Tips for Leading UU Worship Services
A Succinct Message
Every worship service should have a central message that is clear and worthwhile. It should be possible to state this message in one to two sentences. For example: “Global Warming is a serious problem facing our environment today. As Unitarian Universalists, we must work together to stop global warming.” Another example: “Our first principle, the affirmation and promotion of the inherent worth and dignity of every person, calls us to protect children.”
For people who think in more abstract terms, a central image or metaphor could be helpful. One particularly moving worship that I attended, on the winter solstice, used images of light and dark. The worship space itself was darkened and then re-lit with candles over the course of the evening.
Once the worship leader has chosen a central message, it is easier for him or her to decide which readings, songs and other worship elements complement this message. By contrast, when the worship leader cannot define his or her central message, then the service can feel vague and disjointed.
The Lay of the Land
If you are preparing a worship service at your own congregation, then you have a sense of what congregants expect. You can make your worship service fresh by combining elements that are expected with a few surprises. In my congregation, lay worship-leaders have experimented with changing the order of service. We normally greet one another at the end of service, but a new worship leader might ask us to greet one another before the chalice lighting.
If you are preparing a worship service for a congregation where you have not worshipped before, you will want to ask a few questions in advance. Many congregations have laypeople serving as worship associates or worship committee members. These men and women are valuable resources for the visiting preacher—talk or e-mail with them in advance!
Don’t Overload Congregants with the Facts
Don’t overload people with the facts. The temptation to turn the service into an educational lecture is particularly strong when the worship focuses on a social justice issue. For every issue worth leading a service on, there are pages of relevant facts that are not known to the general public. However, only a few key facts need to be shared in a worship service. You’ll may grab congregants’ attention with the first few facts, but after a while, the use of facts is less and less effective—and many people tune out.
Nourish the Audience
People come to church for spiritual sustenance. Their souls want to be nourished. (At my home congregation, the young adult weekly meeting is aptly titled “Sustenance for the Soul.) Show congregants how the message you are offering can make their spiritual life better.
Congregants are Whole People
Let worship engage the bodies of congregants. As the worship leader, seize on opportunities to stimulate congregants’ senses. Invite musicians to participate in the service and play an unusual instrument. Use a video projector to show images during worship (or distribute color photocopies of images along with the order of service). Offer food (such as slices of bread, or candy) to participants where appropriate.
Shorter Sermons = Better Sermons
Unless you are a truly gifted preacher, there is no need to talk for more than 10-15 minutes. At Harvard Divinity School, the annual preaching contest features riveting sermons from a variety of religious traditions. The maximum amount of time allowed for these sermons is ten minutes each. If your message is clear and your technique is strong, you can get your message across effectively in ten minutes.
Resources on Worship Services
Here are some great resources for Unitarian Universalist worship:
Books
Scott W. Alexander, The Relational Pulpit (Boston, MA: Skinner House Books, 1993).
Jan Rzepka and Ken Sawyer, Thematic Preaching: An Introduction (Chalice Press: St. Louis, MO, 2001).
UU World Articles
Alternative Worship Styles Draw Younger Crowds
The Central Act of a Religious Community
Websites
Worship Web (from the Unitarian Universalist Association)