In this series of posts we discuss the format and vibe of our gathered Sunday worship at Foundation Church.

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Call to worship

Before it is something we bring to God, worship is something that God calls us to. Or in other words, worship is our response to God’s response to us. It is grounded in him: who he, his character, his purposes, his actions towards us.

So at the beginning of each of our worship services we listen to God’s call to worship him.

Here’s how the Psalmist calls the gathered people of God to worship:

You who fear the Lord, praise him!

   All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,

   and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! (Psalm 22:23)

Or the call to worship may come from Jesus himself:

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matt 11:29-30)

What an amazing invitation!

The Call to Worship often includes an acknowledgment that we need God’s help to worship him (traditionally known as an invocation). It’s not something we can do on our own strength:

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

   who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

It’s so good to start our time of gathered worship remembering that God not only calls us to worship him, but he gives us the help and strength to do it.

How this works out at Foundation

So at the start of worship at Foundation Church we hear scriptures like these read to us by the worship leader, or we read aloud together, speaking God’s words to one another. We end the call to worship with a short prayer, responding to our calling and asking for God’s help to worship him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

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Foundation Church meets every Sunday 10:30am at Belmont Tower, Belfast, BT4 3FG.