The church service should be conducted with the same emphasis on worship that ideally fits the Sabbath school, differing only in its greater formality and dignity. The place, the sacred pulpit, as well as the order of service, indicates greater solemnity. (Sabbath school should be conducted from a different place.) In such an atmosphere any awkward ness, any fumbling, any personal reference is doubly distressing.
MUSICAL PRELUDE.—In the small church the musical prelude presents a critical problem. Second-best efforts are often tolerated in this part of the service where unconsciously the quality of the whole sequence is set. Let the church leader exercise great judgment and tact in this matter.
Select the most promising talent in the congregation, making sure to pick those who understand, or who can learn, the meaning of worship. There are some who play instruments well, but who cannot play church music. They know the notes but not the spirit of worship. Talk earnestly with the selected musicians about the importance of musical worship. If they are in an elementary stage of musical development, it would not be out of place to encourage them to secure further training. Suggest as teacher a church organist who can train specifically for sacred musicianship.
Frequent talks with the musicians, conferences regarding the selection of preludes, offertories, and hymns will constantly re-emphasize the importance of the music and help to keep up the quality. Incidentally, if the timing of the entrance of the elders is determined by the musical prelude, the musician will be encouraged to plan appropriate music, instead of falling into the dilatory habit of playing through .as many hymns in the key of F as are needed to fill up time pending the appearance of the elders. If the musician can count on an entrance at a given signal, a planned prelude will. be feasible, but no one likes to be put in the position of repeating the last page of the prelude until the elders at last file in.
Where skilled musical help is available the best efforts are commanded by those leaders who know that cooperation involves adaptation in two directions at least. If a church bulletin is used, the titles and composers of preludes, of fertories, and postludes should be included as well as the numbers of the hymns. This encourages early selection and preparation of the musical service.
INVOCATION.—As the church elders enter they should hold their Bibles in uniform positions, such as in the left hand over the left breast. Kneeling toward, rather than away from, the congregation is the current practice; in any case the proper kneeling position is with both knees on the floor and the trunk erect. Soft music during the silent prayer of the elders is appropriate, joining onto the prelude and leading into either the congregational doxology, or used as a bridge to cover the seating of the elders. The invocation after the doxology is not a pastoral prayer but a formal invitation for the presence of God. It should not exceed one or two sentences in length, such as:
"We invite Thy presence, 0 God, at this hour of worship, and pray that our hearts may be open to re ceive Thy Holy Spirit and the blessing Thou hast promised for all who worship in spirit and in truth. Amen."
ANNOUNCEMENTS.—Many elders prefer to handle the business items first—a good practice which makes for unity in what follows. It is appropriate to begin with a brief word or reading of a spiritual nature to set the mood of the service, and follow at once with the King's business. Much has been written and disregarded about announcements. A church bulletin solves the problem unless the presiding elder chooses the unfortunate practice of reading what is printed, and sermonizing upon it. Effectiveness is the objective in announcements. Consider then the impact upon prospective prayer meeting attendants of a dull weekly harangue upon their duty as regards the Wednesday evening appointment. If the prayer meeting is suffering, the causative ills cannot be remedied during the making of announcements. The announcements should be varied and designed to create interest. The following is suggestive:
"The weekly appointments are unchanged: Prayer meeting on Wednesday evening at seven-thirty; Dorcas Society on Thursday evening at the same hour; Young _ people's meeting on Friday evening at eight. You will want to plan now for an unusually interesting service to be held here on Sunday evening, a week from tomorrow at seven-thirty. Elder Brownell will report on his fourteen years of mission work in the South Seas. He will present colored pictures, both moving and still. Many of you will want to invite friends not of our faith.
"The following persons are recommended for transfer of membership to this church. . . . Since this is the second reading of the names, a motion is in order to receive these people into our membership. Is there a second? It has been moved and seconded that they be received. All in favor please raise the right hand. Thank you! All opposed please raise the right hand. The motion is carried."
These remarks have taken less than two minutes, including time for reading the names of eight families. An additional minute could serve for a warm welcome to newly accepted members. Note that parliamentary forms are ' simple, direct, and unvaried.
If visitors are on the platform, this is the proper time for introducing them and indicating their part on the program.
"To my left is Brother Smith, elder of the Middle- ton church. He will offer the pastoral prayer.
"Our guest speaker is E. C. Brown, a missionary on furlough from the South African Division. Many members of this congregation remember his years of ministry in this church before he left us for the mission field." (Notice the absence of personal references of the "I-knew-him-when" type. A safe rule is to leave the pronoun / out of all such introductions.)
It is customary in our churches for the speaker to occupy the center chair, flanked by those who will assist in the service. In civic gatherings the presiding officer is in the center chair with the speaker in the place of honor to his right. But custom in church services sometimes overrules logic.
At our large meetings, such as conferences and camp meetings, we are accustomed to seeing many ministers on the platform. This is good in helping the people to become acquainted with the ministers. But in the Sabbath morning worship hour the greatest simplicity is desirable. A presiding elder, a speaker, and an assistant to offer the pastoral prayer form an ideal group. The presiding elder is heard at the beginning, taking care of the business and giving the offertory prayer, and at the end, pronouncing the benediction. It is good form for him to begin and end the service. The assistant is heard but once, in the pastoral prayer. The speaker is heard in the invocation, if such is included in the service, and in the sermon.
I am aware of the custom of bringing many participants to the platform, but it is hard to discover justification for the practice. Simplicity in the form of few people for the audience to look at, and few for them to listen to as they come forward, will contribute toward the unity, dignity, and worshipful character of the service. The use of many assistants suggests a desire to find some excuse for giving a man some public notice.
OFFERTORY.—Two methods of adroitly getting into the offertory sequence are suggested. (i) At a prearranged signal, with the elder remaining at the pulpit if he is already there, or coming forward, the organist begins an offer tory prelude while the deacons come from the rear of the church. When they are in position the organist fades the music behind the offer tory prayer, at the close of which the music swells for the offertory. (2) Or the deacons may be already seated in the front pew, having merely to rise at the proper time. Either form avoids the annoying and superfluous, "Will the deacons please come forward?"
If a printed bulletin is used, the hymns need no announcing. If there is no bulletin, number boards may be placed so that all can see, thus avoiding the interruption of the announcement. The organist can go from the offertory directly into the hymn prelude.
THE PRAYER.—The pastoral prayer should be presented as suggested for the Sabbath school prayer. The leader may say, "Let us pray" or, "Let us kneel in prayer" or the equivalent, so that all may kneel together.
THE Music.—The object of vesting the choir is to avoid any temptation toward ostentation in dress. When the choir is robed, soloists and accompanists may well use choir vestments also.
Of all the parts of the worship service, the solo or anthem should be least involved with any personal reference. If it is programmed in the bulletin, no word is needed. Otherwise it is best announced at the time when other introductions are made and other business cared for. "The soloist this morning is Sister Alice Jones." Much could be said for the practice of having the music originate from a point out of view, but our churches are for the most part designed otherwise. In keeping with the spirit of worship any remarks that the speaker wishes to make about the solo or anthem should relate to the message of the music rather than to the performance or the performers.
Some may think it necessary to provide a "special" number each Sabbath before the sermon. The habit becomes so fixed that any type of musical production is accepted which can go by the name of religious music. Though many may be entertained by hearing young Johnny play his horn, and though Johnny may be ever so sincere in his attempt to play well, the church service is not the place to train him. Strictly speaking, the only appropriate music for this spot on the program is that which conveys a message in both words and music. When exceptions are made great care should be taken that the character of the music will contribute to worship.. A second congregational hymn is far more preferable to music that is mere entertainment or that is produced by a novice.
THE SERMON.—If the service up to this point has been carefully planned, the minds of the congregation are in readiness to receive the thoughts of the speaker. An introduction of a guest at this point, especially a personal one, will break the continuity, and largely destroy the effectiveness of what has gone before. Thus, let us re-emphasize the advisability of caring for introductions at the beginning of the service.
BENEDICTION.—After the sermon the service should be concluded with dispatch, without the presentation of forgotten announcements or interpolated reminders of appointments already made. The congregational hymn, selected to fit the sermon, followed by a half-minute benediction, will leave the audience with an unmarred Sabbath blessing. A quiet exit will be encouraged by fitting music.
In conclusion, let it be noted that care in the demeanor and the phraseology used by the pre siding elder will do much to make divine service live up to its name. As in the Sabbath school, only unselfish joy in service will lead to a Sabbath blessing. Worship is the objective; good wording and efficient management are the technique; preparation is the secret.
