January 24, 2005 -
Worship Leadership
A rotating schedule is prepared for all active deacons to participate as Deacon of the Service with a platform responsibility. You will have adequate notice of which Sunday you will serve. To help you prepare you will be mailed an order of worship from the music office prior to the Sunday you are to serve which will indicate how you will participate in worship. Your effective leadership is a vital factor in our worship experience. Meet on the second floor (just outside the music office) for seating arrangements and instructions 15 minutes prior to the service. All worship participants are asked to sit on the platform (choir members can remain in the choir loft and move forward at the appropriate time).
Pulpit Etiquette
The following instructions are intended to foster an atmosphere of worship, to ensure some uniformity among worship leaders, and to help you feel more comfortable on the chancel.
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Chancel seating puts you in full view of the congregation. Worship leaders should sit straight, giving attention to the speaker or music, being careful not to cross their legs or lean over with elbows on knees.
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Dress is important; please plan ahead. Keep in mind that the chancel is elevated when choosing the style and length of your attire. Solids are preferable to bold prints. Men should wear suits with ties rather than sports coats or open collars. Women should wear professional attire and avoid short skirts or skirts with splits that will make it difficult to sit gracefully.
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Timing between worship elements is important to the flow of the service. Be ready to move to the pulpit or microphone as soon as the person or group before you concludes. There are occasions when a pause or silence is appropriate; in most cases, however, one element leads to the next, and worship leaders should be prepared to move. Those leaders coming from the choir area should begin moving to the platform before the previous element has concluded rather than keeping the congregation waiting.
Prayers
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Introducing your prayer: It is not always necessary to call the congregation to prayer verbally, as the preceding element often prepares for the prayer which follows. If you feel it is necessary, however, a simple preparatory statement such as “let us pray” or “may we pray” is sufficient to initiate a spirit of corporate meditation.
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The language of corporate prayer: Avoid usage of first person pronouns (I, me, my, etc.), as the plural form is more appropriate to the setting. For instance: “We offer our prayers in Jesus’ name.” Please end by saying, “Amen,” so that worshipers will know the prayer has concluded.
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Types of prayers: Worship leaders may be called upon to offer prayers of invocation, dedication, or benediction (see below). Although it may be tempting to cover other worthy topics, please keep in mind the specific purpose of each prayer in the service as a whole. Careful consideration of what has preceded or will follow might give direction to the language of your prayer.
Invocation: The invocation is a brief opening prayer in which we acknowledge
God’s presence and offer to God adoration and praise. The task of the worship
leader is to center our attention on the worship of God and lead us to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to receive from God.
Dedication: This is a specific prayer that God will honor our gifts and use our offerings for God’s glory. It may include a statement of thanksgiving for God’s gifts, a reference to the use of our resources, the dedication of our lives, and other matters of stewardship.
Benediction: The prayer of benediction (literally, “good word”) is a simple statement of blessing, hope, or mission pronounced over the congregation. It is brief by definition and may be spoken with arms outstretched, as if to embrace the people of God.
Readings
Scripture reading is vital to worship at Wilshire. Our services contain at least two passages of Scripture that are chosen carefully each week.
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Translation: Readers must use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, which is printed in the worship order. A copy of your passage in the NRSV translation is enclosed.
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Public reading: Please familiarize yourself with the assigned verses to ensure the most effective reading in corporate worship. Read slowly and boldly with expression. It is a good idea to practice reading the passage aloud several times before the service.
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The Pulpit: Please carry your Bible with you to the pulpit for the reading of Scripture, even if you insert and read from the enclosed copy, so that congregants make a visual connection between the spoken word and the biblical text.
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Introducing the reading: Readings should be introduced from the pulpit by a simple statement, such as: “Our Old Testament reading is from the book of Deuteronomy,” or simply, “A reading from Deuteronomy.” After your introduction, pause to give congregants a moment to find the Scripture. [Note: Selected texts may be referred to more specifically as readings from the prophets, the gospels, or the epistles, as in “a reading from the prophet, Isaiah,” “the gospel of Matthew,” or “the epistle to the Romans.”]
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Gospel reading: If your passage is from one of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), ask the congregation to stand after introducing the reading. At the conclusion of the Gospel passage, lead the people in the response printed in the order of service:
Leader: This is the word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Then motion for the congregation to be seated.
Again, these are merely suggestions that will help to enhance our corporate worship. Your own creativity is valued as you think about your specific responsibility in the service.
As you enter the service, please do so with your heart and your mind already centered on the worship of God.
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