Samford University’s Center for Worship and the Arts has announced the recipients of the 2024-25 Engaging Worship Program. The program provides grant funding to support innovative ideas submitted by Samford faculty and staff on the topic of worship from a variety of disciplines, methods and theories. Now in its second year, the program enriches worship experiences, engages communities and inspires deeper connections between faith and artistic expression.
The projects listed below submitted from disciplines across Samford University have been awarded a combined total of $10,000 from the Center for Worship and the Arts, which is supported by generous funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.
David Bains | What Do These Stones Mean? Cornerstones and Church Buildings
“What Do These Stones Mean?” aims to explore the significance of church cornerstones for worshipers in Birmingham, Alabama. David Bains, professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, has photographed over 200 church cornerstones and will create a comprehensive, searchable database of these images. These images will be supplemented by interviews with congregation members to better understand the stories behind these stones. The cornerstones, sometimes viewed as intergenerational symbols of hard-won achievements, reflect the deep connection between worship, identity and place.
Robert Elsner | Behind the Lord’s Table: A Guide to the Functions and Meaning of Preparing for Holy Communion Across Christianity
In his project “Behind the Lord’s Table”, Robert Elsner, chair of Psychology, will interview ministers from different denominations about their practices and theology surrounding Holy Communion. Ministers will be filmed while setting up and celebrating Holy Communion, with discussions focusing on Eucharistic theology, soteriology, Christology and other related elements. Elsner’s goal is to make these theological concepts accessible to laypeople of all ages and liturgical traditions.
Debby Haralson and Katelyn Hayes | A Community Introduction to Grief
A partnership between Samford’s Office of Community Engagement and Samford CARES, “A Community Introduction to Grief” will create a cadre curriculum for a community approach to grief. To inform the development of the curriculum, Debby Haralson, director of Community Engagement, and Katelyn Hayes, wellness coordinator, will conduct focus groups with current students, hospice professionals, chaplains and other trauma-informed ministries to learn from those already serving Birmingham through grief support. In addition to creating a curriculum, this project will also offer a one-day retreat to cadre participants to foster community connections and personal rejuvenation.
Mary McCullough | The Representation of Women and Worship in Geneviève Duhamelet’s World War I Narratives
Professor of French Mary McCullough’s academic project explores how faith, faithfulness and good works are expressed as worship in Geneviève Duhamelet’s World War I books, focusing on women’s roles during the war. By analyzing Duhamelet’s largely out-of-print works, the study examines how women’s strong faith helped them navigate the trauma of war, intertwining societal and religious interpretations of their roles as devout Christians during this period.
Jonathan Rodgers | Piano Arrangements for Worship
Jonathan Rodgers, director of the Samford Worship Collective, will produce a music folio (sheet music book) in hard copy form of 10 piano arrangements for private/public worship. Rodgers will also create a website to share the arrangements individually in digital download form.
René Zimny | Ampersand
In his project “Ampersand,”René Zimny, assistant professor of Graphic Design, will create a calendar/poster series of at least 12 pieces (to align with the months of the year) that visualize bible verses using the coordinating conjunction “and” as a core word in the verse structure. For example, Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, AND know that I am God.” These pieces will be a visual and creative exploration of the ampersand (&), an often-overlooked character in written language and graphic design.
These projects exemplify the center’s dedication to fostering innovation and creativity within the realm of worship, enriching the lives of both the Samford community and beyond.
