GUIDELINES FOR SERVICES OF THE WORD

In Service of the Word, First Order, and Service of the Word, Second Order, A Prayer Book for North America provides two models for a Service of the Word, one based upon the pattern of The Holy Communion, Second Order, and the other on that of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in The Book of Common Prayer. With the following guidelines A Prayer Book for North America also makes provision for the development of local patterns of worship. It recognizes that the local church is often in a better position than a denomination and its judicatories to determine the pattern of worship that will best serve the mission of the Church in its particular community. 

1. Local churches may develop orders of service for their own use for occasions of public worship at which a Service of the Word is needed.

2. Such orders of service must include the praise of God, confession of sin, prayer for forgiveness, reading and preaching of God’s Word, and intercession.

3. The praise of God may take the form of acclamations (or ascriptions of praise), anthems, canticles, hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, psalms, responsaries, testimonials, and songs.

4. These elements of the service should be selected with careful attention to the appropriateness of their tone and subject for the particular place they are used in the service.

5. Only authorized confessions of sin, assurances of forgiveness, and prayers for forgiveness may be used.

6. One of the following prayers or a similar prayer may be used before the reading of God’s Word.

Thank you, Father, for making yourself known to us

and showing us the way of salvation through faith in your Son.

Teach us through your word

 and equip us for every good work,

for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

or

Thank you, Father, that all Scripture is God-breathed

and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting

and training in righteousness.

Open our hearts to receive your word,

that we may know you better

and be thoroughly equipped for every good work,

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

or

Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word,

understanding to know what it means,

and the will to put it into practice,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

or

Gracious God, your word is alive and active,

sharper than any double-edged sword.

Today, when we hear your voice,

deliver us from hardness of heart.

Help us to put away everything that keeps us

from persevering in your way,

for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

7. The reading of God’s Word should be drawn from both Old Testament and New Testaments. At celebrations of the Holy Communion a reading from the Gospels should be included.

8. A variety of ways, including drama, interviews, and other techniques, may be used to proclaim the message of the Gospel.

9. A time of congregational reflection may follow the sermon, involving questions and discussion, and mutual encouragement or warning, based on the sermon and/or the readings. This time may conclude with prayer responses to what has been shared.

10. The fundamental characteristic of a Service of the Word is simplicity. A useful liturgical principle to apply is the principle that less is more. Extraneous and redundant elements should be avoided.Only necessary elements should be incorporated into the order of service. Careful attention should be given to the logic of their progression.  The service should flow smoothly from one element to the next. Disjunctive elements should not be paired with each other. 

11. Any announcements should be made at the most appropriate place where they do not interrupt the flow of service but if possible contribute to it.

12. No element that embodies a doctrine or practice incongruent with the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571 and The Book of Common Prayer of 1662 should be used in the order of service.

13. Foremost in the minds of those developing the order of service should be the ministry target group or groups that the local church is seeking to reach and engage. The first step is to seek to understand their culture or cultures before adopting a specific pattern of worship for the use of the local church.

14. At celebrations of Holy Communion an order of service developed in accordance with these guidelines may be used in place of all that precedes the Greeting of the Peace. In this case if there is a collection, it is taken after the Greeting of the Peace. The people's gifts may be brought to the Lord’s Table, They may be dedicated with a suitable prayer.