Pastor's Message

March 2005

At our Annual Congregation Meeting in January, I introduced the idea of starting a third worship service. This additional service is not because we need the space (the reason we started our 10:30 service in November of 1998). This service would be in a different style to appeal to persons with different tastes and at a different point in their faith journey. There are many different styles of worship being practiced in churches around the country, so it might be helpful to take a look at various styles so that we can make an informed choice. Andy Langford, in his book, “Transitions in Worship” suggests that there are three styles of worship: Liturgical, Praise and Worship and Seeker Services. I would like to share some of his thoughts.

Liturgical Worship is God-centered worship that at its best creates a sense of awe. Langford suggests that one of the finest examples of liturgical worship is the regular weekly service at Duke University Chapel in Durham, NC, which is filled every Sunday with students, faculty and visitors from the community. Worship leaders wear seasonally appropriate vestments, choir members are robed and worship begins with a procession accompanied by organs at both the front and rear of the chapel. Scripture readings are from a “lectionary” – a three-year table of Scripture readings for each Sunday and holy day. The Sacraments (baptism and Communion) form the heart of the worship service. Preaching is theologically rich, based on Scripture and addresses the needs of a highly educated but often skeptical postmodern community. In such worship it is understood that God is the object of worship, whereas worship leaders and congregation are participants in the service. Those who have no experience or training in this style of worship cannot follow the service easily, or may not understand the various elements of a liturgical worship service. Liturgical worship is not necessarily traditional but often blends contemporary elements into the liturgical form.

Praise and Worship seeks to give the impression of informality. The worship begins as people arrive. A worship leader goes to the front of the area and, with other musicians, begins to lead those gathered in praise songs. There is no printed bulletin (or if there is, it only contains announcements, not an order of service). The worship leader may lead in singing for up to 45 minutes with prayers interspersed between choruses. Words are usually projected on a screen, eliminating the need for printed music. The goal of the music is to create an environment of sound in which worshippers can lose themselves. Repeated refrains, no harmonies and high volume make it easy for all to join in the “experience” of the music. The music often becomes softer as a “teacher” comes forward to transition from the experience of the music to teaching, which is usually based on extended readings from Scripture. The teaching may continue for up to 45 minutes, after which ushers pass offering baskets and communion plates without the congregation being told what the baskets, bread and cups are about. Following this the worship leader will again come forward and conclude the service with additional songs. The skill of the musician who serves as worship leader is critical, often rivaling that of nightclubs, and the salary of the worship leader often rivals that of the teacher. Although the service seeks to give the impression of informality it can be intensely choreographed and rehearsed.

Seeker Services are tightly choreographed presentations of real life issues, ranging from death to divorce to job changes. A professional ensemble “warms up” the audience with adult contemporary music and then a drama team presents the issue of the day. A teacher then speaks about the issue raised and suggests that Christ may have a solution to the problem of the day. Such worship presents Jesus but is not necessarily considered “worship.” Willow Creek Community Church, which has several of these services every week, always includes an invitation for participants to also come to one of their “worship services” which are held at a different time. The shape of a seeker service follows the theme of the day. A video clip may follow a song, or a teaching may include a question and answer period, but on the whole the members of the audience are spectators, not participants.

In next month’s column I will examine our worship here at St. Paul's UCC to see where we fit in. We are not exclusively liturgical, but there are elements of other styles in our worship. Each style has merit and disadvantages