For some time I have had a definite conviction that it would be advantageous to have a uniform order of church service in the churches within a local conference. To avoid confusion, to add dignity to the. service, and to save time, uniformity would be a step in the right direction.
All of us have had the experience of seeing from five to seven minutes consumed in the minister's study in listening to the one in charge of the platform explain details of the order of church service in that particular place. Considerable time is usually taken because we want to know before going onto the rostrum just when we are to speak, when to sit down, when to stand up, which way to turn when rising after silent prayer, and what to do after we stand. In spite of all explanations and exhortations, there is usually one who forgets, misunderstands, or never hears. And the result is —an amused congregation and an embarrassed minister or ministers.
I believe much of this confusion can be eliminated by having a uniform order of church service within a local conference, having that order printed and placed in the hands of all workers and eiders. Following the same order, each worker and elder within the field would naturally be well acquainted with it. Explanation would be necessary to visiting ministers only.
Some churches make announcements before the sermon, and some after. Others have them both before and after. One gets the impression in some instances that a sermon is hardly complete unless the one in charge makes a lengthy announcement immediately after the minister concludes his sermon. And as a "grand finale," we have even heard announcements after the benediction. I believe much of this irregularity can be eliminated by having a uniform order of church service.
A little over a year ago the Texico Conference workers gave study to this problem at a workers' meeting. A committee was appointed to bring in recommendations for an order of church service suitable for all churches in our conference. The following order was adopted, and has now been in use for over a year:
Order of Church Service
1. Church Announcements. (All church announcements made before ministers go onto rostrum. Make announcements just before musk starts, and then go to ministers' study immediately.)
2. Soft Music. (Three to five minutes.)
3. Ministers Enter. (The congregation remains seated, bowing heads as ministers enter.)
4. Silent Prayer. (Ministers kneel, facing the congregation. Congregation unites with ministers in silent prayer.)
5. Doxology. "Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow." (Church Hymnal, No. 683.)
6. Invocation.
7. Scripture Reading.
8. Opening Hymn.
9.
10. Offering.
First Sabbath—Home Missions
Second Sabbath—Church Expense
Third Sabbath—Foreign Missions
Fourth Sabbath—Church or Church School Expense
Fifth Sabbath—Poor Fund
II. Second Hymn or Special Music
1. Sermon.
2. Closing Hymn.
3. Benediction.
[Audience remains standing with bowed heads as ministers leave rostrum. The pianist (or organist) gives the signal for congregation to leave.]
NOTE —The following references from the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy can be used profitably before the offering is taken.
Mal. 3 :8-11; Ps. 96:1-8; Ex. 23:14, 15; 2 COS. 9 :5-8 ; Luke 12 :15 ; Luke 12:33, 34; iTim. 6:17-19.
Testimonies, Vol. III, pp. 405, 404, 392; Vol. IV, P- 469; Vol. VI, p. 386; Church Manual, pp. 122, 123, 121.
You will notice that all church announcements are made immediately after the missionary service, before the ministers enter the rostrum. Disposing of all announcements before the ministers go onto the platform helps to keep the service on a more dignified level. Note also that the offering for each Sabbath is printed right by the offering part of the service. This is helpful for the elder. In some instances offerings have been taken, and no one in the congregation knew for what purpose.
The Texico Conference furnishes printed pads, giving the order of service, to every elder and worker. These pads are four by six inches, and each one contains about 135 slips. All our church elders are happy to have these pads. They are most convenient and helpful. It is an easy matter for the elder to give each minister a slip with notations as to his part and the order in which that part comes. No matter who visits a church, all know that the order is the same, and explanations are largely eliminated. We do not have to go to the trouble of asking: "Do we kneel facing the chairs?" or "Do we kneel facing the audience?" or "When we get up, should we turn left or right?" or "What comes after prayer ?" or "Just when do you want me to make the announcements ?"
In some churches the ministers kneel facing the congregation when offering silent prayer ; in others they kneel toward the chairs. At times we have been told to turn right when getting up from silent prayer, and sometimes we are told to turn left. The results are that in most cases there are a sufficient number of ministers turning right and left to present a most interesting exhibition to an audi.ence that looks on with bewilderment.
The psalmist says, "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Worship is beautiful when it is conducted in an orderly mannef. Nothing disorganized and confused is ever beautiful. When we come to church we have a right to expect order and decorum. We do not come expecting a thousand and one distractions. We get those during the week, but they should not come to us in church. God is greatly displeased with the haphazard way in which some of our services are conducted. We wonder whether the angels of the Lord remain in a congregation that is confused and disorganized.
It is not enough to tell our church elders that reverence in the house of the Lord is essential. We must give them definite help to correct the situation. It may be easier to tell the elders what to do than to tell them how to do it, but the how is the essential part. Let us give some tangible help to our elders along this line. They will greatly appreciate it.
