Community-Wide Worship

Unchurched people often look at local churches as being completely unrelated to each other. One of the best ways to testify to the truth of the gospel is by demonstrating the unity of Christ-centered churches. Promoting community-wide worship can help do this.

For four years Racine Christian Reformed Church has hosted a National Day of Prayer service for the wider community. We have also promoted community-wide services hosted by other churches, such as Good Friday and Thanksgiving services. If your church doesn’t already host an annual event in your community, we encourage you to do so! “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Community-wide Christian worship services make for a powerful testimony.

Here are a few things to consider when planning community-wide worship:

  • If your pastor doesn’t already have relationships with other local pastors, encourage him or her to work at building those relationships. Those connections not only benefit the churches, but also make pastors eager to worship together as a broader community.
  • Put together a slate of speakers who are vibrant Christians and who represent the diversity in your community.
  • Choose a coordinator from your church who is active in the community and has many connections. This person must be willing to invest time in sending personal invitations to participants, obtaining confirmations, and promoting the event through newspapers, Facebook, and ads on television and radio.
  • Get as many volunteers in your church as possible to help host the event as greeters, bakers, nursery attendants, sound and audio people, and so on. The more people involved, the more joy!

Last year we were grateful for an overflowing crowd of enthusiastic worshipers. Brief remarks and prayers were offered by Police Chief Art Howell, “Miss Racine” Paula Kuiper (who is a member of the Racine congregation), a military spokesperson, several evangelical pastors from the area, and a health-care professional. A wife and mother of six gave remarks and prayed for marriages and families. Various churches provided music through soloists and choirs. Members of the congregation baked more than 800 cookies for the fellowship hour following the service.

The city’s new police chief prayed, “We know that there are serious problems related to budget challenges, but we also know, Father, that there is nothing that is impossible for you to accomplish.” Retired U.S. Navy commander Bill Schalk prayed for military personnel and gave testimony to Jesus as the light of the world. Pastor Rich Doering of the Community Church of the Nazarene prayed for community outreach and referred to Nehemiah, who said, “send me.” Pastor Willie Scott of the Christian Faith Fellowship Church prayed for the nation’s economy, jobs, and the homeless.

National Day of Prayer Order of Worship

Prelude

Welcome: Pastor of host church

Song of Praise: “How Great Thou Art” LUYH, CH 147, HFW 218, PH 467, PsH 483, SWM 150, TH 44, WR 51

Remarks/Prayer for the Community: Chief of police

Remarks/Prayer for Our Nation and the World: Local pastor

Anthem: Local church choir

Remarks/Prayer for Nation’s Security and Those Serving in the Military: Military veteran

Remarks/Prayer for Economy, Jobs, and the Homeless: Local pastor or representative of an agency working with those who struggle financially

Anthem: Local church choir

Remarks/Prayer for Healthcare Workers and the Health of the Community: Healthcare worker

Remarks/Prayer for the Spiritual Growth of the Community: Local pastor

Song of Praise: “Total Praise” (Richard Smallwood) LUYH

Remarks/Prayer for Marriages and Families: Local pastor, counselor, or other community member

Remarks/Prayer for Young People: Local teenager or someone who works with youth

Closing Song: “God Bless America” or another appropriate song

Benediction: Local pastor

Topics for Petitions

The following list of topics challenges prayer leaders to think of concerns that should be included regularly in public prayer but may be forgotten in light of a given leader’s or congregation’s experience. This list can serve well as a checklist to ensure that a balanced range of concerns is incorporated in a congregation’s prayers over time. (These topics are taken from pages 182 ff. of The Worship Sourcebook, published by Faith Alive/Baker/Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, 2004.)

For the Creation

Harvest

Environmental concerns

Natural disasters

Seasonable weather

Restoration

For the World

War

Injustice

Hunger

Disease

Racial strife

World governments

International crisis

International relief organizations

For the Nation

Courts and judges

National leaders

Upcoming elections

Military personnel

Lobbyists and advocates for justice and peace

For the Local Community

Local government

Housing

Racial strife

Poverty

Employment

Government services

Schools

For the Worldwide Church

Unity of the church

Holiness of the church

Missionaries and missions

Other Christian traditions

For the Local Church

Pastor(s)

Elders and other leaders

Deacons and others who serve

Staff members

Teachers

Stewards of church finances

Musicians and artists

People leaving for service opportunities

Missionaries

All members in their witness in the community

Thanksgiving for faithful service

Local mission

Congregational anniversary

New or remodeled church building

Unity in the congregation

For Those with Special Needs

Those who suffer with physical illness, and those who care for them

Those who suffer with mental illness, and those who care for them

Those who are elderly and infirm, and those who care for them

Those who have suffered abuse, and those who support them

Those who suffer with addiction, and those who support them

Those who mourn a death, and those who minister to them

Those who are imprisoned, and those who minister to them

Those who are lonely, and those who support them

Those who are orphaned, and those who care for them

Those who are homeless, and those who care for them

Those who are victims of crime, and those who support them

Those whose needs cannot be spoken

Those who are facing temptations

Those who live as single persons

Those who are about to be married or who are newly married

Those who celebrate a wedding anniversary

Those who struggle with marital difficulties

Those who are divorced and separated

Those whose sexuality is a source of pain

Those who celebrate the birth of a child

Those who long for children

Those who adopt a child or children

Those who are adopted

Those who care for young children

Those who care for elderly or needy parents

Those who are struggling with peer pressure

Those who are trying to choose a college or career path

Those who are leaving home

Those who are unemployed or underemployed

Those who work in business and industry

Those who work in homemaking

Those who work in medicine

Those who work in education

Those who work in agriculture

Those who work in government

Those who work in service to others

Those who are beginning a new career

Those who struggle in their work

Those who are seeking new or different jobs

Those who are retired or anticipating retirement

Those who celebrate baptism

Those who celebrate a renewed faith commitment or profession of faith

Those who struggle with doubts

Those who are persecuted for their faith

Those who seek spiritual renewal

Those with family members and friends who do not have faith

Those who travel

Those who are enjoying leisure or rest

Those who traveled to be present at worship

Those who are new members of the congregation

Those who are departing members of the congregation

 

Doug Aldrink is pastor of Racine Christian Reformed Church in Racine, Wisconsin.

Reformed Worship 107 © March 2013, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.