Element of Worship

Congregation

The service begins in silence.  If there is noisy fellowship at the start of the service, a liturgist/leader can step up to a microphone, Bible in hand, and await everyone's attention.  When it has been silent for at least 5 seconds, the leaders says: "Listen to the Word of the LORD!"

(The following verses from Ps. 95 can be displayed via overhead or PowerPoint).

6  O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7  For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

When the speaker is done, begin an introduction for Come let us Worship and Bow Down (Songs for Praise & Worship #246).  Key of D.  Accompany with a full band at a bright tempo (no slower than 100 bpm).  Aim for a tone of confident praise, not pastoral repose or majestic awe.  Sing twice through with a slight ritard at the end.  Then.

Celebration

When song concludes, Leader/Liturgist again says: "The Word of the Lord" and then reads these verses from Ps. 95:

1 O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

                                     .while the speaker declares the next Word of the Lord from the Psalm, the band  -- or as much of it as is able, perhaps only the piano - makes a transition into the key of Em.  Ending in D, walk the bass down to C, then play Bsus, then B7, then Em.  Try to time the transition so you hit the Em chord exactly as the leader finishes.  Add the percussion and guitars immediately to set the tempo for Cantad Al Señor (SNC # 224).  Key of Em.  Sing with exuberance and passion, in English or Spanish, or both at the same time - a joyful noise is fine with God!  Vary the accompaniment from verse to verse.  For instance, add an instrument each repetition of the first line to build into "sing to our God."  Add a trumpet on verse 3.  On verse 4 (shout to our God), crescendo to the shout and then let the instruments (except percussion) fade down, only to build again toward the next "shout" - encourage actual shouting.  Add lots of percussion  - maracas, claves, tambourine and hand drum at least.  Play briskly, one beat per measure (dotted quarter at 60 bpm).  Sing the first verse again at the end, with a big ritard.

Adoration

As song concludes, Leader/Liturgist says: "The Word of the Lord!" and then reads:

3 The Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

Underneath the reading, make a simple transition from Em to E.  Then the guitar can begin playing an intro to the next song, ending on a sustained B chord to cue the congregation's singing of Lord Most High (SNC #18). Key of E.  Sing antiphonally, men and women, or divide the congregation in half.  Try to create the sense of a widening circles of praise - from the corners of the sanctuary, and the ends of the earth.  Conclude with a gentle decrescendo and ritard, moving without pause into 4/4 time and the introduction to.

Leader/Liturgist says:  "The Word of the Lord!"  and reads: 

6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice!

Come let us Worship and Bow Down.  This time in the key of E.  Play the introduction underneath the reading of scripture. 

Sing once through, this time slower aiming at a sense of God's majesty and presence.  Conclude, and without pause, play introduction for.

Confession

Leader/liturgist says something like:  "The Word of the Lord" and reads:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

(again, the scripture can be projected onto a screen)

Then says something like:  "We are the sheep of God's pasture.  But like real sheep, we wander and get lost; we're stubborn and refuse to do what's best for us.  And so God sent to us One who is not only the Good Shepherd, but became like us: a sheep, a lamb.  And we look to that one to save us.  Let's pray." 

O Christ the Lamb of God (PsH #257). Key of Dm.  Play introduction underneath scripture reading.

Congregation sings once through, plaintively.  To get a sense of our frailty and vulnerability, accompany minimally - a guitar and violin on part one (when the women & children sing), a piano and bassoon or cello the second (when the men sing), and all on the third time. 

Redemption

Leader/Liturgist says something like:  "Listen to the Word of the Lord" and then reads:

But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

Then she or he says something like:  "We are healed -- forgiven.  Jesus Christ came to live among us, to suffer with us, to die for us, and to rise again to save us.  He's coming again someday, and by the power of the Spirit, he's here now, ready to speak to us, to touch us again with love.  He is here.  Now.  Alleluia."

The "Amen" at the conclusion of the last song brings the music from the key of Dm to G.  Underneath the spoken words, the entire band gently plays the introduction to.Alleluia, He Is Coming (Worship Songs of the Vineyard, Vol. 4, #10). Key of G (if the vocal range for this song is difficult in this key, we often do it in C).

Sing slowly (q=80), with wonder at Jesus' sacrifice and the mystery of God's presence among us.  Support this pace with plenty of rhythmic texture - more on the celebrative verses, less on the sorrowing ones.  We usually sing five verses:  1) saw my Lord a-coming down the road 2) saw my Lord a-weeping for my sins 3) saw my Lord a-dying on the cross 4) heard my Lord a-callin' out my name 5) saw my Lord a-risin' from the grave.  (Since we're focusing on Christ's presence now, omit the verse about Christ's coming again in the clouds).  Let the intensity ebb and flow freely.  After the last verse, sing the chorus twice, the second time a capella.  The piano (only) comes in again on "he is here" and gently plays introduction to.

God Himself Is with Us (PsH #244).  Key of G.  Play as starkly as possible on the first verse, to evoke the awe of the temple.  An organ accompaniment would not be out of place.  Add guitars strumming one chord per measure on the second verses' "harps."  Pull out all the stops on the last verse.

Preparation

When God Himself concludes, allow there to a long moment of silent wonder.  Then the leader/liturgist prays something like:  "Mighty God, Great Shepherd, we long to be sheep who recognize your voice and follow where you lead.  We long to hear you speak a word to us today.  Show yourself, our eyes are open.  Speak, Lord, we're listening. 

Speak, Lord, in the stillness,
While I wait on Thee;
Hush my heart to listen
In expectancy.
Speak, O blessed Master
In this quiet hour;
Let me see Thy face, Lord,
Feel thy touch of power."   (May E. Grimes)

(Do not say more words to introduce the song; let it be a natural continuation of the spoken prayer).

After the leader is done, an acoustic guitar and a flute play a short introduction for Open Our Eyes Lord (SNC # 80). Key of D.  Sing through once, prayerfully.  

Proclamation

1 Samuel 3: 1- 10 (or through 4:1)

The sermon follows the contours of the text, asking how we respond to the Biblical claim that the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, speaks - and speaks to us. 

Outline:

1.  The Lord speaks - how do you respond to this claim?

2.  Is God's Word rare today?

3.  Is God calling your name?

  God calls children - those without status or gifts

  God's call is persistent - 3 times

4.  Are you listening?

   -  It's hard b/c of the judgment we fear we'll hear 

   -  It's hard b/c of the noise in our lives

   -  The listening life - some practical suggestions

5.  Conclusion -- ask again the main question: how do you respond to the claim that God is speaking? 

At the end of the sermon, the preacher concludes not with a summary prayer, but with something simpler: "Let's pray.  Speak, Lord.  We're listening.  (long silence)  Amen." 

A solo instrument plays the melody for Be Still & Know (SfL #225).  Key of C.  Play all the way through as introduction.  The congregation sings all three verses slowly and prayerfully.

(It's crucial that this song be contemplative and familiar.  Another good option, though less familiar, is Tawa Pano, SNC #5.  It's theology - "we're here for you" is properly contextualized in this service by prior acknowledgement of God's presence with us.)

Intercession

Minister or other leader offers prayers for the people.  An introduction that makes reference to the sung prayer Be Still might go something like this:  "O Lord, in you we put our trust.  When life is good, we trust you; and when life is hard, we try to trust you more.  We thank you today for. (prayers of thanksgiving).  And we pray today for (prayers of intercession)."

The prayer should be paced slowly, to give the congregation a chance throughout to hear what God is speaking to them.  Moments of silence would be very appropriate.  

As prayer concludes, band begins introduction to One Thing I Ask (Worship Songs of the Vineyard, vol. 2, p. 122).  Key of G.  Sing this Psalmic prayer longingly, lovingly.  Change the word "see" to "hear" the second time through the refrain. 

Dedication

The leader/liturgist prays something like this:  "Lord, we desire to see you.  So we ask that you open our eyes to your presence in the people around us.  Give us hearts and minds and wills that long to serve 'the least of these.'  Accept now these gifts, and the lives they represent.  Use them to do your work in the world.  In Jesus' name, amen.  

Now as we offer our gifts to God, listen for God's voice, and join together on the chorus: Here I am, Lord." 

End the song with an acoustic guitar alternating between a G and a C/G chord, which, at the same tempo, is the introduction for Here I Am (SNC #268). Key of G.  Continue this while the leader prays. 

A soloist sings the first verse, a different soloist the second, and another still the third.  The congregation joins together on the chorus.  Accompany with an ear toward the humility of Samuel's "Here I am" rather than the majesty of God's "I the Lord of sea and sky."  

Benediction

Liturgist/leader speaks a benediction:  "The Word of the Lord:  The God of peace brought our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the flock, back again from the dead.  May God give you every good gift, that you may do God's will.  May our God work within you all that is pleasing in God's sight through Jesus Christ.  Glory be to Jesus forever and ever!"  Amen.  (Hebrews 13:20,21)

No concluding song is necessary, but a simple "Amen" song, like SNC #286 is a fitting conclusion.  Have a leader sing all the way through the short piece once alone.  Then lead the congregation into singing in a round in three parts.  All conclude on the first 2 bars repeated until all are singing in unison.