When the people of God gather then for Sunday worship, the “order of service” is not accidental or simply because “we’ve always done it that way.” The structure of common worship should be determined by our very best understanding of who God is, what God is about, what God expects and wants, and who we are in relationship to God.
A Worship Hour Outline: Dreams
March 15, 2023 by Leave a Comment
We come to dream with you, Spirit of Hope. We confess that some of our dreams have been selfish ambitions, and that we have often been driven by personal gain and little interest in others or your will.
Formations 09.18.2022: Spiritual Worship
September 11, 2022 by
Have you ever noticed the progression in today’s passage? Paul begins with the bottom line: Christians must worship God rightly, presenting our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (v. 1).
Worshiping During the Week
September 6, 2022 by
I want to tell you about my friend Ethan. I met Ethan at the church I serve. Ethan is a man about town; everyone knows when Ethan is around, and he makes sure of it.
Formations 05.29.2022: Lavish Liturgy
May 22, 2022 by
Think about how John describes worship in Revelation 4–5. The worshipers wear special clothing. They play musical instruments. They burn incense, symbolic of the prayers of the saints.
Formations 05.15.2022: Doing Our Part
May 8, 2022 by
Nearly 200 years ago, Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard famously suggested that the institutional church has misunderstood what happens during worship. On the analogy of the theater, he says, we assume that the clergy on the platform are the performers.
A View from the Pew: Resetting the Church Habit
April 27, 2022 by
We’re a few days removed from Easter, and many formerly faithful church attenders find themselves at a crossroads. Rather than lecture about the importance of showing up to church, I’m moved to offer a few ideas on getting back to church consistently.
Formations 05.01.2022: Together and in Private
April 24, 2022 by
A few years ago I went with my parents and daughters to Amelia Island, Florida. It was a difficult time for my family, as my husband and I had separated and none of us knew what should happen next.
“I Hate Your Festivals”
November 16, 2021 by
Take a moment to think of your favorite hymn or worship song. Now take another moment to think about your favorite annual worship service.
Equipping a Congregation for Digital Literacy
August 4, 2021 by
Many church members are newcomers to the digital world, and they need extra help navigating this new space. There is some irony in that we have had the technology for years now to reach our homebound members with the Sunday message.
The Worship Hour: The Second Sunday of Lent
February 24, 2021 by
Giver of all good gifts, we thank you again for the bounty you have allowed us in this privileged land, and for the privilege of distributing your gifts to others—that they also may be blessed!
Evangelical Common Worship on National Holidays
November 11, 2020 by
In general, we come to common worship from a week in which a secular society has tried to shape our identity as something radically different than what Scripture says it is.
Formations 11.08.2020: What Now?
November 1, 2020 by
One of my ministry colleagues was once doing a research project on worship practices in American Baptist Churches in Indiana. He loved to tell the story of a particular service he attended with his grown children and his young granddaughter.
A View from the Pew: Which Part of the Service Do You Skip?
August 19, 2020 by
You don’t need me to tell you these are weird times, especially for church. A recent message from my pastor highlighted the weirdness for me.
A View from the Pew: Worshiping During Baptism
May 20, 2020 by
Baptism is a powerful symbol in my faith tradition, and I cherish it with greater intensity as I age. Whether it’s the strength of my memories or the decreasing frequency with which baptisms occur, baptism is an important time of worship for me.
Formations 10.20.2019: Containing God
October 13, 2019 by
There are some impressive houses of worship in this world. Some are centuries-old survivors of war, fire, and poverty. Their stonework and artwork immortalize great architects and artists across the ages.
Formations 10.13.2019: Where We Worship
October 6, 2019 by
In college, I served as a summer missionary in Colorado. Our orientation was held at a Baptist camp that was almost literally in the shadow of Pike’s Peak.
Worship: Communion
September 3, 2019 by
The most intimate and meaningful family times I can remember are around a table. Whether it is just the immediate family or a larger gathering such as a family reunion, there is something very special about gathering for a meal.
Worship: Participation
August 27, 2019 by
Last week we read about Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple in chapter 6. Isaiah obviously heard God’s call and opened his heart to whatever God wanted to tell him.
Worship: Expectation
August 20, 2019 by
Some of my most profound worship experiences have been in large settings where those in attendance were inspired by and engaged in the event; and they were focused on the group’s communion with God.
Worship: Preparation
August 13, 2019 by
Did you ever memorize Hosea 6:6? “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” God wants to meet with us, to commune with us.
Worship: What and Why?
August 6, 2019 by
Throughout its years of use, “worship” has garnered many experiential definitions depending on the culture of the community, the denomination, and the purpose of the gathering.
Crossroads: Praise the Lord!
August 13, 2018 by
Have you ever sung a song as loud as you could? Have you ever sung a song at the top of your lungs to the radio? When you sing a song like that, you let go of everything else. Your only focus is that song. And it makes you feel great.
Formations 07.08.2018: Eating in Worship
July 1, 2018 by
When the Bible says, “Break down their altars, smash their pillars, burn their sacred poles with fire, and hew down the idols of their gods, and thus blot out their name from their places,” what do you do (v. 3)?
A View from the Pew: Worship at Sunrise
April 18, 2017 by
Just a few days ago we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus on the holiest day on the church calendar with a number of traditions that we reserve for this special day. There were flower crosses, lilies, white cloths draping crosses, and boisterous singing of “He Lives!” “Up from the Grave He Arose,” and “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.”
Formations 11.13.2016: Sing in Time
November 6, 2016 by
When I walk into a new sanctuary, I find a pew, pull out the hymnal, and look through it. I see if anyone’s names have been embossed on the lower right corner. I check to see how the church decided to phrase the words on the bookplate dedicating its use to the Lord’s worship.
Formations 11.06.2016: What Is God Worth?
October 30, 2016 by
Waste is all a matter of what something—or someone, or Someone—is worth. And worth, as you’ve probably heard somewhere along the way, is the basis of our English word “worship.” When we worship God, we’re expressing how much we think God is worth.
A View from the Pew: Are the Worship Wars Over?
October 26, 2016 by
In the late 1980s and ‘90s, discussions of worship styles in churches were ubiquitous, heated, and all too often destructive to church unity. I was reminded of those old battles last week when I was catching up on the phone with a friend since childhood.
Formations 04.10.2016: Places of Worship
April 3, 2016 by
Do you have fond memories of a particular place of worship? Maybe it’s the sanctuary were you were baptized, where you were married, or where your parents or grandparents were bid farewell.
Formations 02.14.2016: The Lenten Fast
February 7, 2016 by
The message that church conveyed—sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly—was that Lent and many other traditions of the wider church were nothing but empty ceremonialism that “real” Christians were better off avoiding.
Formations 01.03.2016: Baby Names of 2015
December 27, 2015 by
Jackson and Sophia are the most popular baby names of 2015, but there are some interesting trends further down the list. According to a USA Today report, the gender-neutral name Royalty is up 90% this year.
A View from the Pew: What Are We Waiting For?
December 23, 2015 by
I wasn’t introduced to Advent as a season of spiritual reflection and anticipation until well into adulthood. But for nearly 20 years now, this season has enriched my spiritual journey leading up to Christmas.
A View from the Pew: Camp Worship
July 21, 2015 by
What is it about worship at camp that engages campers in profound ways while their weekly worship experiences in their home churches often fail to connect?
A View from the Pew: Mothers and Fathers
May 26, 2015 by
Church is a place for celebration. That celebration gets tricky when we as the church are handed a set of holidays outside of our faith tradition and the Scriptures.
Youth Workers Living with Life’s Pressures
February 4, 2015 by
How do you view the stresses you experience as a youth worker? Do you cry when you hear the words “ski trip”? Do your youth ask if you had any fun when you were young?
Crossroads: Habakkuk – Praising God when Hungry
November 17, 2014 by
“Mom, how much longer until supper’s ready? I’m starving!” Have you ever said something like this to your mom or dad? I remember one time when I was young and my grandparents came to visit.
Gateway to Church for Young Adults – Ken Garfield
July 16, 2014 by
Charlotte/One is a ministry in North Carolina’s largest city that brings together 20- and 30-year-olds with the intention of losing them—to local churches.
A View from the Pew: Summertime Blues
June 24, 2014 by
It’s easy to see it from the pastor’s perspective: you visit the sick, you counsel the anxious, and you show up on Sunday with a heart and mind overflowing. But when you reach your seat on the platform and look out at the smaller-than-normal congregation during the prelude, you question your calling.
Children in Worship: Worship for Children (Part I)
June 17, 2014 by
An off-hand comment a mom made has me thinking about children and worship. In passing, this mom shared that she has trouble getting her kids to worship when there’s no Sunday school because they get bored.
A View from the Pew: Asleep at the Pew
May 27, 2014 by
Of all the human frailties that impact my ability to worship God, none frustrates me more than fatigue. As a child, I never slept in church. I was always a wiggler, which in hindsight I prefer to describe as “an active listener.”
A View from the Pew: Dressing for Success … in Worship
April 22, 2014 by
It is news to no one that church culture has shifted radically in recent years in most every area, from worship style to attendance. One such cultural move is toward more casual fashion choices by church goers. Only the most traditional of us pew sitters insist on wearing “Sunday clothes” anymore.
A View from the Pew: Devotions by Any Other Name
March 25, 2014 by
Long before I find myself in a chair or pew on a Sunday morning, preparations have been made for the corporate worship of God. Musicians have learned music through hours of rehearsal. Ministers have prayerfully selected texts to be read responsively.
A View from the Pew: What We See in Worship Makes a Difference
February 4, 2014 by
As I age, I find myself not only physically sounding more and more like my Baptist-preacher father but repeating his aphorisms. One of my favorites about church is “You should always sit close to the front because the sermon gets worn out by the time it reaches the back.”