A Pattern For The Convergence Of Traditional And Contemporary Worship

Worship that draws on liturgical and historical resources as well as charismatic and contemporary sources will vary from church to church. Churches that are liturgical will likely continue to follow traditional styles but may incorporate contemporary elements at appropriate places. Likewise, charismatic or contemporary churches may find certain liturgical practices helpful and will incorporate them in their worship. Below is a basic pattern of convergence worship. Each church will have to experiment with this pattern to find a style and content most suitable to its character.

Acts of Entrance The Gathering The gathering happens as God's people come together to worship. It may begin ten or fifteen minutes before the starting time of worship and contain one or more of the following acts: Informal singing of praise choruses Formal organ prelude Instrumental music Informal greetings Announcements Words of welcome Rehearsal of congregational music Quiet meditation Opening Acts of Worship The opening acts of worship are characterized by a joyful spirit and a narrative quality. They gleefully fulfill the task of bringing the congregation into the presence of God and readying them to hear the Word of God. Because the opening acts are a joyful journey to the Word, instructive elements of worship are inappropriate. The opening acts of worship may include one or more of the following: Entrance Hymn or Song Because the entrance into worship is an act of joy, the hymn or song may be accompanied by many musical instruments such as organ, piano, synthesizer, band, trumpets, and flutes, and with a procession of the choir(s) with banners and dance. Greeting The greeting is a simple word of welcome or biblical greeting such as "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." More charismatic churches may engage in the holy shout to the Lord. Invocation or Gathering Prayer The invocation is a prayer calling upon God to be present in the worship of the people. Confession and Acts of Pardon Some churches place the confession and pardon in the Entrance, others in the Service of the Word after the prayers. Confessions and acts of pardon may range from written prayers to informal prayer or silent meditation. In some churches the confession and pardon may be incorporated into the praise choruses. Acts of Praise In the acts of praise a great variety of songs of praise may occur, ranging from ancient acts of praise such as Gloria in Excelsis Deo or canticles such as the Te Deum to anthems, psalms, or praise choruses that lead the congregation from the outer court through the inner court to the Holy of Holies. These acts of praise may conclude with a time of singing in the Spirit or singing individual words of praise together. Opening Prayer (Collect of the Day) The opening prayer brings closure to the Acts of Entrance and is a transition to the Service of the Word. The theme is usually expressed in the opening prayer. In some churches the opening prayer may be the singing in the Spirit, as above. Service of the Word The Service of the Word is the central act of worship. The Acts of Entrance have brought the people to the Word where they will dwell. The character of the acts of worship in the Service of the Word is instructional. The basic structure of the Service of the Word is proclamation and response. God speaks and the people respond. The mood of the Service of the Word shifts from the mood of the Entrance to a more meditative mood. The Service of the Word includes the following: Scripture Readings The focal point of the Service of the Word is the reading and proclamation of Scripture. Two or three Scripture readings may be read (Old Testament, Epistle, Gospel) interspersed with psalms, canticles, or choruses. Scripture content may be communicated through reader's theater, drama, or storytelling. For example: Formal Style Old Testament Reading Responsorial Psalm Epistle Canticle or Anthem Gospel or Informal Style First Reading Chorus(es) Response Second Reading Sermon A text or the theme of the text is interpreted. Response to the Word The structure of the Service of the Word is proclamation and response. The people now respond to the Word using a variety of possible responses such as: "¢ Nicene Creed or some other appropriate affirmation of faith drawn from Scripture. "¢ Discussion and application of the sermon in small groups of four to six people seated near each other. "¢ Hymn of response. "¢ Invitation to receive Jesus, to rededicate one's life to the Lord, or to come for baptism or church membership. Sometimes opportunity is given for other members of the ministry team of the church to give additional insights, clarification, or specific application to the message preached. Often called "Prophetic Responses," these are usually three-to-five minute exhortations based on the insights and impressions from the Spirit received during the message. Many contemporary churches are now viewing the time of response as more than a traditional altar call; it has become a "laboratory of the Holy Spirit." Often time is given for the Lord to direct in offering specific ministries to people who are experiencing physical, emotional, or spiritual problems. Prayer of the People The congregation, having responded to the Word of God, is now ready to present its prayers to God. In some congregations people with special needs or prayer requests will come forward to a kneeling bench. Prayers may be offered in a number of ways such as: "¢ Group Prayer: The people may stand and turn to form small groups of four to six people. "¢ Bidding Prayers: The prayer leader says: "I bid you to pray for … ," and the people offer prayers aloud. "¢ Litany Prayers: A prayer is said and the people respond with a written response or with "Lord, hear our prayer" or other appropriate words. "¢ Pastoral Prayer (sometimes called "The Long Prayer"). "¢ Intervention Prayers: The leader invites people to name specific burdens for intercession or personal needs aloud, followed by prayer from another individual about the situation. "¢ Directed Prayer: After the leader names a specific theme or topic to be prayed for, the people pray quietly to themselves. The leader then introduces another topic. Often this type of prayer is accompanied by specific prayer ministry in the front of the church offered quietly by a prayer team. The prayer may end with a prayer of confession and forgiveness (unless done in the Acts of Entrance). Passing of the Peace The people offer the peace of the Lord to each other as they shake hands or embrace saying, "The Peace of the Lord be with you." Offering/Offertory Having been reconciled with God and each other, the people now bring gifts of thanksgiving. As the collection of money is taken, the choir may sing an anthem or the congregation may sing a hymn. If the Table of the Lord is to follow, the bread and wine may be brought at this time. In some free churches the individual cups are prepared in advance, but a loaf (and a symbolic chalice) may be brought forward at the offering. The Service of Thanksgiving The Service of the Table and/or Thanksgiving is by nature a response to the Service of the Word, the central act of worship. In the early church, it was normative to celebrate the Eucharist weekly. (The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving," and in the early church it was called the great thanksgiving.) Renewing churches are moving toward the practice of weekly Eucharist as advocated by the Reformers. Where it is not yet the custom to celebrate the Eucharist weekly, contemporary worshiping communities sing songs of praise and thanksgiving followed by the Lord's Prayer. The mood of thanksgiving is celebrative, not sober. The acts at the Service of the Table include one or more of the following: Thanks at the Table of the Lord Preparation of the bread and the cup The pastor invites the people to lift their hearts in praise to God. In many churches the ancient invitation to thanksgiving has been restored. It is: The Lord be with you (or, God be with you). And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord (or, to God). Let us give thanks unto our Lord God (or, unto the Lord our God). It is right to give him (God) thanks and praise. Preface Prayer The pastor prays a brief prayer indicating that the earthly community has joined the heavenly community around the throne of God with all the angels and archangels. Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) The congregation now joins the heavenly choir in singing the new song. Formal congregations may sing the ancient Sanctus. More informal congregations may sing contemporary versions of the "Holy, Holy, Holy." Thanksgiving The pastor prays a prayer of thanksgiving for the bread and the wine. Institution Narrative The pastor says the Words of Institution over the bread and the wine, lifting the bread and cup for all to see. Memorial The pastor says Words of Remembrance such as "This do in remembrance of me" and/or words that recall the passion, the tomb, and the Resurrection. Acclamation The people may respond with the words of the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Invocation of the Holy Spirit The pastor may pray for the Holy Spirit to come down upon the people to gather them into one and to confirm them in the faith. The Communion The pastor invites the people to receive the bread and the cup. The people may come forward to receive at the Table or remain in their seats. The people sing songs of praise and thanksgiving. Hymns or praise choruses expressing the joy of the resurrection and exaltation of Christ may be sung. Special Prayer Elders and other ministers of the church may administer prayer with the anointing of oil and the laying on of hands. The people may come forward to stations of prayer or, after receiving the bread and the wine, they may remain at the altar rail or step aside to the station of prayer. Closing Prayer The pastor leads in a closing prayer of thanksgiving. Thanks without the Table of the Lord. On those Sundays when the Table of the Lord is not celebrated, the people may give thanks through a prayer of thanksgiving or through hymns or choruses of praise and thanksgiving. This time of thanks may be concluded with the Lord's Prayer if it has not been prayed previously. The Acts of Dismissal The Acts of Dismissal bring closure to public worship. The pastor should send the people forth in joyful recognition of their responsible service to the world. The mood is one of joy and the sense is that of going forth. The Acts of Dismissal include one or more of the following: Announcements If announcements have not been given in the gathering, they may be given here. As the people go forth they are reminded of the activities of the people of God during the week. Benediction (or Blessing) The people are blessed with a word from God that empowers them for life in the world. Dismissal Hymn or Song The hymn signals going forth. If the Entrance Hymn was accompanied by a procession with music, banners, dance, etc., the Dismissal Hymns should do the same. Words of Dismissal These words close the worship and send the people forth. For example: Go forth into the world to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia! In some congregations the service ends with clapping to the Lord.