Let's Reflect on Worship by Judy Formalarie

As Zion, and we as her congregation, celebrates 300 years of worship, it is a good time to look at what we do in worship and what it means. So, here is a reflection on our worship service step by step, with thanks to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Woodstock, Georgia.

Prelude: In this musical period of meditation, we open our minds and prepare our hearts to receive the gifts of Word and Sacrament, and to offer our praise and thanksgiving.

Confession and Forgiveness: We do not love God or our neighbors as we have been called to love them. Our sin separates us from God, our neighbors and creation, but God has promised forgiveness and wholeness to those who seek mercy. With cleansed hearts and forgiven lives, we are better receptacles for the gifts we receive in worship.

First Hymn: Made new by God’s forgiveness, we lift our united voices, proclaiming our faith in song.

Kyrie: The “Kyrie” is a prayer for God’s mercy. “Kyrie” is a Greek word for “Lord” and this prayer has been a part of worship liturgy since ancient times (Matthew 9:27-31, 20:29-34).

Lent: Lent begins at Ash Wednesday with a solemn call to fasting and repentance, setting the stage for conceptualizing and living Lent as a journey to Easter. The Lenten journey is a turn away from the mirror and toward the neighbor and the world as “ambassadors for Christ”.

Prayer of the Day: The Prayer of the Day focuses on the theme of the day’s worship that will be explored in the scripture readings, sermon and hymns.

Readings: The proclamation of God’s Word is the heart of our worship. Though the Word is proclaimed in many ways in worship, the reading of scripture is primary.

Sermon: The preacher attempts to unpack the Word that has been read and assist us in finding meaning for our own lives in the readings.

Hymn of the Day: The Hymn of the Day is a united musical expression of the theme of the readings and sermon.

Creed: We respond to the full proclamation of the Word with a confession of faith using one of Christianity’s ancient statements.

Prayers of Intercession: The Prayers of Intercession are corporate prayers for the church, the world, and all those in need. With clean hearts and faithful hearing of the word, our petitions move away from our individual and personal needs to the enactment of God’s will in all of creation.

Peace: In a physical demonstration of our love for God and neighbor, we bless one another with Christ’s peace for our lives (Colossians 3:12-17).

Great Thanksgiving: The Great Thanksgiving moves us into the celebration of Holy Communion. As its name suggests, the meal is cause for great thanksgiving in the lives of the faithful.

Words of Institution: These words from scripture proclaim the meaning of the meal to us (Matthew 26:26-28).

Lord’s Prayer: This prayer that Jesus taught his disciples is our table blessing for the meal (Matthew 6:7-15).

Holy Communion: Holy Communion is one of the two sacraments of the church. It is a means by which the underserved love of God is freely given to us by Jesus as he is present in the meal.

Invitation to Communion: All are welcome to Jesus’ meal because the invitation comes from him and not from the church or any other person.

Dismissal: Though our worship together is ending, we are reminded to carry our worship and faith into the world and our daily lives.