PATHWAYS (Writing a Worship Service)

(#2) How to Follow
a Path

A General Order

• OPENING: we COME to meet God--as he comes to meet us--in worship. This includes a time of preparation for worship ("prelude"), a "call" to worship and time of praise through songs and readings.
• CONFESSION & "CRIES FOR MERCY": a time for acknowledging our sin and need for God's mercy, individually and corporately.
• CELEBRATION OF THE GOOD NEWS: announcing God's answer to our need, which centers in Jesus Christ. Responding to the gospel. This may have many different moods--from pensive meditation on the Cross, to rejoicing at the mercies God pours out on us in Christ and recounting his works (which may include specific testimonies), to declarations of our great hope in the midst of hardship.
• CONSECRATION/COMMITMENT: another piece of our response, giving God our bodies, commiting ourselves to specific actions. This time will often include the OFFERING.
• TIME OF CORPORATE PRAYER: intercession for the church and the world, praying for God's will to be done and his glory made known; based on the good news we have been celebrating.
• COMMUNION: God seals his promises to us and we
• CLOSING: prayers and songs of commitment, assurance, etc. (as most appropriate to the worship and sermon of the day).

How to Use and NOT Use the "Order":Ten (or so) Suggestions

This is NOT a rigid order to be mechanically followed. In broad outline it tends to work, but major pieces may be moved around. For instance, the "time of intercession" may sometimes be combined with the time of confession and "cries for mercy."

Not every piece will appear in every service. And not every 'subsection' will appear. For instance, a "doxology" at the end of the service, or of some other part of the service may be particularly suitable to certain services.

Not every thing we do is easily classified into one of these categories. Many songs, for instance, may function well at different points. Yet they may also function differently at each point. So make the most of this by varying the "timing" of a song or Scripture, but beware of being arbitrary.

On any given Sunday one section may dominate or be more developed. The listings marked with ** are one acknowledgment of this fact.

Use the list to TEST what you are already doing. Are there certain types of songs or passages you rarely or never use?

Some things we do frequently with little or no variation. If one song is always used as a response to prayer or with the "presentation" of the offerings, consider adding others to your "repertoire."

Suggestions provided for times of prayer, for introducing the offering and for communion are to encourage you to think of different aspects of these important activities. The Lord's Supper, for instance, has a far richer meaning than we are likely to capture in one service. Consider focussing on one aspect each time. (Even if there is a fairly set liturgy for this time, some minor variations and introductory remarks, prayers and music used may help to remind people of some aspect we might overlook.)

The sermon is not specifically listed here. Most churches tend to place it after the "main worship time," before communion and a time of closing. But it may fit in several places. Consider at least an occasional variation, such as placing it. For some special services, the sermon may even be divided up, alternating with times of worship.

Also, depending on the sermon, the "sermon response" time may draw from any of the sections listed in this order. Should the response this week be linked with a time of celebration? at time of consecration? a time of confession or intercession? an offering?

Check out Service #2 "The True and Living God." (See also, the related Compass article.)