The call to worship

The call to worship is a crucial part of the Sunday service because it prepares the congregation to focus on God, who is present among them, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It guides our easily distracted minds to a spiritual place, one that has been cleared of mental clutter. I often use verses from Psalms to draw my church family’s attention to what we are about to share, which is God’s love, care and blessings, as well as opening their minds to the Word.

Here are some examples of calls to worship that I find uplifting and gently focusing.

Call to worship for the Christmas season:

Holy freedom, holy rejoicing! We open our hearts to the world, offering ourselves to this day, in joyfulness and gratitude and let us be totally present for our loving God; God is with us, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in this holy place today. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Unto us a saviour is born, to be with us now, and forevermore, and in our rejoicing may we draw closer to him and be made one with him and each other as a family in Christ.

Bless us as we meet together, dear Lord we pray.
Bless the singing of your praise,the reading of your Word,
the sharing of our fellowship, the prayers that will be heard.
Bless us as we meet together,
dear Lord we pray.
Amen

Let us be present for our loving God with all our hearts and minds.
May we be open to God’s love and mercy,
rejoicing in his company,
at home in his embrace.
Let us sing our praises to God,
knowing that he is always by our side and
that he will take care of us, no matter what.
God hears all our prayers.

Call to worship for Pentecost:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send for your spirit O Lord and they shall be created.
And you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God by the light of the Holy Spirit, you teach the hearts of the faithful;
we pray you, through the Holy Spirit, give us a right understanding in all things and the joy always that comes from his consoling.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

A call to worship for the feast of the baptism of Jesus (Epiphany):

All you who are thirsty,
come drink from the waters of life!
All you who are weary, come bathe,
be refreshed in God’s river!
All you who long for peace,
come rest in the clear, silent pools of God’s love! Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany
So may we open our eyes to see our Lord’s glory,
Open our ears to hear the songs that praise him
And open our hearts to receive his Holy Spirit.
The Lord reveals his majesty!
Son of the Living God you are the way, the truth and the life.
Bless us as we worship you, bathed in the light of your love.

Call to worship for the feast of Christ the King:

Around the world this day,
the universal church celebrates the “The Reign of Christ.”
Christ Jesus, friend of the poor, the meek and the merciful, has been enthroned above all authority and power in this world and in the world that is to come.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, serve the Lord with gladness
come into his presence with singing.
God has placed everything under Christ’s wounded feet, appointed the one who wore a crown of thorns as the supreme head of the church, his body.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, come into his courts with praise.
Give thanks and praise his loving name!