A Church’s Order of Worship

A few weekends ago, I went home for a cousin’s wedding. And going home means going to my parent’s church on Sunday. I don’t know about you, but for some of us even the thought of your parent’s church brings up mixed feelings of cringe, regret, anger, sadness, etc. There was one point in my life where that was true — I just refused to go. But in the past few years, I will attend when I’m home.

The same elements of that church still annoy me as they bugged me in high school — the last time I went to that church regularly. I don’t like that they only sing hymns and that most of them aren’t from this century. Taking offering during service for one charity while asking for a separate tithe isn’t Biblical to me. I don’t like that there isn’t anyone my age or life stage that goes to my parent’s church. There are a few Biblical interpretations that I don’t agree. But the “order of worship” is one of the biggest pet peeves.

The typical order of worship for my parent’s church:

Called to Worship:

• Prelude
• Welcome and Announcements
• Call to Worship
• God’s Greeting and Mutual Greeting
• Songs of Praise

Called to Gratitude:

• God’s Will for Our Lives
• Congregational Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Thanks