Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foundations for sacred actions -- Christian wedding -- Christian funeral -- Christian baptism -- Table of the Lord -- Healing service -- Foot washing service and the love feast -- Child dedication and alternative rites -- Serving as a rituals architect: how to create meaningful rituals for corporate worship -- Prayer forms -- Orders of services.

"This book takes the principles found in Constance Cherry's successful The Worship Architect--in which she provided dynamic blueprints for designing worship services--and applies them to special services in the life of the church. Cherry, a worship professor and practitioner, offers theological reflection, practical guidance, and suggested resources to help worship leaders and ministry students in training to create meaningful special services related to the sacraments, life passages, and other occasions. Cherry sets forth a process concerning worship design for special services and demonstrates how this process is conducive to virtually any style of worship practiced today in a myriad of Christian communities. She includes a model order for each service type, including weddings, funerals, baptisms, child dedications, Holy Communion, and more. The book not only explains what leaders do in order to preside at special services and how to do it, but also why they make certain choices. Each chapter includes discussion questions, practical exercises, and a basic glossary" -- Publisher description.