F. LEADERSHIP OF CORPORATE WORSHIP
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General Guidelines
Symbols and Vestments
Thoughtful, responsible and imaginative leadership is critical for corporate worship; weak, careless and sloppy
leadership diminishes significantly the worship of the people of God. The purpose of the leadership is to enable
the worshipers to unite in their praise and homage to God, to act out the liturgical drama, and to respond
obediently to God's claim on their lives. The leader directs the people with respect to actions or words.
There is no one way worship is to be conducted; the leadership will depend greatly upon the situation and
the person or persons responsible for the leadership. The general rule for leadership is to do and say whatever is
necessary to enable the worshipers to be certain what action is to take place or what is to be said, but do no more
than is necessary. Some additional guidelines for leaders of worship are:
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| a. | | Present yourself as a worshiper along with
the others; |
| b. | | Avoid any action or comment which primarily
calls attention to yourself as a leader or distracts people from their worship; |
| c. | | Be direct and forceful in your
leadership; |
| d. | | Plan carefully all comments and leadership
actions; |
| e. | | Be brief and clear with all
directions; |
| f. | | Learn how to lead non-verbally,
and |
| g. | | Make use of the historically liturgical
language in directing or leading the worshipers. |
While the ordained minister is frequently the person most active in leading corporate worship, leadership of the
worshipers is in no way restricted to the clergy. Various members of the congregation may function as leaders of
worship and are encouraged to do so. The choir and instrumental musicians provide leadership for the parts of the
worship involving music, and other laypersons also provide various types of leadership. It is paramount, however,
that anyone who functions as a leader of worship be carefully prepared.
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| | Symbols and Vestments |
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Through the centuries the Christian community has made use of symbols and vestments to aid in their worship.
Christians can choose from this vast storehouse of symbols or create their own for use in the place designated for
worship. What is crucial in use of symbols is that those who are asked to use them understand clearly their meaning
and their function.
Vestments worn by leaders of worship may also enrich and enhance corporate worship. Robes worn by choir members and
other musicians, clergy robes, albs, chasubles, stoles can all serve a useful purpose if they are properly
introduced and understood. Vestments can fittingly symbolize the function of the leader of worship and can direct
attention away from the individual to the responsibility the person is carrying out on behalf of the
worshiper.
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