Wolfville Baptist Church welcomes you, just across the street from Acadia University

While there is considerable room for variety within the service, the overall structure provides a familiar environment in which our focus may be on the One we worship rather than on the forms by which we offer our praise.

It is true of our worship that the whole is always more than the sum of the parts. Nevertheless, it is hoped that an understanding of the various elements of the service may enhance our participation.

Prelude The service begins with the music of the organ. This is a time to make the transition between the busyness of our daily lives and this time of worship. We may use the prelude to think over those areas of our lives where we experience special needs; to try to identify how God may have been active in our lives during the past week; or to pray for the particular “grace” we may desire: patience, the ability to forgive someone, greater assurance of God’s presence, a sense of direction, some form of healing, etc. For some it is simply a time to be still in God’s presence. The music is carefully chosen in accordance with the theme and context of the day’s worship. It may be contemplative, exuberant, plaintive, or may express many other movements that are consistent with our encounter with God in worship.

Greeting The first words of greeting are most often words of Scripture. The minister frequently speaks words of Jesus or a verse from the Psalms or another part of the bible. Our primary encounter in worship is with God. The first words spoken, then, express God’s word to us or our word to God. Notices of special interest to the congregation are sometimes mentioned after the initial greeting, so the rest of the service may flow smoothly.

“The Lord be with you…” This ancient Christian greeting has been used continuously in worship from the Church’s earliest centuries. The first line is reminiscent of the greeting of the angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of our Lord. The third and fourth lines are from an early Eucharistic prayer and are included in many Communion liturgies. The children of our congregation use the opening lines of this greeting each week in children’s worship, so we hope that its use in the congregation will enhance their sense of participation. This greeting, spoken to one another, acknowledges that although we come as individuals, we worship as a congregation.

Gathering Song The gathering song is the first thing we sing together in the service. When we join our voices, our individuality gives way to our larger identity as a congregation. The words we sing often celebrate an element of God’s character or express an aspect of our faith. Our hope is that the gathering songs will become so familiar that young and old will know them by heart.

Call to Worship Often based on the Psalm of the day, the call to worship reinforces our belief that it is God who calls us to worship, and that our praise and devotion are part of our response to God’s invitation. In our worship we participate in this God-initiated conversation. The call to worship may take the form of a dialogue with God, or it may contribute to our praise as we proclaim God’s greatness together.

Hymn The opening hymn is most often an expression of praise to God. The focus is not on us, or our individual needs, but on the God who is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This hymn is often chosen to be consistent with the season of the Church year and theme of the Scriptures that will be read in the service. As such, the opening hymn helps to establish a direction for our worship.

Gathering Prayer Sometimes called the invocation or prayer of approach, this prayer continues our praise and invites God’s presence. Of course God is present before we arrive; indeed, it is God who calls us to worship, not the other way around. At the same time, it is important for us to open ourselves to God and to listen carefully for ways in which God may be speaking to us. By inviting God to send the Holy Spirit upon us, we are opening ourselves to God’s work in our midst – a work that can exceed “all that we could ask or imagine.”

Prayers for Truth and Reconciliation Also known as the prayer of confession, in this prayer we
acknowledge our dependence on God. We confess our sins – those things that hinder our love of God and others – and ask for forgiveness, restoration, and healing. By its very nature this prayer is also a confession of faith, since we offer it to God who is rich in mercy.

The Lord’s Prayer This is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. When we offer it together we participate in the prayer of the Church in every time and place. It is both general and specific, so each worshipper may give voice to his or her particular need or expression of praise. In the early Church, the Lord’s Prayer was taught to catechumens (those being instructed in the faith) in preparation for their baptism.

The Scriptures Normally we read the passages suggested in the New Revised Common Lectionary – a three-year cycle of Bible readings used in many churches. The lectionary is designed to guide us through the seasons of the Church’s liturgical year and to expose us to all of the major elements of our faith. The Old Testament reading (often replaced by a reading from the Book of Acts during the season of Easter) roots our worship in the Jewish faith. Jesus was a Jew and the Bible he read was the book we now know as the Old Testament. The Epistle is from the New Testament letters, addressed to local congregations or persons, and received by the Church as Scripture. The Gospel reading is from one of the four books that tell the life of Jesus. While we recognize that people wrote the books of the Bible in specific times and to specific readers, we also believe that the Bible is inspired (literally, “God-breathed”) and that God continues to speak through its pages.

Hymn of Response In many churches, a Psalm is read or sung as a response to the first reading. Since we usually use the Psalm for the call to worship, we often sing a song here that is related to the theme of the day.

Prayer with the children The younger children are invited to share a few minutes to reflect on the theme and to pray together before they go to children’s worship. The children are an important part of the congregation. By speaking and praying with them, we hope to communicate a sense of belonging, even though they are about to leave the service.

Sermon The sermon is a time of extended concentration on and listening to God’s word. This means something more than merely listening to the preacher; we are also listening for what God may be saying to us, both as individuals and as a congregation. This does not mean that the preacher is God’s mouthpiece in everything the preacher may say. Rather, the challenge is to listen at a deep level as we try to understand the impact of God’s word for us in our time and place.

Anthem The anthem is one way of expressing our response to God’s word proclaimed through the reading of the Scriptures and the preaching of the sermon. It is not so much performed as it is presented or offered as an act of worship. The words of the anthem (or other ministry of music) invite us to a time of reflection on what we have heard, and commitment as to how we might respond.

Offering Our Gifts The offering of gifts is another way to express our response to God. Ultimately, our best response is the offering of our lives as agents of God’s love and grace in the world. The gifts we put on the plate symbolize our offering of self as an act of worship.

Our Life Together This is a time to share some of those that will be included in our prayers of
thanksgiving and intercession, and for which we invite prayer and action during the week. We may hear from people involved in various ministries, hear of those who are hospitalized or otherwise in need of the congregation’s support, and consider the needs of the world beyond our doors.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession These prayers are offered on behalf of the entire
congregation. Sometimes called prayers of the people, we offer thanks to God and pray for God’s help for those in need. Our prayer may begin locally and expand to embrace the needs of those in other parts of the globe. Sometimes speaking concerns aloud or sharing in a spoken or sung refrain makes the congregational nature of the prayer more explicit.

The Lord’s Supper Communion or Eucharist (from a Greek word meaning Thanksgiving) is a central element of Christian worship. While the norm in many churches is for weekly Eucharist, Canadian Baptist churches generally celebrate this sacred meal on the first Sunday of each month. In this sacrament Christ gives of himself in gifts of bread and wine – powerful symbols of his life, which is given for the life of the world. When we receive these gifts we remember Christ’s sacrifice, we look ahead to the coming Reign of God, and we rejoice in Christ’s living presence. In this way we reaffirm our commitment to live as the Body of Christ in the world. Essentially, all worship is Eucharistic. God offers mercy and grace and we respond in thanksgiving and the
offering of our lives. On those Sundays when the Lord’s Supper is not served, the offering of gifts and the prayers of thanksgiving and intercession should give expression to the Eucharistic movements of memory, hope, and service in the Spirit of Christ.

Hymn The closing hymn sends us out on a note of praise for God’s goodness and guidance, and renewed commitment to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8)
Benediction The minister offers a blessing for the congregation. More than a wish for “a nice day” or “a good week”, we receive God’s blessing – the assurance of the Spirit’s empowering presence as we go out to live as God’s witnesses in the world.

Amen The amen, spoken or sung, is the congregation’s affirmation to what has been said and done. As such, it belongs to the people and not simply to the one offering the prayer or the blessing. Like the final chord of a great symphony, it brings our worship to a satisfying conclusion.

Postlude The service concludes with the music of the organ. This can be a time for personal prayer and reflection, a few moments to think about how we may best live out our faith in the coming week, or an opportunity to celebrate the joy of having been in God’s presence. The music is chosen accordingly and, like all of the music in the service, is not so much performed as presented or offered as part of our worship. This is another of the ways in which the organist leads the congregation in prayer.

Before we go… Friendship is such an important element in the life of the congregation. We hope that all worshippers will take time to greet those around them, especially visitors and newcomers.

Refreshments are served in the vestry to encourage people to linger for informal conversation. There is no substitute for a sense of belonging.

BDM, 2006