Question:
I'm one of two praise band leaders at my church in NJ. We've gone from a very traditional service arrangement (singing, announcements, singing, offering, singing, etc.) to more simplified service (music set, offering, sermon). I've found this gives me a lot more freedom to put together thematic sets and build some flow into the set. I had not really thought about how much I like this approach until recently when I visited another church and right smack in the middle of a wonderful worship set, the band all sat down for ten minutes of announcements.
I'd like to hear from other worship leaders how you arrange your service and how it impacts your music.
Answer:
We do sort of what you've labelled "traditional," but I do a LOT of thematic stuff and "flow."
Our general order of worship is as follows:
A call to worship (one song)
Welcome and announcements
A set of songs here (usually two)
Collection of offerings
Sometimes a "special music" here
A set of songs here (usually two-three)
[we start those songs as the plate is passed]
Sermon (generally, the songs tie in well)
Invitation (one song, usually a hymn)
Benediction (occcasionally a song)
That's about it, on most days.
If and when we have "ten minutes of announcements" to do (which is very rare), we'll do them either at the very beginning (after the call to worship... before we've "really" started singing) or at the very end (right before the benediction, as we dismiss).
If we did all of our songs in one big clump, that'd be about fifteen to twenty minutes of standing and singing, which (though it doesn't seem like much to most modern worship leaders) is quite a strain on most lay-singers. Breaks (however brief) are important.
Separating our songs out also gives me time to talk in between them without the cheesy "guitarist strums random chords" or "keyboardist plays random synth pads" stuff that most leaders seem to do if they want to talk. I just talk. I like it that way better.
Answer:
Nate,
I have been considering adding the "Call to Worship" song to start our service before the announcements. Do you have the congregation stand and sing that one song, then sit down for the announcements, then back up again when you do your worship set? Our previous worship leader did that sometimes and people said they felt like a jack in the box...
Answer:
Originally Posted by Joe F Nate,
I have been considering adding the "Call to Worship" song to start our service before the announcements. Do you have the congregation stand and sing that one song, then sit down for the announcements, then back up again when you do your worship set? Our previous worship leader did that sometimes and people said they felt like a jack in the box...
Yeah... that's basically what we do. It's not so bad, 'cause everyone is usually filing in (really, the call to worship is as much to give everyone time to stop talking and get to their seats as it is to get everyone involved in the worship service) as we start anyway, and our pastor says a prayer before having everyone sit down as he gives the welcome and announcements and such. After that, they stand until we start passing the plates, then it's sitting all the way 'til the invitation / benediction. It's a bit of jack-in-the-boxing, but a lot of our members grew up in Catholic churches... sooooo.....
Answer:
We don't typically do "sets" necessarily...the music is integrated with spoken parts of the service. Typically an order will look like this...
Welcome & immediately relevant announcements (most announcements are left to the bulletin)
Call to worship
Song
Opening Prayer
God's Greeting (salutation)
Song
Prayer of confession
(sometimes a song)
Assurance of pardon
Song
Prayer for illumination
Scripture
Sermon
Prayer
Song
Prayer
Offering
Blessing (benediction)
Song
Answer:
We pretty much do the same thing every week, which is pretty stale, in my opinion.
Opening Fast Song
Welcome Greeting
Two Fast Songs
Two Slow Songs
Communion
Offering
Message
Fast Song To End
Answer:
Everything we do kind of centers around a certain theme for the day... depending on what the pastor is preaching on. We like to have one central thought or "big idea" for the day. The songs tie into that. (see below)
We do announcements first then take a minute to "greet each other" (we're still small enough to do this). Then we have a "call to worship" of some sort, sometimes the pastor introduces the "theme" for the day and/or reads some scripture to get us focused.
We generally do a "set" of anywhere from 5-7 songs. I like to think in terms of "revelation and response"... having songs and scripture tied together that reveal something of God's character and then songs and scripture that are a response to Him (usually sung in the first person to HIM). We don't take an offering but have a "box" that regular attenders know about.
After our singing we pray then have the sermon then sometimes another song at the end. (a song to "respond" to what we have just heard).
Answer:
Our songs usually fit in about like this (bold for where songs would/could be)
Gathering Music (there's sometimes singing with this, sometimes it's an instrumental)
Welcome (speaking, pastor or worship leader or both)
Song Set We usually do 3-4 songs here with either musical or verbal transitions between, depending on what we feel is appropriate.
Confession/Reflection Time
Sometimes a song here, sometimes not
Message
Offering We'll often play an instrumental number here
Closing Words (spoken by the pastor)
Closing Song Usually an upbeat number, but not always.
Answer:
Originally Posted by nate95366 Our songs usually fit in about like this (bold for where songs would/could be)
Gathering Music (there's sometimes singing with this, sometimes it's an instrumental)
Welcome (speaking, pastor or worship leader or both)
Song Set We usually do 3-4 songs here with either musical or verbal transitions between, depending on what we feel is appropriate.
Confession/Reflection Time
Sometimes a song here, sometimes not
Message
Offering We'll often play an instrumental number here
Closing Words (spoken by the pastor)
Closing Song Usually an upbeat number, but not always.
That's pretty much what we do too
Answer:
We start the service with a Call to Worship song.
Following that is a brief welcome and prayer by one of the pastoral staff.
We then proceed into a 4 or 5 song 'set' which may include an impromptu prayer between a song and there also may be a scripture reading by someone in the congregation, if they're led to do so.
The worship 'set' is concluded with a prayer by the head pastor and then is a greeting and short fellowship time (greet your neighbor and such).
We'll then go into brief announcements and such and then take the offering, which may or may not include a special song or media.
Following the offering is the pastor's message and he'll usually close with a prayer and we'll reprise one of the earlier songs before the congregation is dismissed.
Total time: about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
This is pretty much how I've 'done church' at three different churches over the past 12 years with the exception of the Call to Worship which has sometimes been incorporated into the opening greeting/prayer.
Something I've experienced and I'm thinking I'm not alone in this: announcements have always seemed to be one of the more challenging elements of a service and can sometimes seem rather akward depending on where they're placed. They certainly aren't of the spiritual depth that music and the Word are but they are necessary.
Where we've placed them seems to be the best place for us in regards to the overall flow of the service and I'm curious to see where others here might have to share about this.
Answer:
Originally Posted by gtrdave Something I've experienced and I'm thinking I'm not alone in this: announcements have always seemed to be one of the more challenging elements of a service and can sometimes seem rather akward depending on where they're placed. They certainly aren't of the spiritual depth that music and the Word are but they are necessary.
Where we've placed them seems to be the best place for us in regards to the overall flow of the service and I'm curious to see where others here might have to share about this.
Tell me about the challenge!!! I don't know where to put those things, but I have been placing them towards the beginning - often the announcement items are mentioned by the person(s) doing the welcome/greeting. I don't know that I'll ever find a place that works perfectly, though.
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by gtrdave Something I've experienced and I'm thinking I'm not alone in this: announcements have always seemed to be one of the more challenging elements of a service and can sometimes seem rather akward depending on where they're placed. They certainly aren't of the spiritual depth that music and the Word are but they are necessary.
Where we've placed them seems to be the best place for us in regards to the overall flow of the service and I'm curious to see where others here might have to share about this.
I think it's a little silly, in some respects, to regard announcements of church events as less important (or even less spiritual, really) than other parts of the worship service. Yes, they don't directly relate to worship or to study... but that's only one of the purposes of a church. The primary purpose, it seems to me, of a church is... fellowship. There's nothing antispiritual about letting everyone know what opportunities are coming up for fellowship and service within the local body of Christ. Even though it doesn't excite people as much to hear about potluck dinners (well... doesn't excite some people, I should say) than to sing an emotional worship song, it's just as important. I agree with the "try not to make announcements feel awkward" sentiment, but I see no reason to treat them as secondary events within the context of the service.
Answer:
Sounds like our service is similar to what gtrdave mentioned:

Call to worship (occaisionally)

Welcome and announcements - done by a pastor and sometimes other people. Normally they try to 'highlight' a ministry at this time too. That can mean someone talking about it or a short video.

Worship Set - usually 4 songs. I prefer having these songs all together. Sometimes the last song is set up for the offering. We normally just sing a song as the plates are passed. I have been known to announce the offering before the first song in this set so that all four songs can be done together.

Prayer - One of the pastors will pray for concerns, etc.

Offering - If not done above, sometimes there will be a media clip during the offering.

Sermon

Closing song - Usually another song we hadn't already done, but I like what Dave said about reprising an earlier one.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Nate I think it's a little silly, in some respects, to regard announcements of church events as less important (or even less spiritual, really) than other parts of the worship service. Yes, they don't directly relate to worship or to study... but that's only one of the purposes of a church. The primary purpose, it seems to me, of a church is... fellowship. There's nothing antispiritual about letting everyone know what opportunities are coming up for fellowship and service within the local body of Christ. Even though it doesn't excite people as much to hear about potluck dinners (well... doesn't excite some people, I should say) than to sing an emotional worship song, it's just as important. I agree with the "try not to make announcements feel awkward" sentiment, but I see no reason to treat them as secondary events within the context of the service.
I'm glad for you that all your church announcements seem to be about fellowship, and I agree with you to that end.
What would you say about announcements that are not in regards to fellowship opportunities? Should we find another place for these?
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by nate95366 I'm glad for you that all your church announcements seem to be about fellowship, and I agree with you to that end.
I'm using a relatively loose definition of "fellowship," for whatever it's worth.
What would you say about announcements that are not in regards to fellowship opportunities? Should we find another place for these?
What specifically is being announced? I like the upfront announcement time.