Obviously, the musical group standing in front of the congregation had rehearsed, and sang enthusiastically while trying to encourage the congregation to participate. Unfortunately, with the exception of a small number of individuals, the vast majority of the congregation were only lip-syncing with the music leaders. While observing this disconnect, I concluded that there was very little congregational worship taking place. I had no doubt that everyone in the church that day had come to worship God and fellowship with each other; but somehow they were not connecting.
Worship planning is challenging; and, most likely, no worship service will be enthusiastically received by every participant. But I suggest that those who plan for worship need to focus on defining worship and how to help those who are present to be enthusiastic participants. In order to do that, the planners should realize the importance of evaluating those who sit in the pews and how they would feel most comfortable in worshiping the Lord.
Who is sitting in the pews? The middle-aged husband and wife are sitting there, for whom we usually plan the worship service. But what about their five-year-old granddaughter, Sally? How can she see Jesus in the worship service? And when Bill, the man who lives next door to the church, enters a church building for the fi rst time in 20 years, how can your members minister to him so that he has a meaningful worship experience, falls in love with the Lord, and eventually wants to come back into the fellowship of the congregation?
Our lead article by Karen Holford focuses on the children in our churches—an important but often forgotten group. She specifically discusses how to plan worship services that will be meaningful to them as well. In another article, Drexel C. Rankin also shares suggestions on re-evaluating how visitors see your church and what impressions they will take away with them upon leaving. The question? After they visit your church, will they want to come back? Thomas C. Fillinger’s article will guide you in your first steps in finding out how to make worship more effective for the majority of your congregation. In reality, not every worship service will equally appeal to every individual, so focus on some identifiable groups in the congregation when prayerfully planning the worship services.
What I have learned
My ministry gives me the privilege of participating in worship services around the world. This provides an opportunity to observe successful planning and implementation that focuses on particular segments of the congregation. I will share a few such examples.
At one church, at the beginning of the school year, the pastor invited all of the teachers and students to come forward to recognize them as special individuals within the congregation. The student group ranged from those just beginning their formal education to graduate students. Part of the service included a special prayer for this group of teachers and students, and then a number of them participated in the service that day.
Another congregation made it a point to utilize the talents of their older members, including them actively leading out in the worship service. Songs, for example, were chosen by a senior, and the congregation as a whole enthusiastically participated in the singing. By recognizing the seniors, the congregation focused on a group of people who were, to a significant extent, responsible for the development and continuation of the congregation.
In yet another congregation, it was proposed that several 13- and 14-year-olds present the sermon. At first, there were questions as to whether they were qualifi ed and able to speak with authority to such a large congregation. Finally, however, the decision was made to invite three young people to give short sermons. Each one presented a message that was biblically sound, organized, and enthusiastically delivered. Not only were the youth who led out in the worship service blessed, the congregation as a whole was also blessed.
What’s next?
To allow worship to just happen from one week to the next may be all too tempting. In fact, in some congregations very little planning goes into worship. At times, the question as to who will pray, read the scripture, and what songs will be sung is only decided minutes before the leaders stand in front of the congregation. Lack of planning does not provide for a holy atmosphere. Worship should concentrate on helping people come together to focus on God—with God as the center. At the same time, we need to remember each group of the congregation and each person individually as we plan the worship service. What would bring them closer to God? What are your plans for the next worship service?
