The Call to Worship

A call to worship is directed to the people by God through the worship leader. It is an act that brings the worshiping community into being. The call to worship is directed toward the people. It is a call to focus mind, heart, and intention on the worship of God. Therefore, it is brief and emotive, not lengthy and intellectual. It has the character of an acclamation, not a teaching. One exception to this rule may occur during Lent when the character of the preparation changes significantly to convey the mood of sobriety and identification with Christ through the use of penitential litany. The call to worship is not a time for responsive readings. Responsive readings are kept for the Service of the Word when content and instruction constitute the goal of the worshiping community. In the Entrance the goal is to come before the Lord. Consequently the acts of worship such as a call to worship are characterized by simplicity and brevity. Below are two examples. One, an antiphonal readin…