Holiness Worship

The Holiness movement is Wesleyan in origin. It emphasizes the sanctification of life and conduct. Sanctification is normally seen as a second work of grace subsequent to personal regeneration. Holiness churches also believe in divine healing, a rite some congregations are beginning to recover.

Most of the Holiness churches began in the late nineteenth century. Worship was strongly emotional and often employed the use of the "mourners bench" (as in Nazarene worship), where people came to confess their sins and get right with God. This movement was a forebear of the Pentecostal movement. Worship among the churches of the holiness tradition—Wesleyan, Nazarene, and Christian and Missionary Alliance churches—may vary from place to place. Those holiness churches that seek to draw on historical worship patterns while retaining their own distinctive practices have created orders similar to the one described in this article. The service that follows is from a Church of the Nazarene. The Basic Pattern Acts of Entrance/Prelude As the congregation gathers for worship, an organ prelude featuring celebratory and Christocentric but familiar hymn tunes is offered with authority. While some congregants use this time to greet each other, others quietly read Scripture, peruse the worship folder, or join the pastoral staff and worship leaders at the altar for prayer. Procession As the service time draws near, the robed ministers of music (choir) gather at the back of the sanctuary and the worship team advances to the platform. When the organist concludes the prelude, the service begins while the ministers of music are still in the foyer, singing a choral call to worship a capella. Call to Worship/Hymn When the call is given, the pastor stands and moves toward the pulpit, inviting the congregation to stand as well. The first spoken words are from Scripture. "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Eph. 2:19, nkjv). "As fellow citizens of his kingdom, let us stand and offer our praise unto God by singing Hymn 73, "Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty." As the congregation sings all verses of the hymn, the ministers of music process from the back of the sanctuary, led by the children's choir. Prayer of Blessing/Gloria Patri While the congregation remains standing, the pastor offers the prayer of blessing. Here the pastor asks God's help so that the congregation may confess what they must and confess what they can so that all may offer worship "in spirit and in truth." The prayer may include the Lord's Prayer, prayed in unison, followed by the singing of the Gloria Patri. Act of Praise/Ministry of Music Having confessed and sought blessing, the ministers of music sing a selection, inviting the congregation to unite in praise. The number is always done with a sense of thanksgiving, adoration, and triumph. As a footnote to the camp-meeting tradition in which the Nazarene church was shaped, the congregation regularly responds to the choir selections by spontaneous shouts of "amen," "praise the Lord," or "glory." Apostles' Creed While individuals may respond in those ways, the pastor invites the entire congregation to stand and confess resurrection truth. About once a month, the confession will be followed with the Apostles' Creed. Children's Choir After this the children's choir sings. Generally their selections have a resurrection motif and often include unison recitation of Scripture. The children are used every week in this fashion for two reasons. (1) They actually and quite naturally lead the congregation in the spirit of celebratory worship, and (2) their regular involvement diminishes any sense in which they are a "cute" addition to the service. They are a consistent and meaningful part of congregational life. Christian Greetings The greeting is the first time the pastor actually talks with the congregation. "Greetings to you in Christ's name." "May the peace of the Lord be with you!" "We extend welcome and grace to those who worship with us for the first time and to those who worship with us week by week." "We have been called by the Christ who graces us with his presence." "As the children go to the service prepared for them, stand and extend the peace of Christ to each other." Announcements are not mentioned. Instead, the pastor may refer to the insert in the worship folder concerning various aspects of congregational life. Persons for whom the congregation is asked to pray are listed as are other needs, both local and global. The greeting may last no more than a minute or two. The Service of the Word/First Lesson, Psalm, Second Lesson When the congregation is seated, a lay reader introduces the first lesson, which is taken from the standard lectionary. The reader gives a brief introduction of the context of the passage before reading. Between the first and second lesson, the choir sings a psalm selection or other appropriate number. While a few respond to the reading of the Word by saying, "Thanks be to God," or simply "Amen," the majority are silent but reflective, a response called for after the reading of the second lesson. Hymn A hymn prior to the prayers of the people is introduced by a phrase of Scripture. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6, nkjv). "Let us stand and sing unto God, Hymn 94." Prayers of the People/Song of Response Except for the word of written invitation, nothing is said about the congregation joining the pastor at the altar. Routinely, as the last verse of the hymn is sung, the pastor moves to the altar for prayer while persons from every part of the sanctuary join in kneeling at the altar, with Communion table and the cross in view. The prayers of the people are largely intercessory, asking God's blessing on the healthy and ill, the employed and unemployed, those present and those absent, those in leadership and those under authority, those at peace and those at war. If the Lord's Prayer has not been used earlier, it may be sung as the conclusion of the people's prayer. When it is not used in that way, the congregation joins in singing a contemporary response. Offering The offering is introduced by an invitation to read the printed Scripture in unison, after which the pastor offers an extemporaneous prayer. As the ushers receive the offering, a vocal selection is sung to live accompaniment. The church attempts to use the spiritual gifts of those present in lieu of taped accompaniment, discouraging any semblance to entertainment. Gospel Lesson/Sermon The gospel lesson, which frequently is the text for the sermon, is read by the pastor. The congregation stands in reverence to the reading of the Gospel, and after it is read, the pastor says, "The Gospel of Christ." The congregation responds by singing the Doxology, after which the Word is preached. The Service of Response/Invitation or Lord's Supper The vast majority of Nazarene churches use the mourners bench (altar) as a response to the preached Word. A hymn of invitation or gospel song that corresponds with the sermon may be sung as seekers are invited to pray at the altar. On occasions when Communion is served, appropriate Scripture is read and the sacraments are blessed and served in lieu of the song of invitation and closing prayer. Acts of Dismissal/Hymn and/or Closing Prayer or Words of Dismissal The service concludes with a biblical benediction followed by words of exhortation. "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." The postlude sounds the final note of triumph, as the pastor and choir recess, reminding worshipers that "we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Rom. 8:37, nkjv).