What is the role of “flow” in a worship service?

Worship FAQs, part 7 – What is the role of “flow” in a worship service?

The chief actor in a worship service is God, so everything about the worship service should draw our attention toward God rather than away from him. Distractions need to be eliminated, even ones that might arise from the worship service itself.

The “perfect” worship service might be one that flows so smoothly and focuses so entirely on God that the worshipers barely notice the different parts of the worship service going by. There are many common things that tend to disrupt this flow and focus of a worship service, such as:

• Musical styles or anything else that shocks the worshipers, unless done in a way that clearly draws attention to God, not away.
• Too many unfamiliar things introduced too abruptly.
• Unnecessary or untimely announcements.
• An unclear theme to the worship service due to readings, music, or sermon texts not matching up with one another.
• Distracting noises in the sanctuary (sound system issues, noises from outside the sanctuary, distracting neighbors in the pews).
• Worshipers using electronic devices (cell phones; cameras, especially with the flash on; video cameras).
• People present but not actively participating.
• People entering or leaving the sanctuary during the service.

There are also some things that tend to help maintain the appropriate flow and focus in a worship service, such as:

• The natural progressions found in liturgical orders of worship.
• Worshipers having hymns and parts of the liturgy memorized, or at least at a high comfort level.
• Worshipers marking hymns and Bible readings ahead of time.
• Appropriate announcements and a clear bulletin and/or slide show projected on a screen to guide the worshipers, especially for guests or when something is unfamiliar to a majority of the worshipers.
• Introducing new things at an appropriate pace.

When a worship service flows smoothly and distractions are limited, then our focus and attention in worship are more likely to remain where they should be—on God as he comes to us in his Word and the Sacraments. This is a worthy goal!