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Guide to Hybrid Worship (Google doc)
Philosophy of Worship
“...unless there is an element of joy and foolishness in the proceedings, the time would be better spent doing something useful.”
- Frederick Buechner
In worship we strive to create a space where everyone can come as their full selves and know that they are known and loved by God.
We have certain rhythms and patterns of worship in our congregation. Patterns can be helpful to planners (who don’t have to work so hard) and to congregants (who can feel comforted by a familiar flow). Feel free to go with the flow. Below you will find everything you need to step into the role of worship leader. At the same time, CCMCers do not disdain surprises and experiments. If you have an idea for something you want to try, by all means, go for it. The pastor and worship committee are here for any support you might need.
As people of an Anabaptist persuasion, we have this idea called priesthood of all believers. It means that you don't need a special minister to mediate God's presence for the masses because everyone can equally reveal to others the presence of God. The phrase is frequently misinterpreted, however, as “any Joe Shmo can and should do any and every role.” We all have gifts, all of them are valuable, and any of us at any moment can reveal to the rest the presence of God. And some people are going to be better at things like reading scripture in a way that reveals God.
Overall, remember that as worship leader you are opening and holding the ritual space of our collective worship. The greatest gift you can give is to be a non-anxious presence at the front of the congregation. Take your time. Be present. And if something foolish happens, that just might be the Holy Spirit.
- Frederick Buechner
In worship we strive to create a space where everyone can come as their full selves and know that they are known and loved by God.
We have certain rhythms and patterns of worship in our congregation. Patterns can be helpful to planners (who don’t have to work so hard) and to congregants (who can feel comforted by a familiar flow). Feel free to go with the flow. Below you will find everything you need to step into the role of worship leader. At the same time, CCMCers do not disdain surprises and experiments. If you have an idea for something you want to try, by all means, go for it. The pastor and worship committee are here for any support you might need.
As people of an Anabaptist persuasion, we have this idea called priesthood of all believers. It means that you don't need a special minister to mediate God's presence for the masses because everyone can equally reveal to others the presence of God. The phrase is frequently misinterpreted, however, as “any Joe Shmo can and should do any and every role.” We all have gifts, all of them are valuable, and any of us at any moment can reveal to the rest the presence of God. And some people are going to be better at things like reading scripture in a way that reveals God.
Overall, remember that as worship leader you are opening and holding the ritual space of our collective worship. The greatest gift you can give is to be a non-anxious presence at the front of the congregation. Take your time. Be present. And if something foolish happens, that just might be the Holy Spirit.
Checklist for Leading Worship
During the week(s) prior to the service:
On Sunday, before the service:
Last-Sunday-of-the-month Communion tasks:
On Sunday, before the service:
Other information
Music: In addition to Hymnal: A Worship Book located under the chairs, we have two supplemental songbooks, Sing the Story and Sing the Journey, stored in the southwest corner of the sanctuary. If you plan to use them, distribute them before the service. Please consider limiting your selections to one or the other since using both can be a bit hectic before, during, and after the service.
Participants: The results of the Time and Talent Survey lists people willing to help with various tasks. Worship committee can give you access to that document, along with the worship grid with the participants already lined up for each Sunday.
Inclusive language: We encourage worship leaders to use inclusive language for God and people. If you choose a hymn with male-only language, you can suggest alternate wording for people to sing, or ask the song leader to make that suggestion.
Incense: Please do not use incense during the service; it harms people with asthma.
Children in the Service: Children are most welcome! Talk to the pastor about fully including children in worship.
- Contact the person preaching to confirm which scriptures they’d like read.
- Contact children’s time leader with scriptures, themes, and any ideas you have.
- Ask the musicians to play a prelude or choose recorded music to play.
- Arrange special music with musicians if you would like to have any.
- Choose hymns, including for during offering. The song leader and preacher can make suggestions if you ask them.
- Send the list of hymns to the song leader and accompanists no later than the Wednesday before the Sunday when you are leading worship.
- Ask people to read the scriptures, including any storytelling or dramatic readings.
- Ask someone to light the peace lamp, especially a child or someone who might not otherwise be in front during worship.
- Contact the person designing the altar if you have a vision for the visuals. Otherwise, you can leave it to the person designing the altar.
- Choose a call to worship, prayer for peace, responsive or unison readings, and benediction (unless the person preaching would like to offer it). Alternatively, you can ask someone else to select something and lead for any or all of those parts of the service. (The pastor or associate pastor will deliver the welcome and the prayer after sharing time unless otherwise arranged with you.)
- Send the order of worship (not your full script) to [email protected] for the bulletin—that folded paper that people hold during the service—by Wednesday.
On Sunday, before the service:
- Place extended wick and candle snuffer on altar if not done already.
- Get out Inclusive Bible, mark passages for readers, and put on stand.
- Get Children’s Time quilt out and place on a chair to the side.
- Distribute hymnals evenly throughout the sanctuary. Place Sing the Journey and/or Sing the Story books on chairs if you plan to use them. Please be certain to include the balcony.
- Pass each of 5 baskets to 1 person in each section (2 side sections, 2 center sections, balcony). Ask that person to be responsible for ensuring everyone in her/his section gets the basket during offering time, and then bring it forward to the worship leader.
- Set up sound system (directions are near sound booth) if building opener hasn’t.
- Invite musicians, preacher, and others to gather with you 10 minutes before the start of worship to review the order of service and then to pray together.
Last-Sunday-of-the-month Communion tasks:
- Ask one or two people to lead the liturgy with you or instead of you. Jan Lugibihl is willing to lead Communion.
- Read through the Communion liturgy and practice saying the words.
- Check in with worship committee about whether there is a baker for the common loaf.
- Buy grapes. (There is grape juice and wine at the church.)
- Ask someone to bring up the loaf at "We find bread..." in the liturgy. Ask someone to bring the cups grapes forward at "We find the fruit..." in the liturgy.
- Ask someone to stand up front and offer grapes and a blessing to children and others during Communion.
On Sunday, before the service:
- Place basket of Communion liturgies from shelf in library with the bulletins to be handed out.
- Get the communion set and a pouch of grape juice from the shelves in the library.
- Take the communion set to the nursery near the south door of the sanctuary. Pour juice into cup and place washed grapes in the bowl. If haven’t yet received bread from baker, ask the baker to place on the plate upon arriving.
- Get the small black binders for both leader portions of Communion, located in the church library and place them on a chair near the front of the sanctuary.
Other information
Music: In addition to Hymnal: A Worship Book located under the chairs, we have two supplemental songbooks, Sing the Story and Sing the Journey, stored in the southwest corner of the sanctuary. If you plan to use them, distribute them before the service. Please consider limiting your selections to one or the other since using both can be a bit hectic before, during, and after the service.
Participants: The results of the Time and Talent Survey lists people willing to help with various tasks. Worship committee can give you access to that document, along with the worship grid with the participants already lined up for each Sunday.
Inclusive language: We encourage worship leaders to use inclusive language for God and people. If you choose a hymn with male-only language, you can suggest alternate wording for people to sing, or ask the song leader to make that suggestion.
Incense: Please do not use incense during the service; it harms people with asthma.
Children in the Service: Children are most welcome! Talk to the pastor about fully including children in worship.
