Category: Corporate Worship

  • Corporate Worship: Offertory Prayer and Offering

    Dear Church Family, One of the elements of worship that is often overlooked, or perhaps taken for granted, is the giving and receiving of offerings for the support of the gospel ministry of the church. Some people see the giving of offerings as a sort of due which one gives because they are a member…

  • Corporate Worship: Opening Hymn

    Dear Church Family, For many people, singing is one of the most affective parts of worship. By its very nature, music effects our emotions unlike many other things. When the people of God sing together, they join in one voice giving expression to both the content and the affections of their faith in a unique…

  • Corporate Worship: Call to Worship & Invocation

    Dear Church Family, In the last several pastoral reflections, we have been examining the various parts of our corporate worship service. After discussing some of the foundational principles of worship and what it means to prepare for worship, last time we looked at the salutation and response (these previous reflections are available online at the…

  • Corporate Worship: Salutation and Introit

    Dear Church Family, In the first installment of this series on corporate worship, we examined some basic principles that inform worship in the Christian church. And, last time, we discussed some of the important aspects of preparing for worship – things that would help God’s people in preparing to enter His presence as a church…

  • Corporate Worship: Preparing for Worship

    Dear Church Family, In last week’s email, I addressed some general principles of corporate worship. This week, I would like to delineate some recommendations in preparing for worship. At the beginning of our corporate worship service, we have a time designated in the order of worship as “Silent Preparation for Worship;” however, there are things…

  • Corporate Worship: Principles

    Dear Church Family, As we come to the end of this first month of the new year, I am beginning a series of (hopefully) weekly emails on the corporate worship of the church. My aim will be to first enumerate and define a number of the foundational principles concerning the public worship of God. Then,…