Provide meaningful worship that reorients, restores, and renews for work in God’s world.

Pathway Description
Offer worship that is the work of the people of God. Worship that helps members claim their homes, communities and workplaces for ministry and helps them see how to live their faith in every situation.

The word liturgy means “the work of the people”. Worship is not the work of God’s people if all the shaping and expressing is done by one individual or small group. Pastors and lay members together need to plan for, and engage in, worship together. When pastors spend time outside of the church building in the community and in the homes and workplaces of members of the congregation, they reflect a better understanding of the daily joys and challenges of all people in prayers, sermon and liturgies.

Pathway Destination
Worship services that restore, renew and prepare members for the week ahead with God’s good news in Jesus Christ. The full gospel is proclaimed when God’s good news for each person is connected to their family, home, community and workplace.

What if your congregation prayed for people while they are alive, healthy and working, not just when they are dying, sick or unemployed? What if our worship service celebrated with a new 16 year old driver by blessing her car keys and reminding her of the responsibility that comes with new freedom? What if we commissioned the work of all students, teachers and school workers at the beginning of the school year instead of only commissioning our Sunday school staff?

Pathway Detours
People experience a disconnect between Sunday morning worship and their work in the world. Their worship experience does not seem relevant to the whole of their lives. Members participate out of a sense of obligation, not out a need for restoration and renewal. Prayers, sermon, music and liturgy become empty rituals.

Where are you?
§ Our church services help me apply my faith to the challenges of everyday life.

§ The preaching in my church helps me see how I can respond to the pain I see everyday in the world.

§ My spirit is renewed by the music in my church.

§ The preaching in my church reflects a clear understanding of the challenges I face every day in living my faith.

§ Hearing the Word of God during church services helps me to live my faith in my everyday life.