Perhaps this has already been dealt with in a sufficient way, in which case I apologize for wasting anyone's time, but I was reading through the pop theology thread and towards the bottom Kalled2Preach mentions the usage of other instruments in worship. The response given him concerned how contemporary services seem to be more supported by the baby boomer generation rather than the modern one. I think that is a perfect lead into this question that I have.
What are some historical practices of worship which are not used in the church today? I was reading through my Theological dictionary and the article in it about worship was talking about how modern services are set up and frankly, it sounded like it was describing some kind of sexual experience or something, saying that the sermon was the climax of the service where the pent up emotion created earlier on is let loose. The article then contrasted this with a more liturgical style which was said to be more self controlled and orderly. Some of what was said rings true, it touches a dissatisfaction I have with some of the things I see in the services I attend, the order of the first was exactly the same as the one we use sunday mornings. Something in me desires that old time religion, and not the camp meeting stuff my folks think of, but authentic Christian worship which has roots and meaning.
I have heard of responsive readings and written prayers and using the Lord's Supper more than once a quarter and having a meal after the Lords Supper. I thought it was so cool when I finally learned the reasons and meanings behind some of the garmets worn by the Catholic and (semi-Catholic?) priest.
Also, being a Baptist, why don't we use the word Bishop or any of those like terms anymore? I mean, Bishop and Elder were terms used in the Bible, why can't we use em today? Is it b/c T.D. Jakes does and the SBC still has something against black people? Personally I'd like to go in and be able to use a term other than Pastor or Brother when speaking about my Preacher. Of course, I'd also like to see Deacons who do something other than act like lost people, but that's a different matter.
Dear BP (don't mean to be too informal -- let me know if that moniker offends and I'll quit),
I don't want to kindle any worship wars, but I will take a moment to describe what we've been doing since about 1560 or so. Actually, we do deviate slightly from the old Scottish liturgy in the sense that we have weekly communion (following the liturgy of the word we have the liturgy of the upper room). This practice is more in line with Calvin's approach to worship than the old Scottish approach.
Liturgy of the Word
1. Call to Worship. The purpose of the call is two-fold. It is first to remind people of their duty to worship God in the public assembly; and second to set a line of demarcation between that which is included in worship and that which is previous to worship (individual preparation, etc). This is generally taken from the Psalms.
2. Invocation. This is a prayer offered up by the pastor on behalf of the congregation, asking God to accept our worship as it is offered throught the mediation of Jesus Christ. As with all our prayers (except for the congregation reciting the Lord's Prayer), it is extempore.
3. First Psalm. Self-explanatory?
4. First Reading. In the AM service, the first reading is from the NT. In the PM service, the first reading is from the OT. It consists of at least one chapter of Scripture, followed by an explanation as the minister deems necessary to the understanding of the least skillful present. I typically keep this very simple -- at the level one might expect to find in family devotions.
5. Public Prayer. Either the minister or a worship assistant will pray. It will follow the skeletal outline of the Lord's Prayer in the AM worship, but will descend to particular prayer requests in the PM worship. Especially in the AM worship it consists in confession of sin. We regard this as necessary to approach God. While it may not be clear from a simple list like this, the concept of corporate worship is to approach God. Thus from the beginning to the end, that is what should be on our minds, both as worship leaders and as worshippers.
6. Second Reading. This is another chapter reading. In the AM it is from the OT and in the PM it is from the NT. Once again there will be a short explanation.
7. Second Psalm. Self-explanatory?
8. Prayer before Sermon. Specifically asking for the presence of the Holy Ghost in the preaching of the Word, for Christ to be glorified in the preaching, and for the conscionable hearing to work grace in us.
9. Sermon. Typically I preach from the NT in the AM and from the OT in the PM. This year, however, I am preaching through the Heidelberg Catechism in the PM service.
10. Prayer after Sermon. Asks for specific blessings on particular aspects of the preached word. Requests that applications be brought home to the hearers and that there be the fruit of the preached word in the lives of God's people.
Liturgy of the Upper Room
1. Table Talk. Generally, this talk will be an encouragement to look to Christ in his person, work, offices, titles, attributes, etc. More often than not, there will also be an encouragement to consider our own sinfulness and Christ's perfection; confessing our sins and turning to him in renewed faith. This concludes with a call for those who have been admitted to the table to come and partake.
2. Procession to the Table. Sometimes, in the past, as people come to the table, they sing a Psalm as they come. We no longer practice this, thinking that it results in a confounding of the elements of worship. The Sr. and Ass't. Minister remain standing at their places while the communicants gather round the table and take their seats. The Ass't. minister is the last seated, while the Sr. Minister remains standing and leads in opening prayer. The opening prayer thanks God for the grace that is in Jesus Christ and exhibited in the meal before the communicants. He confesses corporate sins, asks forgiveness in Christ, and closes in the Name of Jesus.
3. Passing the Bread. The Minister explains that on the night Jesus was betrayed, he took bread and blessed and broke it, saying "This is my body which is broken for you." He then breaks the loaf in two pieces and passes them in either direction around the table. When everyone else has broken a piece for himself, the Minister breaks his piece off last (as befitting a servant) and all partake of the body of Christ by faith.
4. Passing the Cup. The Ass't. Minister (or Sr. Minister if there is no assistant) prays similarly, explains that Christ then divided the cup and said "This cup is the New Covenant in my Blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." He passes the cups in either direction, serving himself last. All then partake of the blood of Christ by faith.
5. Prayer for God's Blessing. One or the other of the Ministers prays for God's blessing upon the sacrament and dismisses the people to their seats for the singing of the final Psalm.
6. Third Psalm. Self-explanatory?
7. Benediction. The worship service has been leading up to this moment. The people have approached God and worshipped him, expecting his blessing upon them. Now the Minister, speaking by the authority of his office, pronounces God's blessing upon the congregation and dismisses them in prayer.
There ya go. In the past (up to about the 1870s or so) we used a common cup. The invention of germs in the 19th century led us to use individual cups in the Lord's Supper. I would prefer to return to the old practice, but it is hard to convince people to give up "the yuck factor." <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bravo.gif" alt="" />
Hi Richard, Services in my (Baptist) church are not too different to that which you describe and also date back to the mists of time (well, about 1968, actually <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). They are usually constituted thus:- 1. Call to worship (Short reading) 2. Hymn of Praise 3. Prayer of invocation 4. Collection (Definitely part of worship!) 5. OT Reading 6. Hymn (or metrical Psalm) 7. Long Prayer (inc. Confession) 8. NT reading 9. Hymn/Psalm 10.Sermon (Preceded by prayer unless already covered in Long Prayer) 11. Hymn/Psalm If the Lord's Supper is being celebrated (twice a month)then we have 12. Fencing of table 13. Prayer of access 14. Brief Communion Address 15. Prayer of thanks for the bread 16. Distribution of bread 17. Prayer of thanks for the wine 18. Distribution of wine 19. Closing Hymn 20. Benediction This is No 12 if there's no Lord's Supper
The Hymns may be old or new, but they are checked for theological content. Our hymnbook does contain a number of Psalm settings, but I would not care to be an exclusive Psalmist.
You'll notice that we try to follow the order 1. Word 2. Response by congregation (ie. Hymn) 3. Prayer
First let me say that I do not mind the shortening of the name, though I do think if we shortened to many other names on the board it might get difficult to keep track of, so I just use Copy and Paste when responding to someone with their name.
Thank you for your reply, and I thank the other guys that have made replies here. I was curious what denomination you were, I didn't catch that.
As for me, I attend a Southern Baptist church with a Pastor who's been there 33 years and who preaches from what I would probably call a Landmark Baptist stance if I understand it right, and who uses the Faith and Message almost word for word in difficult issues. He's also Kentuckian (we only just got him to wear normal shoes instead of Cowboy boots within the last decade, and that only a few days out of the year). I respect him and his long standing record, but the church is more likely to do what he says than to publically disagree or advise/ask for something different/right.
Our order of service (First Service) is a song played on the organ as during which the staff and 1 or 2 deacons of the week walk in from a side door to take their specific seats on the stage. Our YOuth minister gives a greeting, the ushers pass out visitors cards, and then we have about a minute where we shake each others hands. We follow that with our senior pastor giving the prayer request and having an alter prayer time. Our youth minister (or Assoc. Pastor if we had one) reads the scripture passage our senior pastor (or who ever is speaking) will be preaching from and leads us in a prayer. Then we have the offretory hymn and a followed by a couple of comments about why we should give, then a prayer from either the deacon of the week, the music minister or (occaisionally) one of the ushers. WE sit down, they pass the plates (for money, prayer request and visitors cards). We sing three more songs, we get a solo, we hear the message and then the preacher gives an invitation and just randomly calls on someone to pray our dismissal prayer. For the most part the congregation tries to stay as far back as they can, and none of them takes notes. I've not talked to our music minister to see what his theological stances are, though I suspect that he's at least a little bit more Calvinistic than our senior and former associate pastors. The songs never seem to have any particular rhyme or reason behind them, they're just random I think, whatever gets picked out on a whim that the organist and pianist can play.
William, sorry I've not responded quicker, it's getting down to the wire with school (I'm sure you understand) so I've found myself slighty distracted with that. 2 weeks and finals and then I've a month of pure freedom, hurrah!
I would love to hear about an Episcopalian service, I admit, I'm rather curious and will try to email you soon. I would also (as stated before) enjoy meeting you.
There were many aspects of your post that I found quite foreign (don't misunderstand -- that's not intended as a criticism, just an observation). When you say "altar call" is that similar to what Billy Graham does in his crusades? I once asked a Pentecostal minister in Indonesia what the biblical justification was for that practice and he told me he never heard of any other way of inviting men to Christ. So, I've seen it, but it is not something we do.
You ask about my denom -- I'm a presbyterian (part of the "split P's" of this country), but that doesn't tell you much these days. Here is a brief rundown on who we are at Reformation Presbyterian Church Website.
Luke, Here's our church's liturgy. It says on the bottom of our programs "Our liturgy is informed by those used during the Reformation and is patterned after Isaiah 6 and the New Testament Epistles. Providence Presbyterian Church seeks to worship only as God prescribes in His Holy Word."
PREPARATION
Prelude (Preparing for worship by private prayer and meditation on God's Word)
PRAISE
Apostolic Salutation Call to Worship (usually from one of the Psalms) Invocation and Prayer of Adoration Psalm/Hymn of Adoration*
CONFESSION
Reading of the Law (either the Ten Commandments or a portion of the Sermon on the Mount) Corporate Confession of Sin The Lord's Prayer Assurance of Pardon from the Word Psalm/Hymn of Thanksgiving
THE WORD
Prayer for Illumination Scripture Reading Sermon
RESPONSE
Prayer of Consecreation Profession of Faith (either the Apostles' or Nicene Creed) Psalm/Hymn of Response Prayer of Intercession Dedication of Tithes and Offerings (during this time the Doxology is sung followed by a prayer)
THE SACRAMENT
The Lord's Supper* Gloria Patri Benediction Congregational Response (either a corporate "Amen" or the singing of Psalm 72:18-19)
Good topic- after my observation/question I'll list off our worship order just FYI.....
Obs: None of these posts really address the STYLE of worship, but rather the CONTENT and ORDER. In a back-handed way I can assume some things about style, tho.
I'm interested in knowing at what point people actually *begin* worshipping. Certainly announcements, etc., aren't part of that process, are they? I wonder about this because in so many churches there's a dearth of reverent silence leading into worship. The instrumentalist in my church, well-paid and always practiced, can't be heard over the din. She told me that is her private time of worship, and I understand why she said it! But it makes me a little indignant on her behalf, too.
Our PCUSA church practically needs a gavel and shouting to bring the oppressive socializing to an end so the service can begin. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rantoff.gif" alt="" />
Q: have any of you been in a similar situation that was finally resolved? How was it accomplished? Looking forward to hearing your experiences!...........
Now, our Order of Service:
The Prelude <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> The Striking of the Hour (Tower Bell) <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> The Welcome and Concerns of the Church <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> The Introit (Choir, sometimes Choir & Congregation) First Hymn Litany of Confession (Responsive) Gloria Patri Children's Moment <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> The Offerings, Tithes and Gifts (Instrumentalist) <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> Doxology and Presentation of Offerings, Tithes and Gifts Prayer of Dedication (Unison) Second Hymn Old Testament Reading Call to Silent Prayer Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer Choral Anthem or Solo New Testament Reading The Sermon Affirmation of Faith Third Hymn The Benediction Choral Response (Choir, many times with Congregation) <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> Postlude <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cheers2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/flee.gif" alt="" />
HC, We have a suggested Psalm reading in our bulletin for preparation for worship, but since there has been talking during this time <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/chatter.gif" alt="" />, our pastor has begun to go to the pulpit and read the Psalm to us and then he tells us to prepare our hearts for worship by a time of silent prayer. He breaks the silence after a few minutes with the call to worship. We still have several families who always come in late so it isn't a perfect solution. Our announcements are after the benediction. We also have a box in the back of the church for offerings, which we give as we go in, so we do not have to pass a collection plate.
We also have a box in the back of the church for offerings, which we give as we go in, so we do not have to pass a collection plate.
I know of two other churches that have done this as well, and actually claim it works better. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />
I like that idea, as well as having the announcements at the end. It always feels like a jolt when the announcements start. I do the preparation and printing of the church bulletin every week and the announcements are all there on page 18. I wish we didn't have to have them read from the pulpit.
One of the things I really miss from our church in Ohio: we always stood "in reverance to the Word of God" during the reading of scripture.
Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence." - St. Augustine Hiraeth
