Sausalito Presbyterian Church - Liturgist Template
Thank you for your leadership in the worship service this Sunday. This is your guide. It’s a basis for your creative input and participation. Make it your own. Enjoy! Please meet with Jim in his office at 9:10 AM, Sunday.
LIGHTING OF CANDLES BY YOUTH
ORGAN PRELUDE: Ralph Hooper plays the organ about 9:25 AM.
CALL TO CELEBRATION: This starts at the end of the Organ Prelude or Introit from the choir, if there is one. The liturgist does a reading that invites the congregation to be present with the spirit of God...this can be your own words, or a Bible verse, or a short poem, or a simple phrase of your own choosing. Here is a sample:
“God calls us together to worship. From our homes, work and play, God gathers us to give thanks for creation’s goodness. We gather to receive God’s grace, love and challenge for our journeys. Let us heed God’s call and rejoice in God. Welcome to worship.”
OPENING HYMN: No need to announce hymn number. Ralph will introduce the hymn. Ask the congregation to stand, as they are able.
COMMUNITY GREETING: Liturgist goes to center aisle up front at the end of the hymn. Then, greeting each other: The liturgist greets the congregation, introduces him/herself. Invite all those visiting that are comfortable doing so, to rise and tell us their names and where they are from. Ask the congregation to hold their applause for each guest until all introductions have been made. Liturgist nods and personally welcomes each guest. Liturgist then invites the congregation to greet each other. After a few minutes, invite everyone to coffee hour in Thomsom Hall after the service.
Alert newcomers to childcare for infants and children to 4 years old downstairs off the patio. The students 4years old through middle school will be dismissed later in the service. All high school students should remain in church with the adults. Please be sure that your cell phones and beepers are turned off . You will find our ‘Friendship Pads’ in each pew. If you would like to communicate with the pastor OR if your are a visitor and would like more information about the church, please write your comments and place it in the offering plate later in the service.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ask congregation if there are any announcements. If so, please stand, make them loud and brief. Mention that if the announcement is in the THP (Take Home Packet), they can find the details there.
THE WRITING OF JOYS, RISKS & CONCERNS: The liturgist points out that there is a Prayer Request Card in their bulletin. Show the card so people recognize what they are looking for in the bulletin. State that this is a long-standing SPC tradition...a time in which they can ask for community prayers for things they need, to pray for others and to express joys in their life.
Mention that a prayer and healing group meets every Tuesday night to review and pray over each of the requests from the congregation.
Invite the congregation to write on the prayer cards and to pass them to the middle aisle for the ushers to collect them. Liturgist returns to her/his seat during the writing.
THE YOUTH READING: Pat will come forward with a child and introduce him/her, or an older youth will come forward and introduce her/himself, or an adult will accompany a child.
TIME WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH: The pastor or another adult will invite the children to come forward.
YOUNGER YOUTH GO TO THEIR CLASSES: Pat Reed or Patti Oji will usually announce this. All youth in 8th grade and below will be invited to attend their classes. If Pat or Patti are not there, the liturgist announces this invitation to go downstairs:
“The youth are now invited to go downstairs with their Sunday School teachers. Grade 5 and under go with Pat Reed. Grades 6 and above will go with Patti Oji.
ANTHEM: Sausalito Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir.
READING: The pastor usually chooses the reading from the Bible that coordinates with the message and gives it to the liturgist to read.
The liturgist goes to the lectern and reads the Bible from there saying something like:
“ The first (or second or Gospel) reading is ____________________(chapter and verse)”
At the end of the reading say something like:
Liturgist returns to his/her seat.
MESSAGE: The pastor delivers the message. (Sometimes followed by dialogue)
HYMN (See first hymn instruction)
SHARING OF JOYS, RISKS AND CONCERNS: The pastor invites one of the ushers to summarize our prayer requests, concerns and joys.
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE: The pastor invites congregation to silent prayer begun with a bell or gong by the pastor. (The silence will extend for 2-3 minutes) The pastor then prays, including the joys, risks and concerns, and leads into a unison Lord’s Prayer.
GIVING OF OUR GIFTS: The liturgist fetches the offering plates from inside the lectern. S/he stands with an offering plate in each hand in the center front aisle and states this or other words:
“With gladness, let us present the offerings of our life and labor to God.” OR
“Let us continue our celebration through the giving of our gifts.”
The ushers then take the offering plates and move throughout the sanctuary. The liturgist returns to his/her seat.
After the offering and musical offertory are completed, the liturgist returns to center front, asks the congregation to stand (as you are able) for the doxology mentioning that the words are printed in the bulletin. The ushers come forward as the doxology is being sung.
DOXOLOGY: This is sung by all.
We give Thee but Thine own, What e’er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: This is said by the liturgist over the offering, something like this:
“Thank you, God, for the opportunity to share in your creative and restorative work among people. Because you have blessed us, we have much to give. These offerings express our gratitude and our aspiration to be more fully your own people. Amen.”
CLOSING HYMN: (See first hymn instruction)
BENEDICTION: This is said by the pastor. The pastor and liturgist proceed out after the benediction and greet the congregation at the door. Liturgist closest to the sanctuary, pastor next.
POSTLUDE: This is the final music played by Ralph as people leave the church.