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Gathering
Gathering for worship is a point of transition, a movement from
our life in the world to our life together in the presence of God.
As we enter the Sanctuary, we become a congregation, a family, a
community of God's people. Our attention moves from our individual
lives to those around us and then to the worship leaders. Silent
preparation will best allow you to adjust your focus. A resource
for meditation is provided in the pew rack.
The
Prelude
Calvary is blessed with a fine pipe organ and a skilled organist.
The word prelude derives from the Latin “praelludium”
and means "to play beforehand." This piece of music is
carefully chosen to enhance the season of the Christian year. It
is an important part of your preparation for worship. Please observe
silence during the prelude.
 Praising
and Singing
Praising is one of the ways to participate fully in worship. It
helps us recognize God's greatness and power. Singing is an important
form of offering praise to God. During worship you will have many
opportunities to sing. As a member of the congregation you are the
choir. The musical group in the front is there to assist you in
your singing. It will be helpful for you to look ahead in your order
of worship, locating the next song on your song sheet so you will
be ready to praise or respond through song. This congregation uses
a wide variety of musical styles in worship.
Praying
Prayer in worship involves spoken prayers as well as silent prayers.
In addition to being attentive to spoken prayers, silent reflection
provides an opportunity to encounter God and will enrich your worship
experience.
These
brief definitions will guide you:
Invocation
- The invocation from the Latin “invocatis” means “the
act or process of asking for help or support.” In worship
the invocation calls upon God to be present to the worshiping
community.
The
Pastoral Prayer - This prayer is offered by a worship leader and
grows out of timely concerns or joys that have arisen in the world,
our city, sickness or death in the church membership, or other
concerns and celebrations. Calvary's ministers are glad to know
about these needs before worship so that they may be included
in this prayer time.
Confession
- The prayer of confession offers us the opportunity to be honest
with ourselves and with God. During this prayer we give to God
those things for which we are genuinely sorry and ask for God's
forgiveness. A prayer of assurance is always included so that
we can, with confidence, receive God's loving forgiveness.
Silent
Prayer
Listening to God together in silence can be a powerful and meaningful
experience. Just as we move from awkward to comfortable silence
in our mature human relationships, so it is with God. Some suggestions
for silence are as follows:
Focus on Your Breath - Our breath is our most basic gift
of life. Focus your awareness on your breathing. As you breathe
in, say to yourself “I am breathing in ... thank you for
life.” As you breathe out, say to yourself “I am breathing
out ... receive my living.”
Slowly Repeat a Passage of Scripture - “Create in
me a clean heart, O God.” or “The Lord is my light,
whom shall I fear.”
Create Positive Imagination - Think of someone who needs
your prayer. Picture them with the light of Christ encircling
their life.
Pray the Images that Come to You - Allow your thoughts
to arise. Pray with each thought or with each image. If the image
disturbs you ask for God's peace. If the image brings you
joy, offer that joy to God.
Giving
Giving is an important act of worship. In the order of worship,
a "Call to Give" signals to all of us the opportunity
to give our tithes and offerings. Christians have many reasons for
offering gifts of money to support the work of the church. We give
joyfully in response to the blessings in our lives, in gratitude
to our loving God. We want to be part of the meaningful work of
our church in our community and in the world. And we respond to
God’s age-old standard concerning tithes and offerings.
Preaching
Preaching has always been a significant moment in the church's
worship.
The sermon has its unique roots in Jewish tradition and was carried
on and explored in the Christian tradition. We know that Jesus was
a preacher. In the account of the sermon he delivered in his hometown
(Luke 4:14-21) three necessary elements of preaching are evident.
First, there is a liturgical element: Jesus' sermon was in
the context of worship. Second, there is the exegetical aspect:
Jesus interpreted a text. Third, there is the prophetic or challenging
element: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
These
three elements - worship, exegesis, and prophecy - constitute the
essential framework for the sermon.
1.
During worship, a preacher will
2. interpret a text and will
3. challenge us to make that truth come alive in our living.
Occasionally
the sermon will be given in the form of musical or artistic expression.
Invitation
Before the singing of the Song of Invitation, you will be invited
to respond to God in a couple of ways. First, you are invited to
make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and publicly affirm that
you want to become his disciple and secondly, you are invited to
join in the life of this congregation and become a member of this
Christian family. To respond to these invitations, come forward
during the singing and one of Calvary's ministers will meet
you at the front of the Sanctuary. Membership means commiting your
prayers, presence, gifts and service to God in this place.
Serving
The Benediction - If one looks closely at the Benediction, one can
clearly see the intent of this action "Bene" means “good”
and “diction" means “word” ... literally a "good
word". The Benediction sends us forth with the blessing of
God's power over our lives.
The
Postlude - The word postlude derives from the Latin “postlludium”
and simply means “to play afterward.” The postlude is
designed to provide a bridge from your encounter with God in worship
to your service for God in the world. You are invited to remain
in silence and listen to the postlude.
May God be with you.
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