding of the musical and textual components and their interrelationship. Various writers are contributing significant insights to how music itself provides meaning and thus how the singing of congregational songs contains and conveys meaning. As Don Saliers suggests, ‘(t)he question of meaning in music hinges on the interaction between order, sound, and the range of other senses – visual kinetic, gestural – it conjoins…. Music is not therefore simply an ornament of something already understood, such as a text.’1 Taking account of a range of perspectives, the analysis and comparison of the songs can contribute to a more constructive critique of contemporary trends and what happens when congregations sing.
- PublicationHow Art Stimulates Theological Reflection in the Conversation Between a Work of Art, the Artist and the Viewer(2010) Mallaby, LeanneThe question addressed in this supervised research project is how Art, particularly the visual arts, stimulates Theological Reflection and evokes meaning. The study developed an understanding of the distinctive impact of the visual culture in which the art is formed and viewed, and the ways in which people experience and express meaning in the conversation with art. In particular this study explored conversations that took place between artists and viewers as they engaged with art, and developed an understanding of how Art creates an opportunity to reflect upon life questions. The research involved four artists presenting work to groups of viewers. The groups reflected varying involvement in Christian church life, from ministers in churches to people who have no connection with local church. Viewers were encouraged to engage with a work of art on their own, before entering a conversation with others in a group. The following week, each group had the opportunity for conversation with the artist. Qualitative Research methods were used to gather the data and draw themes. The primary method used was Phenomenological methodology, with an auxiliary process of Grounded Theory. Themes reflecting the experience of the participants noted the group distinctives, the significance of art as a meeting place, the stimulus of imagination and the expression of experience in terms of metaphor. The experience of mystery and the openness to transformation were significant themes. The findings of the research affirm the engagement in the creative process to its point of communication as a stimulus for transformation and further engagement in the creative process itself. Within the conversation between art, artist and viewer a dynamic of understanding unfolds which has the potential to reveal something of the very nature of a creative God. Indeed, the conversation takes us to the heart of our very image of God. The study has potential significance of affirming and stimulating more intentional valuing of the visual image amongst the churches and in the formation of ministers. People in the Christian community may develop an understanding and valuing of the image as a significant communicator of meaning.
- PublicationLiturgia Dei: Worshipping the Worshipping God(2024) Couchman, AdamThe task of this thesis is to offer a definition of worship (liturgia Dei) that incorporates the hypostatic union of the divine and human natures in Jesus Christ, the perichoretic relationship of the Trinity, and the implications of both of those doctrines for the church’s ongoing worship. This will be achieved through an investigation of the worshipping Jesus Christ in the light of the church’s confession that this one person is fully human and fully divine. In addressing this problem this thesis considers the following research questions. How should worship be defined in the light of its performance by Jesus Christ? How is his performance of worship to be understood in the light of the church’s confession that he is both fully divine and fully human? What is revealed about the relationship between the divine and human natures in the person of Jesus Christ when he performs worship? What is revealed about intra-trinitarian relations when he performs worship? How does humanity reflect (imago Dei) the God who worships (liturgia Dei)? In what ways does this investigation impact the church’s performance of worship? It will be shown that worship is eternally taking place between the divine persons of Father, Son, and Mother Spirit. As such, anthropocentric definitions of worship fail to account for this eternal performance. In their place a theocentric definition of worship will be offered; the eternal glorification of God that extends from, and returns to, the eternal relations of Father, Son, and Mother Spirit. The church joins in this worship to, through, and with Jesus Christ.
- PublicationLiturgia Dei: Worshipping the worshipping God(2024) Couchman, AdamThe task of this thesis is to offer a definition of worship (liturgia Dei) that incorporates the hypostatic union of the divine and human natures in Jesus Christ, the perichoretic relationship of the Trinity, and the implications of both of those doctrines for the church’s ongoing worship.This will be achieved through an investigation of the worshipping Jesus Christ in the light of the church’s confession that this one person is fully human and fully divine. In addressing this problem this thesis considers the following research questions. How should worship be defined in the light of its performance by Jesus Christ? How is his performance of worship to be understood in the light of the church’s confession that he is both fully divine and fully human? What is revealed about the relationship between the divine and human natures in the person of Jesus Christ when he performs worship? What is revealed about intra-trinitarian relations when he performs worship? How does humanity reflect (imago Dei) the God who worships (liturgia Dei)? In what ways does this investigation impact the church’s performance of worship? It will be shown that worship is eternally taking place between the divine persons of Father, Son, and Mother Spirit. As such, anthropocentric definitions of worship fail to account for this eternal performance. In their place a theocentric definition of worship will be offered; the eternal glorification of God that extends from, and returns to, the eternal relations of Father, Son, and Mother Spirit. The church joins in this worship to, through, and with Jesus Christ.
- PublicationTelling Stories: Applying Narrative Form of Communication for Inclusive Worship(2013-05-02) Marak, Marlene C.Using a method of “narrative communication” that integrates feminist perspective with aspects of narrative theory and Christian communication theory, I look at the significance of storytelling as a medium for evolving inclusive worship. The premise of the research is that storytelling can be an ideological tool to challenge gender segregation and contribute towards overcoming gender and other discriminatory boundaries.
- PublicationThe Liturgical Music of Inner-City Melbourne Anglican Worshipping Communities(2017-07) Nicholls, PhilipThis thesis considers six themes in relation to a small geographical area of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne: what is ‘traditional church music’ and is it no longer relevant? Does ‘a diversity of musical styles’ exist, and where has this diversity come from? Is diversity a bad thing? And, does it matter if there is ‘little common ground’? A review of relevant scholarship and a brief survey of church music history provide the bases for this study, which develops a questionnaire and catchment for a survey. The survey results are analysed critically to test the above themes. This thesis proposes a definition of ‘traditional church music’; shows it is relevant to part of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne; highlights ‘a diversity of musical styles’ between worshipping communities and their sources; argues that diversity is positive; and highlights problems with, and proposes remedies for, the lack of musical common ground.
- PublicationThe Singing Heart: An Analysis of the Morning and Evening Songs of Paul Gerhardt as Exercises in Evangelical Piety.(2014-02-24) Prenzler, MatthiasPaul Gerhardt (1607-1676) was a German Lutheran pastor, and writer of spiritual songs. Gerhardt was strongly influenced by a devotional movement, often referred to as the Neue Frömmigkeit, that was evident within German Lutheranism during the first half of the seventeenth century. The influences of this piety movement are clearly evident in Gerhardt’s songs, especially his three morning and two evening songs that are known today. These five songs can be considered sung devotional meditations with meditational devices woven into their texts that naturally lead those who are singing to meditate upon the scriptures. Many of these devices are able to be examined and explored through textual analysis. This study seeks firstly to examine the background to Gerhardt’s morning and evening songs; and secondly, to engage in the analysis of selected song texts in order to investigate how they may indeed be considered exercises in evangelical piety.
- PublicationThe Use of Contemporary Music in the Christian Religious Education of Young Adults(2010) Jurd, PatrickContemporary Christian religious educators need to establish respectful relationships with young adults (YAs) in order to be able to engage in dialogue. Such an approach is found in 'communio' theology. Research in Australian Cathoic schools indicates a disparity in the views of students and teachers regarding the effectiveness of the religious education programme. Developmental research indicates that YAs are disposed towards thinking and acting justly. The main developmental task of YAs is the gaining of identity that is reinforced through rituals. Contemporary music is ubiquitous in the lives of YAs and could be said to be their 'lingua franca'. Therefore contemporary music and video is an effective means for religious educators to dialoge with YAs. Contemporary music, which frequently has a justice focus, can be used in the relogious education programme to help YAs grasp the justice message of the Gospels. Groome's shared praxis approach is adapted and examples detailed.
- Publication“This Assembly of Believers”: The Boundless Riches of Christ in the Church at Prayer(2019) Cones, BryanWhile “diversity” in the church at prayer is widely desired, differences of gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and cultural heritage are overlooked as sources of liturgical theology. Exploring such differences for their theological significance, this thesis examines rites of baptism, eucharist, healing, and marriage to sketch a pastoral liturgical theology of the assembly in its embodied particularities.