For many past EcoFaith Summits we have envisioned worship as an experience that frames, informs, and inspires the powerful presentations at our EcoFaith Summits. For our April 18^th, 2026 Summit we are envisioning and planning worship as weaving together the whole of the Summit. The scripture, prayers, singing, litanies are woven together with the presentations of five young, dynamic speakers (“we-note speakers”, we have been calling them), Action Stations, Fire Seed Sessions, and presentation tables hosted by our many partners.

Woven into that tapestry are visual art, poetic art, dramatic art, and musical art. Painter and theologian Paul Oman will be creating a large painting during the worship of the day, based on the worship theme of “The Road to Emmaus.” As we participate in worship, sing, pray, join in litany, and are surrounded by enactment by young voices of the Emmaus story, we will be experiencing that story become visual in Paul’s painting. Poet Joe Davis, who has been a powerful voice in renewing our church and including all ages, will lead us in his inclusive, energizing poetry and song. We will revisit the vitality of church camp, Bible camp, youth camp, in the singing of fun and profound camp songs related to our theme of fire and of the Emmaus story. Lacy Tooker-Kirkevold, a Twin Cities youth ministry specialist and member of the Minneapolis EcoFaith Team, and friends will lead us in these “campy” and vibrant songs. As in the Emmaus story, our hope is to have our hearts “burning within us.” Drama: We will have the inclusion of very young voices participating in the drama of worship and teens and young adults enacting the Emmaus Road story. This all-inclusive worship experience is so multi-faceted that it is, in fact, making our worship planning team a bit dizzy.

The worship team includes our Summit Planning Team chair Rev. Emily Meyer, Rev. Dianne Loufman (whose church hosts the event), Rev. Daphne Urban, and Rev. Jonathan Dodson, afore-mentioned youth minister and activist Lacy Tooker-Kirkevold, and me, Paul Jacobson, as facilitator and composer in residence.

Speaking of composition, it is hoped that you will experience a new organ toccata entitled “The Refining Fire Toccata.” (You can tell we’re having fun!) This toccata will be for organ 4 hands, the upper hands being those of First Lutheran organist Karen Sande and the lower hands being mine (Paul Jacobson’s). As you might guess, it will be heavily influence by Handel’s aria from Messiah “But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming/For He Is Like a Refining Fire”. The toccata will be used several times as a call to gather, an attention getter, so to speak.

In the middle of the day, packed into a ½ hour worship time, we will sing Rory Cooney’s “Canticle of the Turning”, a fiery Magnificat paraphrase, accompanied by a Celtic-style ensemble, to which a 5^th verse will be added, a “Canticle of the Burning.” Joe Davis will lead us in poetry and song. And master painter Paul Oman’s painting will be revealed and completed. All in ½ hour!

So, there you have it in a nutshell, or perhaps a fireball: our EcoFaith 2026 all-inclusive worship experience. It’s only weeks away. Come join us to listen, learn, participate, be inspired, and yes, to worship our God who daily causes our hearts to burn within us.

Thank you!

Paul Jacobson