The Call to Worship is one of my favorite parts of the worship service. It reminds us why we’re gathered. Why have we put aside everything else we could be doing and gathered with others in a holy space? Maybe we are ready to feel inspired, or grounded, or in community with others. Maybe we are hungry for a message of some kind. Ultimately, our purpose is not for ourselves at all. It’s to worship God. The call to worship wakes us up and reminds us of this holy purpose. It’s a North Star, pointing us to where we’ll go.
In many congregations, the call to worship is (like other parts of the service) a place to read and follow along. There’s nothing wrong with that, but in our book Church Together, my co-author Dave Csinos and I argue for a call-to-worship structure that has a repeated element. Instead of looking down at the bulletin or up at the screen, the congregation can hold the phrase in their heads and hearts during the call. When the worship leader extends their arms to signal the participation of the community, the repeated phrase is spoken:
Consider the example we give in Church Together:
Leader: We come to worship as we do each week saying,
Congregation: This is the day that God has made!
Leader: Whether we’re happy, sad, tired or mad,
Congregation: This is the day that God has made!
Leader: We bring our full attention to worship because
Congregation: This is the day that God has made!
Source: Church Together: An Essential Guide to All-Age Ministry by Traci Smith and David M. Csinos. Chalice Press: 2026.
There are many advantages to using a call to worship with repeated elements like this:
- A repeated refrain allows for the phrase to be internalized a bit. This is the day that Yes, indeed.
- A repeated refrain allows us to take our eyes off the page or the screen and look up, or even close our eyes.
- A repeated refrain can be spoken without worry of sounding the words out (for pre-readers) or straining one’s eyes (for those with vision challenges or impairment).
As we point out in the book, the success of a call to worship with repreated elements will lie, in part, in the ability of the worship leader to give a bit of instruction before beginning. Something like,
“Friends, today’s call to worship includes the phrase ‘This is the day that God has made.’ You don’t need to follow along in the bulletin or the screen. Whenever I do this, [extend arms out] you say, This is the day that God has made! Let’s try it!” Try it at least twice until people get the hang of it.
I will note that I’ve tried this in several churches over the past year and, even with instruction, people still cling to their bulletins or have their eyes glued to the screen. Old habits die hard. At the same time, those who seem to be the most engaged are often young people or newer members of the worshipping community.
As with many new experiments in worship (or life) this gets easier the more you do it. Give it a try for at least two weeks before you judge whether or not the experiment was a success.
By request, here are a few more Calls to Worship with Repeated Elements. Feel free to use them or adapt them for your context, and have fun!
We Are Ready!
In this call to worship, the repeated element is “We are ready!” Practice saying “We are ready!” when the leader asks, “Church: are you ready?” The refrain “we are ready!” is a joyful proclamation of coming into God’s presence with joy and anticipation.
One: We come to church this day to worship God. Church: are you ready?
All: We are ready!
One: Today in our worship we will sing, pray, speak, listen, and learn. Church, are you ready?
All: We are ready!
One: Sometimes it’s hard to center and quiet ourselves for worship. Sometimes it’s easy. Either way, we’re called to do our very best to be ready. Church, are you ready?
All: We are ready!
One: Amen!
God is Here!
God is Here! Remind everyone that God is among them as you begin worship.
One: We come into worship and lay aside everything else we have to do today, remembering,
All: God is here!
One: When we bring our worries and when we bring our joy, we know without a doubt,
All: God is here!
One: We prepare our hearts to sing, and pray, and learn affirming always
All: God is here!
One: God is here! God is here! God is here! Let us say together one more time with joy
All: God is here! Amen.
A Joyful Noise
When we come to worship God, we make a joyful noise. This call to worship reminds us of the joyful noise all around. The leader can invite the people to clap and tap and shout as the call to worship is shared.
One: We clap our hands and tap our toes
All: Let us make a joyful noise!
One: We say “alleluia,” and shout “amen!”
All: Let us make a joyful noise!
One: We sing our songs of praise together
All: Let us make a joyful noise!
One: We can hear God in silence and praise God with all kinds of sound.
We Are Getting Ready (Advent Specific)
Help people of all ages remember that Advent is a time of preparation with the repeated phrase “we are getting ready.”
One: We light our candle to wait for Jesus
All: We are getting ready!
One: We hear the stories about the journey
All: We are getting ready!
One: We decorate, make room, and set the table
All: We are getting ready!
One: Soon, but not yet, baby Jesus will be born
All: We are getting ready!
One: Let us worship God!
If you use these calls to worship with your congregation, please use the following attribution © Traci Smith, co-author with David M. Csinos of Church Together: An Essential Guide to All-Age Ministry
