Wisdom From All Directions
One of the most well-known ancient proverbs from scripture is a push to humility: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NIV).
So, in that spirit, I’d love to share wisdom from nearly 25 years of worship leadership—not because I’m incredibly wise, but because God has granted me wise mentors, diverse experiences, brilliant peers, complex contexts, and plenty of failure along the path God laid out in front of me.
I hope this series will serve as an invitation to think well about our gathered worship. Perhaps you can share with your fellow worship planners and leaders, adjusting them for your context or arguing with them altogether. No doubt you’ll have your own nuggets of wisdom to add as well. Please share them with us at Reformed Worship, contact@ReformedWorship.org.
THE POWER OF BEING EMPOWERED
We were stunned to discover that a birthday button can work absolute wonders when at Walt Disney World.
We don’t ever vacation as a family, so taking our young kids to Disney World in Orlando was a particularly meaningful adventure. As we checked into our hotel, the staff overheard that we were also celebrating one of our kids’ birthdays. They confided with my son, “Oh, then you definitely need a birthday button, so people know to celebrate you.” It wasn’t anything special, just a simple button you pin on your shirt.
Not only did my son receive birthday wishes all throughout the day, but bewildering doors were opened for us along the way. He was escorted by Storm Troopers to a “backstage” (i.e., private) photoshoot. We were ushered immediately to meet with his favorite Star Wars characters, skipping past lines of jealous onlookers. He was invited by a “cast member”—Disney’s name for their staff—to build his own lightsaber as a gift. After promising to only use his “Jedi powers” for good and not evil, his eyes were wide with wonder. It seemed our son was welcomed and celebrated by the entire park!
What actually worked wonders wasn’t the birthday button, of course. It was the fact that Disney’s cast members have been given permission—no, even more, they’ve been empowered—to absolutely make someone’s day. They were all thrilled my son was there, and had the ways and means to let him know.
BLESSED ARE THE HOSPITABLE
I definitely hesitate to draw broad parallels between Disney World and the church. Our end goals are far apart, to be sure. But the Venn Diagram illustrating our respective values does have some significant overlap, and I think hospitality should be included in that portion of the diagram.
What if…what if we are empowered by God’s Spirit to plan and lead worship with a true sense of hospitality for the people whom that same Spirit has brought together as the body of Christ? I think we are and we can. And if that’s true, the “beatitude” is quite simple:
Blessed is the worship leader who serves with a spirit of hospitality.
God has already set the example for us, being a God who welcomes, cares, and celebrates the presence of the lost and found. That welcome is particularly on display through the person and work of Jesus Christ. As Christ is the center of our faith, there is a transcending value of hospitality already embedded into our faith itself that should infuse our worship.
But there are also practical ways we can value hospitality in our spaces of worship through how we lead.
INVITATIONS
Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest, the true leader and perfecter of our worship. By his Spirit, we worship and commune with our God. So, really, what we’re doing as worship leaders is representing Christ’s invitation and welcome. That means our first role is to invite people in on his behalf. God invited us here. God wants us here. God wants you here.
Of course, most of us are fickle and stubborn of heart. So, the call to worship is a great start to our hospitality, but invitations actually need to come throughout the liturgical movements and shared experiences. Invite people to change postures when singing a hymn that’s actually a prayer. Invite people to inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and be fully present for the reading of Scripture. Invite people to remember their baptism by dipping their hands in the font.
Every invitation like that can be delivered with a sense of sincerity, attention, and anticipation.
THE ALL CLEAR: WORDS
One of the easiest ways to welcome people is through words that bring clarity.
Sometimes, it’s what we don’t say. We can’t speak in absolutes and with assumptions. “Everyone remembers the story of Ehud….” is quite possibly not true, and most assuredly alienating for the person in the pews who doesn’t know the story. Ehud is great and all, but we’d better give him some context if we’re going to talk about him. (Particularly with the state of biblical literacy these days). The same is true with your church’s history. “This is just like what happened to Bruce on that service project in 1992. Good times.” Sweet. Connections to your shared history are fantastic. But I hope you have welcomed in some new people since 1992, and they weren’t there with Bruce.
Even better, though, the words we choose to use can give explanation and motivation. I didn’t grow up in a historically liturgical tradition, and I never prayed regular prayers of confession in a weekly service until my late 20’s. Why would we do that? Jesus paid it all, remember? But now that I write and lead prayers of confession, I also have the privilege of sharing “the why” behind them. The same is true with singing a new song, the giving of offerings, and being blessed and sent out. This is especially hospitable for people new to the faith, new to the tradition, or new to your church.
We can clarify and amplify the gospel while reducing cognitive dissonance because the Spirit has empowered us to be thoughtful hosts.
THE ALL CLEAR: SPACE
Our spaces of worship can actually be hospitable as well. Some of that might be beyond our purview as worship leaders, but working with our space to welcome worshipers in, rather than hinder them, is a form of humble hospitality.
How is the seating set up? How are the sightlines? Where are your eyes drawn while worshiping in the room? How are we asking people to move about the room? Is the space entirely utilitarian, or is there beauty present as well?
Perhaps most importantly, how accessible is the space for those with special needs or disabilities? Regularly self-auditing our spaces for the sake of our members or visitors with special needs is a great way hospitality transforms into the best sort of inclusion. Barriers to worship often communicate, “This isn’t for you,” even if we don’t intend it. But when our space matches our words of welcome, it’s a precursor to the big, beautiful picture of God inviting us in and making us one.
ECHOES OF GRACE
A wonderful aspect of hospitality is that there are so many creative ways to express it. And, beautifully, we know that every creative expression that welcomes people into worship is a signpost pointing to Christ’s ultimate welcome. God wants to be with us, and purposefully invites us into God’s glorious presence through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It’s the father running out to meet his prodigal son with a robe and a ring, full of joy at his son’s return. There is no greater invitation!
Echo that invitation in your planning and leading; let people know that we’re celebrating their presence as someone welcomed in by God’s invitation! You don’t even need a birthday button! And Disney should never hold a candle to the hospitality of God’s people.
Wisdom for Worship Leaders Series
Let Scripture Speak
To Plan or To Improvise
Participation over Pageant
Prayer is Not A Transition
Space Matters
Rest
Tell the Gospel Story
