Worship Explained

Worship Service at United Church of Christ, Congregational
The order and components may vary.

Ringing of the Bell
Community Announcements
Greeting: Greet the people around you with words of welcome and blessing.

Prelude: Introductory music that sets the mood and invites us to worship.
Call to Worship: Declares what God has done and is doing and who we are in God's presence.
Hymns and Songs: Songs for everybody to sing. The hymns are chosen according to the church year and the theme of the scripture and sermon. The congregation uses the Sing! Prayer and Praise songbook and The New Century Hymnal.
Anthem: A special song sung by the choir or performed by an individual or small group.

Children’s Moment: The children are called to the front of the sanctuary for a lesson and to participate in activities related to the scripture and sermon.
Scripture: A reading from the Bible that provides background for the sermon.
Sermon: The minister or other speaker tells how teachings from the Bible can be understood and become a part of everyday life.

Offering: Money used to do God's work in the church and in the world.
Offertory Prayer: A prayer to dedicate the offering to God and God's work in the world.

Call to Prayer: An invitation to share joys and concerns, spend time in prayer.
Silent Prayer: A time for listening or talking to God by yourself.
Prayers of the People: The prayer usually includes thanks for blessings we enjoy and asks help for others and ourselves as we try to live faithful lives.

The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

Benediction: A spoken blessing at the end of the worship service.
Postlude: Music after the service.