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Worship Resources:
The Elements of Worship
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Some elements of worship to remember:
This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it necessarily in
order. These are suggestions. Several sample orders of worship
can be found below.
- Call to worship
The call to worship does what it says – it
invited the gathered body to enter the time of worship.
This could be a responsive reading, a prayer, a word spoken
corporately or by the leader alone.
- Prayer of invocation
Just as the call to worship invites
the congregation to engage, the invocation invites the
Spirit of God to be present and enliven our worship. Yet
we know that the Spirit is there without our even asking!
Sometimes the invocation simply recognizes the Spirit's
presence.
- Hymns and congregational singing
The church has three
commonly used resources: Hymnal:
a worship book (the blue hymnal), Sing the Journey (the
green book), meant for use during ‘ordinary time' between
Pentecost and Advent, and Sing the Story (the
purple book), meant for use during the time from Advent
to Pentecost.
The books could very well be used during other
times of the year and other resources are definitely
okay but can take some extra planning if the song needs
to be printed, projected or have a musical accompaniment
that is not included in the books that we have. There are
several guitarists and other musicians in the congregation
that would be willing to be asked. Introducing too many
new songs into a service can be awkward for people. It
helps to have a strong leader for new material.
Because we
often use at least two songbooks, and sometimes supplement
with readings and hymns that are in the printed order of
worship. That can be confusing for newcomers, and even for
long-time members of the church who need to flip between
three or four items to get to the next thing.
It may be helpful,
as you announce the next hymn or reading, to carry the book
or piece of paper with you, so that everyone can see where
they might find what they'll need to participate. Give people
a chance to find the piece, perhaps by saying one or two
things about the hymn, or just allowing a little silence
before beginning.
- Scripture
The lectionary is a resource that offers an
Old Testament, Epistle (letters by Paul and others to individuals
and churches), Psalm and Gospel (stories about Jesus' life)
each Sunday. We use these during the seasons from Advent
to Lent often as a part of resources from Mennonite Church
USA in the Leader magazine.
http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/ is
one place to find lectionary readings. It is also appropriate
to choose scriptures based on a theme, to study a book or
in other ways. Because scripture reading is a part of the
worship experience, it should be read clearly, loudly and
slowly to make it understandable. It is also a good practice
to name the translation of scripture being used, especially
if it is other that the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
that is often used in this congregation.
- Dramatic reading
Prepared readings, adaptations of scripture,
stories appropriate to the theme or scripture of the worship
can be wonderful additions to the experience of worship
and can use the gifts of people in our midst.
- Children's Story
Children should be kept in mind in all
parts of worship for which they are present, since worship
is an act for all the people of God to participate in.
But the children's story is a special time of relating
especially for them. Many adults find this to be a time
for learning as well since object lessons and a simplified
explanation of the theme are useful to everyone.
It is important
to pay attention to microphones and sound during this
time since wireless or hand-held mics are often used.
Speak directly into the hand-held and if it's used for
the children, have them do the same.
Remember to pass around
the fish for the offering.
The children often leave for
Atrium or Nursery after the children' time so the timing
of the Children's Story should be such that they have been
in worship for about a half hour before they leave (around
10:30).
- Sermon or Meditation
The sermon is a time of teaching
and sharing for the congregation and has many different
presentation styles. Often but not always the sermon is
offered by a pastor. There are many capable and interesting
people in the congregation who are also skilled at preaching
and storytelling.
- Silence
It is often appropriate to have a time of silence
for reflection or prayer related to scripture, a theme,
prayer or the sermon.
- Prayer
There are many reasons to include prayers: related
to the theme of worship, calling on God's presence in worship,
blessing for special occasions, commissioning people for
a particular work, inviting blessing on a particular event,
interceding on behalf of the congregation, persons, the
community etc.
- Confession
Confession has two forms. Confession of faith is
a statement of belief by the congregation or an individual.
Creeds are a form of this type of confession. Confession
of sin is a statement of wrongdoing and seeking
God's forgiveness. Psalm 51 is a classic example of confession.
(“For I know my sins and my transgression is ever before
me…” Ps. 51:3)
- Communion
Also known as Eucharist (thanksgiving) this
is a celebration that memorializes Jesus' last meal with
his disciples in which he offered them bread and wine and
asked them to remember his body that would be broken for
them, and his blood which would be a new covenant. We continue
to celebrate communion to remember Jesus' life and death
and resurrection, and to be together as a community of
believers.
We celebrate communion in many ways: around tables
in groups, passing the elements to each other while seated,
coming to stations around the congregation to receive
the elements from servers and more.
- Offering
There are baskets to collect the offering that
are usually kept either in the podium or in the worship
storage room. It is appropriate to say a prayer for the
offering either before or after it is collected. The baskets
can be started in the front and collected by the worship
leader when they've worked their way to the back. Alternately,
people can be invited forward to make their offerings.
They may be placed on the alter or back under the podium.
Music during this time can be provided by the pianist or
another musician.
- Special Music
There are many gifts for music in our congregation.
There may be someone that can use these gifts for the movement
of worship. An offering of music does not have to be explicitly
religious in nature in order to be worshipful. Often the
offering time is used for special music.
- Prayers of the People
Pastoral Care Team provides a member
of its team to offer prayers.
- Sharing
The second Sunday of the month is for open sharing.
It is helpful to remind people to say their names and to
speak directly into the mike.
- Passing the Peace:
This could be as simple as saying:
peace be with you/and also with you, or it could be expanded
into a short time of greeting and sharing with neighbours.
- Other Rituals:
Anointing, foot washing, bringing forward
of gifts, laying on hands, love feast are just few examples
of other rituals that could be used in worship. It can
be meaningful to create rituals that fit with the service
as a way of allowing people to embody their worship and
connect to God and each other.
- Benediction
A benediction blesses the congregation on
their way. It begins “May you…” or “May we…” or contains a blessing. For
example “May the Spirit of God go with us from this place.”
- Sending
A sending often offers a challenge or sends the
congregation on their way. For example, “Go in peace to
love and serve the Lord.”
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