*****    Order of service for First Unitarian in New Bedford    *****

For use in planning worship services, with typical transition words. Approved by the Religious Services Committee 3/5/07. Minor updates as of 25 August, 2008.

    The *worship leader* is responsible for all parts of the worship service. If there is a worship associate that day, the worship leader may assign opening words, chalice lighting words, and responsive reading (unless there will be a children's story) to the worship associate by Monday before the worship service. The worship leader may ask to have the worship associate take on one or more additional parts of the service by arranging this no later than the Monday before the service. When planning worship for First Unitarian, the worship leader is responsible for choosing all readings. The worship leader should notify the musician of the three hymns no later than Wednesday of the week preceding the worship service.
    The *worship associate* will typically read the opening words, announce the opening hymn, and read the words for the lighting of the chalice; if there is a visiting preacher, the worship associate will also read the welcome (at which time the associate should introduce the preacher).
    The *musician(s)* is responsible for preparing music for the prelude, the centering music, the musical response to the prayer, the offertory, and the postlude. If possible, the musician should choose music that will complement the theme of that morning's worship service. The musician(s) also provides accompaniment for three hymns, and the doxology.

*** Prelude [Prelude should end exactly at 11:00 a.m.]
Worship Leader is seated on bench in front of pulpit.
Worship Associate is seated on chair on chancel.

*** Welcome and announcements -- WORSHIP LEADER or WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
Given from the floor mic. The following announcements are for use September through mid-June:
      "Welcome to First Unitarian in New Bedford, a Unitarian Universalist congregation. IÕm [your name, your role in congregation]. Staff here at First Unitarian include Dan Harper, minister of this congregation, our music director, Randy Fayan, and our Director of Religious Education, _____. Worship associate this morning is _____.
      "Here at First Unitarian, we value our differences of age, gender, race, national origin, class, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, and theology. We are bound together, not by some creed or dogma, but by our covenant: We come together in love to seek after truth and goodness, and to find spiritual transformation in our lives; and in the spirit of love we care for one another and promote practical goodness in the world. All those who feel themselves in harmony with us are welcome in this meeting house.
      "Older children who want to may go to Sunday school during the doxology. If your child is restless or vocalizing, you can bring him or her to our professional child care provider at any time during the service.
      "Please join us for social hour following the worship service. You can greet the preacher at the back of the church and then go out that door, to my right and your left, and down the steps into the Parish Hall for conversation and snacks; or take the express lane and head straight for the coffee. I invite you to wear a nametag during social hour; you'll find stick-on nametags on the lectern just outside the door to the Parish House.
      "Please read the announcements in your order of service. One final announcement: if you have a cell phone, pager, or any other potentially noisy device, please take a moment to put it into silent mode."

Note: We DO NOT take announcements from the floor.
When done, stay seated on bench in front of pulpit.

*** Opening Words -- WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
Given from the pulpit.
      [There should be no introduction to the opening words; please do not introduce yourself; please do not say "good morning"; just begin with the opening words.]
      [If the opening words are to be read responsively, say:]
"Please join me in reading responsively number XYZ in the gray hymnal. I will read the parts in regular type, and you respond with the parts in italic type. Number X -- Y -- Z."
      [If the opening words are to be read in unison, say:]
"Please join me in reading the opening words, number XYZ in the gray hymnal. Number X -- Y -- Z."

*** Opening Hymn -- WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
Announced from the pulpit -- after being announced, step back from the mic, but stay in the pulpit.
      "Please rise as you are willing and able, and join in singing number XYZ in the gray hymnal. Number X -- Y -- Z."
      [As soon as the music begins, say loudly:]
"Please rise."

*** Chalice Lighting -- Words given from the pulpit -- WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
[Follow instructions above for responsive or unison readings.]
      The WORSHIP LEADER lights the flame.
[Using the candlelighter, taking the flame from one of the candles in the candelabrum at either side of the pulpit area.]

*** Story or Responsive Reading -- WORSHIP LEADER or WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
     *** Story given from the floor mic
[If there is a children's story, please do not invite the children down to the front of the church.]

     *** Responsive reading  given from the pulpit
[If there is a responsive reading, announce as above:]
      "Please join me in reading responsively number XYZ in the gray hymnal. I will read the parts in regular type, and you respond with the parts in italic type. Number X -- Y -- Z."

*** Doxology WORSHIP ASSOCIATE
Announced from the floor mic
      "Children may depart to Sunday school or child care while we sing the doxology, the words of which are printed in your order of service...."

*** Candles of healing and celebration -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the floor  mic
      [For safety, please use the candlelighter, taking the flame from the lit candle in the chalice. Please assist anyone who needs help lighting the candle.]
      "Each week we take time to recognize times of celebration, and needs for healing. You may light a candle during this time either to ask this community for support in personal healing, or to share a personal joy or major life passage. If you would like to light a candle, please come forward now, and stand to my right and your left [point]. Light a candle in silence, or say your name and tell us about your joy or sorrow in one two short sentences. And you should feel free to light a candle at the back of the sanctuary, as an act of prayer or meditation, at any time in the service."

*** Centering Music

*** Prayer -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the pulpit
      "Let us join our hearts and minds in the spirit of prayer and meditation; first with spoken words, then a time of silence; the silence will be ended with a musical meditation...."
      [Spoken prayer, followed by:]
      [Silence of approx. 60 seconds -- the musician times the length of the silence.]

*** Musical Response

*** First reading -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the pulpit

*** Offering words -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the pulpit

*** Offertory music

*** Second reading -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the pulpit

*** Middle hymn -- WORSHIP LEADER
Announced from the pulpit

*** Sermon -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the pulpit

*** Closing Hymn -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the pulpit -- during the second verse, walk down to floor mic.
      "Please rise as you are willing and able, and join in singing number XYZ in the gray hymnal. Number X -- Y -- Z."
      [As soon as the music begins, say loudly:]
"Please rise."

*** Greeting each another -- WORSHIP LEADER
From the floor mic
       "As an expression of our common humanity, please take a moment to greet one another until I begin the closing words."

*** Closing Words -- WORSHIP LEADER
[The closing words are spoken from the floor. During the postlude, the preacher should walk to the back of the room and stand by the Union St. entrance to greet people as they leave.]

*** Postlude