I learned a lot of things in seminary but I didn't learn this. Prior to my seminary journey my father in the ministry gave each associate a sheet a paper and he explained the major components of worship. He wanted us to be informed and not try to hijack the pulpit.
Call to Worship - Preparing the people for worship and gathering them to be on one accord
Invocation - Seeking the presence of God in the worship service. Not a time to pray for grandma, aunt, uncle, cousin, mother, father, sister and so on
Congregation Prayer or Altar Call - Public prayer on behalf of the people. There should be no "I", but we, our and us.
Offertory Prayer - A blessing for the gifts being given for the ministry of the church
Benediction - A blessing and assurance of God's continued presence for the worshippers
Holla back!
What a wonderful opportunity! A chance to share with our sisters in ministry -- a gathering place -- a forum for discussion and learning.
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing this for us.
Now -- pulpit etiquette:
We've all experienced it -- in church, in restaurants, at the movies, in many other public places.
The Ringing Cell Phone
It's bad enough in church, but in the pulpit? Of course, someone could forget to turn it to silent/vibrate or off. But to answer it when it rings?... in the middle of the sermon?...
Oh yes my sisters. The Reverend Brother answered his cell when it rang during the middle of the sermon. I still wonder if he would have been so disrespectful had the preacher been a man.
I'll never know, but Lesson #2 in "Seminary did not teach me this..."
Cell Phones Must Be Checked at the Door.