“Best Practices”    

Leadership Resource

Worship Department

Revised September 15, 2009

            The Worship Department provides support to staff for planning regular and special worship services. 

            The Chairperson of the department serves as a member of the Personnel Committee.

PLANNING AND SUPPORT

            Meet regularly with church staff to review Sunday worship and make improvements or adjustments to improve the quality and flow of the service.

INVOLVEMENT OF LEADERS

            Review ways that lay leaders are involved in the service each week.

            Conduct training sessions for lay leaders and servers as needed.

            Find ways to involve the youth of the congregation in leading worship.

SPECIAL SERVICES

            Provide support and input to staff for planning and conducting special, seasonal services such as:  Lessons and Carols;  Christmas Eve;  World Communion Sunday;  Youth Sunday;  Palm Sunday (with Procession of Palms);  Ash Wednesday;  Maundy Thursday;  Good Friday;  Easter Sunday. 

            Work with the other departmental leaders to promote special themes or programs as needed.  (i.e..  CROP Walk;  SACC Stewardship Campaign)

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

            Work with staff to order the following resources:

1.  communion cups;

2.  altar candles;

3.  votive candles for Christmas eve;

4.  worship bulletins or paper for bulletins created at SACC

5.  order flowers for special days, like Easter (lilies); Christmas

                       (poinsettias); and palm branches for Palm Sunday

            Create a sign-up sheet or procedure for members to provide:

1.  bread for communion

2.  grape juice for communion

BUDGET DEVELOPMENT

            Review current expenses by the department.  Make recommendations to the Stewardship Department for development of the budget for the following year.

            Advise the Personnel Committee about staff needs in the area of Worship.

(e.g. Minister of Music;  Accompanist;  Children’s and / or Youth Music…)

SCHEDULING

            Develop and print a “Serving Schedule” or “Leadership Schedule” which includes:

1.  Preparing communion;

2.  Leading worship;

3.  Greeters;

5.  Scripture readers;

6.  Servers;

7.  Communion leader;

8.  Children’s Message

9.  Extended Session leaders

            Work with staff to display the schedule on the bulletin boards at church and print the schedule in the church’s newsletter.  Provide the schedule to our Church Secretary and request that she email the schedule to leaders.

BANNERS AND PARAMENTS

            Change banners in the sanctuary according to the liturgical seasons or themes for special occasions.

            If possible, form a group to make new banners on an ongoing basis.

MEDIA IN WORSHIP

            Provide support to volunteers who prepare and present media (slides / video / sound) in worship.  Assess needs for maintaining and upgrading equipment.