RESPONDING TO WORSHIP

PRESBYTERIANS, “ALTAR CALLS” AND DEDICATION TO CHRIST

Dear Friends in Christ,

Ten years ago, I met a young couple whose parents were somewhat active in the congregation where I was pastor. The couple had not remained active in the church, however, transferring instead to a different congregation. When I asked them why they left, they explained that worship at their home congregation left them hanging, that it never asked them to respond to the service with a commitment to do something about what they had just heard in the sermon and prayers and hymns. They wanted a tangible invitation to respond to Christ’s call as the service ended, even if they rarely stepped forward in answer.

I listened to their concerns, wondered how I could prevent any further disenchantment with our worship, and in discussion with the session of that congregation, decided to institute a quiet moment of commitment as the penultimate act of worship, just before the benediction.  You have seen that I have continued that moment in the 11 o’clock order of worship here too.

It seems, however, that there is a sense among us now that something even more than that time of silent dedication is needed. Some among you have wondered if we could have a type of altar call at the end of the service, an opportunity for worshippers to respond to Christ personally, either in initial dedication or in rededication, to come forward and discuss spiritual questions with the pastor and/or elders, or perhaps ask for healing for a particular emotional wound or physical concern. So the session debated how best to offer worshippers that opportunity for response. We  still want to remain true to the Presbyterian understanding that worship is primarily addressed to God, as praise, and is not addressed to us to create an emotional feeling.  And we do want to refrain from the typical kind of altar call that often seems forced psychologically and can be manipulative if misused. But we do agree with the chance to respond in faith in a more personal, individual way.

We have arrived at the following solution. Every week, after both the 8:30 and 11 services, the pastor and an elder will be available for anyone to speak to personally who wishes to do so. As the pastor is shaking hands in the narthex, a designated elder will remain at the front near the communion table, and will greet anyone who wants to come forward to speak, ask for prayer, enquire about membership in the church, or just convey a concern. The pastor will join the elder, and all will use his office for private discussion as needed.  To remind people of the opportunity, a brief note will appear at the bottom of the bulletin page. We will offer this opportunity beginning in July, and evaluate its usefulness after a trial period. We hope you will find it spiritually beneficial and that it will make our congregation more aware of how God is calling us to discipleship in response to the Spirit’s movement in worship. Let us consider that very thing, both individually and as a congregation.

Shalom,

Duane