There are many ways to order a worship service and I do not pretend to know the perfect way for either traditional or contemporary services. I do believe there should be a reason for why we order our services as we do. So, below are my reasons for why I order traditional and contemporary services as I do.

Traditional Worship

1. Prelude

Sets the mood, settles the room, and calls people into worship.

2. Welcome and Announcements

Gets interruptions out of the way before the heart of worship begins. 

3. Joys and Concerns 

4. Pastoral Prayer

Positioning these here lets the congregation emotionally engage right after connecting through announcements. It softens the transition from “business” to “worshipful community” and primes hearts for the Apostle’s Creed.

5. Apostle’s Creed (UMH #881)

Establishes shared faith right after communal prayer. It centers the congregation in belief before anything else.

6. Gloria Patri (UMH #70)

This act of praise keeps people standing, connected, and attentive.

7. Hymn

Having the first full hymn here gives the congregation an active, collective musical voice after the opening acts.

8. Scripture (First Reading)

Now the congregation’s ready to hear God’s Word. We’ve prayed, professed, praised, and now we listen.

9. Children’s Moment (maybe not on the Sundays we have communion. Or, quite short)

This gives the kids a meaningful part early in the service and is for the child in all of us. Plus, it allows for a little informal moment before offering.

10. Offertory & Thanksgiving

Moving the offering here instead of before the sermon makes sense. People are already emotionally and spiritually engaged, and it flows nicely after the Children’s Moment, when the mood is light and receptive.

10. Doxology (UMH #95)

A brief act of verbal & musical thanksgiving after the offering. 

11. Anthem or Special Song

This musical meditation prepares the congregation to receive the sermon. It bridges the offering and the message. Placing this after the offering enables choir members to assist with the offering.

12. Scripture (Sermon Text)

Reading this immediately before the sermon sharpens focus. The congregation hears the Word as a fresh foundation for the message.

13. Sermon (or “Devotional”)

Now, we are ready to worship God as we deliver and receive together from the Holy Spirit, after music and Word.

14. Holy Communion (every 1st Sunday)

A response to the Word, remberance of Christ, & an opportunity to connect with each other.

14. Hymn

A final communal response to the Word. An opportunity to come for prayer, or to come join as a member. This lets people process, reaffirm, and commit to what they’ve heard.

15. Benediction

Send people out blessed and charged.

Contemporary Worship

1. Prelude

Sets the mood, settles the room, and calls people into worship.

2. Welcome and Announcements

Gets interruptions out of the way before the heart of worship begins. 

3. Joys and Concerns 

4. Pastoral Prayer 

Positioning these here lets the congregation emotionally engage right after connecting through announcements. It softens the transition from “business” to “worshipful community.”

5. 2 Praise Song (honoring the intent of contemporary songs to move us deeper into worship by placing them back to back).

6. Scripture (First Reading)

Now the congregation’s ready to hear God’s Word. We’ve prayed, professed, praised, and now we listen.

7. Children’s Moment 

This gives the kids a meaningful part early in the service and is for the child in all of us. Plus, it allows for a little informal moment before offering.

8. Offertory & Thanksgiving

People are already emotionally and spiritually engaged, and it flows nicely after the Children’s Moment, when the mood is light and receptive.

(No Doxology in these services because that is a very "high church" thing to do.)

9. Special Song

This musical meditation prepares the congregation to receive the sermon. It bridges the offering and the message. Placing this after the offering enables choir members to assist with the offering.

10. Scripture (Sermon Text)

Reading this immediately before the sermon sharpens focus. The congregation hears the Word as a fresh foundation for the message.

11. Sermon (or “Devotional”)

Now, we are ready to worship God as we deliver and receive together from the Holy Spirit, after music and Word.

12. Holy Communion (every 1st Sunday)

A response to the Word, remberance of Christ, & an opportunity to connect with each other.

13. Praise Song

A final communal response to the Word. An opportunity to come for prayer, or to come join as a member. This lets people process, reaffirm, and commit to what they’ve heard.

14. Benediction

Send people out blessed and charged.