A little over two years ago (maybe three), we found ourselves on a liturgical trajectory, moving to a more defined order of service, not because we were chasing the ghosts of tradition, but because we were hunting down the substance of worship. In our quest to be more diligent in glorifying God and instructing His people, we couldn’t help but notice that our services began to take on a certain scriptural shape. It wasn’t long before we were opening our Lord’s Day with an official call to worship, not as a perfunctory nod to formality, but as a bracing summons to the people, urging them to ready themselves for the weighty business of worship. We weren’t just filling time; we were filling hearts, minds, and souls with the glory of God, setting the stage for a service that sought to align every word and deed with the gravity of His Word.

Here is a sample of the call to worship from last Sunday,

Come now, you servants of the Most High, gather and lift up your hearts in praise, for this is the day that the Lord has made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. For six days, the Lord of Hosts has guided your hands in the duties of your life. He has given you strength to plow the fields, wisdom to govern your households, and perseverance to walk in His ways.

But, on this, the first day of the week, the Lord calls you to set aside the work of your hands and to engage in the work of your souls. The Sabbath rest is not a rest in idleness but a rest in worship. This is the Lord’s Day, sanctified and holy, set apart from the ordinary course of time. Today, we do not merely cease from our labors; we ascend the holy hill of the Lord, where our souls find their true Sabbath rest in Him. 

As you come before His presence, know that you come before the Lord who spoke the worlds into existence, who upholds the universe by the word of His power. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty. He is the Shepherd who leads His flock, the King who reigns in majesty, and the Redeemer who has purchased you by His blood. 

So, let your voices rise in dutiful praise, like incense before the throne of grace. Sing with the angels and the saints who have gone before us, declaring the glory of God. Let the Word of Christ dwell richly among you, as it is read, preached, and received with faith. Offer your prayers with boldness, knowing that they are heard by the Father who delights in His children.

Today, let every thought, every word, every deed be an offering of praise to the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Worship Him in the splendor of holiness, for He is worthy of all honor and glory and power. 

Come, worship the Lord, who calls you His own. Lift up your hearts, and be glad, for your God reigns!

Amen.