THE WORSHIP SERVICE: WHAT, WHY AND HOW

WHAT IS A WORSHIP SERVICE?

•    Intentional

Worship services don't "just happen "; They are carefully planned

•    Communal

While individuals may experience private times of worship, a worship service is, by definition, a communal experience.

•   Transcendent/ Immanent

Worship services connect participants with a larger and deeper reality. At their best, they push the boundaries of our experience and awareness, putting us in touch with the pervasive mystery that is the source of our power and life.

•   Participatory

Worship services create a climate that increases the likelihood that participants will be moved to worship; but participants must open themselves to the mystery that surrounds and pervades our being. Worship is not something that can be "done to” a person. We must bring our own receptivity to the service.

•    Transformational

All worship services are designed to be vehicles for personal and communal change. If a participant leaves the service unchanged, she/he has not experienced worship.

 

 

WHY CREATE/PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNAL WORSHIP?

•   We are communal creatures; it is natural for us to worship together.

•   We all hunger for the outcomes of effective worship services:

•   Shared experience

•   Connecting with a larger reality

•   Expressing our gratitude

•   Stretching our awareness

•   Challenging the status quo

•   Finding comfort, hope, strength

•   Determining new directions for living

•   Becoming a better person (more: centered, clear, connected, whole, loving, careful, peace-filled, hope-filled, -wise, committed, grateful, faith-filled...)

CREATING EFFECTIVE WORSHIP SERVICES

 

1.   CLARIFY PURPOSE AND DESIRED OUTCOMES

 

KEY QUESTIONS: "What do we hope to do/facilitate/instill/impart through this worship service?" "How will people be changed by this worship experience?"

•   Healed? Comforted? Filled with gratitude, awe, hope...?

•   Moved to live differently? In what way(s)?

•    Strengthened in their faith? Which principle, value, source?

•   New understandings? How will this new knowing move participants beyond "convincement" to "conversion"?

 

2.  ASSEMBLE SERVICE ELEMENTS

 

KEY QUESTIONS: "Does this element serve the overarching purpose of this worship service?" "How will this element of the service increase the likelihood of participants being transformed?"

•    Music: Prelude, postlude, offertory, anthem/s, focus piece/s, meditation music, hymns

•    Readings: opening words, chalice lighting, "text", scripture and/or focus reading/s, responsive readings, closing words/ benediction

•    Special elements: children's moments/story, Joys and Sorrows, words for the offering, meditation moments and/or prayers, announcements and/or discussion (the last two almost never help to create a worshipful climate or serve the central purpose of the service)

•   Normative service elements. These vary, but all congregations have some of them, and congregants will be uncomfortable if most of them are missing in any given worship service: Chalice lighting song, doxology, reading the mission statement, affirmation of faith, singing the children to their classrooms, sharing the peace, greeting your neighbors, passing the attendance register, food offering, responsive song following meditation, joys and sorrows or offering, communal spoken and/or sung benediction...

•    Ceremonial elements: Child Dedication, Communion, Water Sharing, Christmas Eve Candle lighting, Seder, Coming of Age, Installation of RE Teachers, board, Lay Ministers; Unsung Hero recognition; Building/Organ/Piano Dedication ...

•   Transitional considerations: use of music, silence, movement, light changes, dance, etc. to smooth the transition between service elements.

3.   MEETING DIVERSE NEEDS / HONING TRANSLATION SKILLS

 

KEY QUESTION: " Is there anyone I know, or don't yet know (expect visitors!) who will leave this service without experiencing my/our sincere attempt to address his/her needs/expectations ?"

•   Does this service contain opportunities for all congregants to: be spiritually nourished; express gratitude for the many gifts of life; be comforted in times of duress; feel connected to the source of their strength and hope (not necessarily yours!); find direction and meaning; feel connected to their religious community; be strengthened in their faith; and depart more able to embrace the joys and endure the difficulties of their daily lives. All worship services must strive to do all of this regardless of the central theme.

•   Do the elements of the service have sufficient theological diversity to speak directly

to the theists, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists and others in the congregation?

•   Do the elements of the service have sufficient diversity in form  to engage people of all learning styles? (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)

to the theists, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists and others in the congregation?

•   Is the language inclusive of differing physical abilities, genders, ages, orientations, races, cultures, religious background, learning style and educational level?

•   "rise as you are able” or “rise in body or spirit” rather than "please stand"

•   "parent(s) or custodian(s)" rather than "mother and/or father"

•   "bleak or desolate" rather than "dark or black night of the soul"

•   "murky and clear" rather than "black and white"

•   "stupid" rather than "dumb"

•   "Director of Religious Education" rather than "DRE"

 

4.   CREATE A WELCOMING CLIMATE

KEY QUESTION: "Are the entry path and sanctuary physically and emotionally warm and welcoming in atmosphere?" "Is there anything that might inhibit someone's receptivity to this worship experience?" Remember always that the more considerate you are of other people's comfort needs, the more open they will be to your message.

•   Are there friendly, trained greeters and ushers welcoming people and providing them with whatever information / help they need to feel included? (worship bulletins, hearing devices, directions to the nursery or the "baby room", help in finding a seat, introduction to person sitting nearby if that seems appropriate.) Note: Don't seat newcomers near the front; try to seat them near members of a similar age; encourage early arrivers to move to the center of the rows to leave less disruptive seating for later arrivals. (Most visitors are not early arrivers)

•   Is the worship space clearly defined and "set apart"? Is there a focal point for the service?

Are seats arranged so that everyone has a good view?

Is appropriate seating set aside for people with special needs? (Parents/custodians of

infants; hearing, visually and mobility impaired)

How are the acoustics? Do you need an amplification system?

Are the entrance and worship areas tidy and clean?

Is the worship area aesthetically pleasing?

Are the seats comfortable?

How is the temperature? Do you need to turn up the heat? Turn on a fan? Open a window?

Are there any distracting noises? Do you need to close a door or window... or ask some people to please take their conversations elsewhere.

5.  REHEARSE

•   Pay special attention to timing. Make certain that all participants have a script and the elements take no longer than the allotted time. Get an accurate time for any choral and/or instrumental musical pieces.

•   Move through the entire service to check for any "glitches".

•   Arrange for smooth entry and exit of choir and musicians

•   Ensure that the sound and light technician knows her/his cues and fully understands the instructions.

•   Check out the microphones, general acoustics (have someone stand at the back, and at the end of different rows to determine whether service leaders can be easily heard and seen)

•   Finalize the aesthetic plan (chancel decorations, altar cloths, candles, seating arrangements, clothing etc.)

•   Locate all of the service "props" (candles and candle holders, music stands, vases, chimes, gong, etc.

•   confirm remaining details (Who's bringing the flowers? Typing and duplicating the worship bulletin? Setting up the worship space? Bringing the bread? Etc..)

 

Remember that people go to religious education classes and/or lectures to be educated. We go to worship services to be changed.

 

Never mistake the instrument for the music. Know that the participants will hear/learn/ be moved by/ things you didn't intentionally incorporate into the service...things you never said...or didn't intend to say. Never confuse the elements or the delivery of the service for the "real thing"... We are simply creating a space and moment in time when the Spirit of Life is invited to move in and among us.