I wrote this column for a church newsletter when I was the choir director there.
My favorite time in our worship service each Sunday morning is when the choir lingers in the aisle during the opening hymn, before we take our place in the chancel. As I stand there singing in the midst of the gathered people of God, I feel very much a part of that gathering, and I have a strong sense of responsibility for leading in worship.But why do the worship leaders proceed from the back of the sanctuary? Why don’t we just come into the room and take our places like everyone else does? Why don’t we enter unseen until we appear through the back of the chancel, as is the custom in many churches?
The procession of acolytes, ministers, elders, deacons, and choir is not intended as a special privilege. It is a visual lesson in what it means for us to be the church. Each person is called out of the church to do a special work as a part of the church. This is what we dramatize as worship leaders: we enter the church from the same place as everyone else; we are called out of the congregation to do a particular work within the congregation.
May God give each member of Ridglea Christian Church the will to carry out our calling within the gathered church and as the church in the world.