Taking or Following?

In November, my introduction to this topic of the worship service began this way:

Do you see that there is a certain flow, a certain direction to the movement?  Coming in, receiving, and going back out changed.  It’s kind of like a hospital, a restaurant, or even a gas station.  We come in with a need, we receive what is offered (healing, nourishment, a fill-up for the car), and we go out again, strengthened to continue our life.  The purpose of this order in our worship service is basically the same: we come to church needing to know God, we receive the Word, we worship, and we go back out into the world strengthened, knowing God better and ready to serve Him.

We have come a long way over the months as we looked at the worship service, from coming to worship God as we are, to hearing His word proclaimed in a variety of ways, to responding in love, faith, and renewed commitment!  We came in with a need, we received what was offered, and now we are ready to go out again, strengthened—and known by God!—to continue our life.  We are ready to see how we can take our renewed hearts and spirits out into the world to share with others.

In the Presbyterian Book of Order, this final movement is called “Bearing and Following the Word into the World.”  First, we take (bear) the word (Word) with us out into the world, the word that we have received during the proclamation.  During the service, the Word begins to hide itself in our hearts and minds and spirits, like a seed, so that we must carry it out with us. What are some specific ways we can express during the service to show that we intend to integrate this Word into our daily life?

To sing a hymn of going into the world is the most basic way that almost everyone does this in almost every church.  We can also be asked to make an act of commitment to discipleship such as being reminded of our Christian education opportunities following the service or the small groups that meet each week.  What are other ways you think of?

But we also follow the word (Word) out into the world. The Word goes before us and leads us as we go.  During the worship service, this is a time to recognize those leaving our fellowship for further education, national service, or career change.  It can be a time of commissioning those who are following the leading of Jesus to go into the world to do short- or long-term missionary service or for those who have been led to get involved with specific corporate and/or personal acts of evangelism, compassion, justice, reconciliation, and peacemaking.

The service concludes then with a formal dismissal which may include a charge to the people to go into the world in the name of Christ.  It includes words of blessing, using a Trinitarian benediction or other words from Scripture, such as the benediction in 2 Cor. 13:14:  May “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”  This is one that I use most often.

I hope that you have begun to see that as we understand how and why we order our weekly worship service the way we do, it begins to inform our personal spiritual formation and inspires us to acts of service for each other and our community.

What is Your Response?

We’ve made our way through two movements of a worship service so far: Gathering around the Word in which we come as we are and receive the opportunity to be called to worship and to clear and cleanse our minds and hearts, receiving forgiveness; and Proclaiming the Word, as we hear the word read, sung, enacted and opened to our minds, hearts, and spirits through a sermon in some form.

Now, that we have heard the word and been moved by its power to change our lives, we are ready to Respond to the Word.

Our Presbyterian Book of Order says that, “The response to the proclamation of the Word is expressed in an affirmation of faith and commitment.” 

There are many ways that we can affirm our faith in God and here are a few:  the congregation can sing a hymn or other type of musical response declaring our continuing faith in God; we could say or sing one of the creeds, such as the Apostles Creed or Nicene Creed.  This is also a place where the choir could sing an anthem.

The congregation may also renew and express their commitment to God.  There are many ways to do that: by receiving of new members at this time; by the ordination and installation of church officers (elders and deacons); and by the commissioning for service in the church (i.e., Sunday School teachers for children and adults) and to the church around the world (i.e., sending members and friends to the mission field, whether long- or short-term).  Our faith in and continuing commitment to God may also be expressed through prayer and intercession, for each other in our local church and for the Church in general, those in distress around the world, and in our nation, state, and local communities. 

Our most common and frequent way to express our commitment is through the offering.  The thought is that when we hear God’s word proclaimed we are so moved by faith and trust that we want to offer to God our resources and ourselves so that His work might be done. 

There is a separate movement that occurs periodically in our service that can be considered part of the Response to the Word, called Sealing in the Word. It includes our two sacraments: baptism (including reaffirming the commitments made at baptism) and the Lord’s Supper.  These are also ways of expressing and renewing our faith and commitment.  They are in a different category, however, because they involve more than just us.  While the parents may present their child for baptism (or others may present themselves), God is doing the work of enfolding us into His family by His grace.  We respond to God’s call by presenting ourselves or our children but God does the work.  Similarly with the Lord’s Supper; as we come forward in response to God’s drawing us with His love, He renews His presence in our hearts and spirits as we take the bread and cup, His body and blood.

Looking back, as we have come to worship God as we are, to hear His word proclaimed and to respond in love, faith, and renewed commitment, we are now ready to see how we can take our renewed hearts and spirits out into the world to share with others.  We’ll take a look at that next time!