Liturgist Instructions
Thank you for agreeing to be liturgist. This is an important ministry of the church. Here are some things to think about when you serve as liturgist:
You are helping people to worship through the reading of scripture, through prayers, and through calling the people to participate. Therefore, words are very important in this ministry. Please try to speak slowly and clearly so everyone can hear you. Most of the time, you will speak from the lectern which has a good microphone (actually, it almost too good-if you speak to closely to it, your letters, especially P's & T's will pop). Also, you are encouraged to read with feeling and emotion. The Bible is our storybook and its covers the entire range of human emotion and condition. Your words can help worshippers enter more fully into that story.
Typically, the liturgist is responsible for 5 items (this does change from time to time and the preacher will let you know if there is a change).
- Prayer for Illumination - a prayer which asks God to help us hear the scripture
- First Scripture Lesson - often, but not always, from the other testament than the second scripture lesson. (Scriptures will be sent to you by the preacher)
- Second Scripture Lesson - the preacher usually focuses on this one
- Call to Offering - this, in the words of the Book of Order, "challenges the people of God with the privilege of responsible Christian stewardship."
- Prayer of Thanksgiving - this prayer comes after the Offering and has two purposes: it thanks God for all of God's goodness and it is when we dedicate our gifts to God. You are encouraged to write your own Prayer of Thanksgiving. If you have any questions about this, please contact the preacher.
If you are liturgist, here are some details that will help:
- Print off your prayers and bring them with you. You are encouraged to read from the Bible on the lectern (it has large type so it is easy to read).
- Plan to arrive at church at least 15 minutes before the service begins. When you arrive, check in with the preacher, adjust your microphone, make sure you have a bulletin, a hymnal and anything else you might need for worship (a glass of fresh water will be in the lectern for you).
- Ten minutes before worship, meet the preacher in the Choir Room for a prayer
- You and the preacher will enter the Sanctuary through the door by the pulpit during the Prelude and take your seats. We do not process with the choir.
- Follow the bulletin for your parts of the service. Unless otherwise instructed, you will speak from the lectern.
- On the last line of the last verse of the last hymn, meet the preacher in the front for the benediction. After the benediction, cross in front of the pulpit and greet worshippers at that door.
Here are links to pages that have Prayers for Illumination, Calls to Offering, and Prayers of Thanksgiving:
You can look up scripture passages with the Oremus Bible Browser.
Trinity uses the New Revised Standard Version.