What was that noise, Daddy? That’s what my 4yo, Mary Emmaline asked me while she rode in the van one afternoon. I had just honked my horn while braking on Bull and Elmwood because someone had ran the red light as they were turning left. It was the car horn, darling. Of course, this was followed up by the always lovely Why? My explanation meandered around for a bit before I simply said: I wanted them to know and think about something that they did.
As is the case with myself, I’m certain that y’all’s horn honks don’t always have such pure intentions, but even so, that strong HONK! still increases awareness, grows caution, and incites thoughtfulness. In a similar way, the Call To Worship at a church service should have a similar effect on us.
On a Sunday morning, you might catch up on friends’ weeks and enjoy one another’s fellowship. That’s good, but HONK!
You might be thinking about the sins you have committed. Whether in guilt and shame or pleasure at keeping it concealed, HONK!
You might be wishing the service could get over with before it even begins. HONK!
That stressful thing with yourself, your family, or at work may have taken all you brain space. Still, HONK!
In the blink of an eye, God call us to worship. He “honks the horn” of his Word that his people might take their eyes of themselves and plant them firmly on him. God deserves our worship. God blesses his people through worship. Don’t be surprised when he honks at you to get your attention: to raise your awareness, grow your caution, and incite your thoughtfulness as you come into his house to worship.
CHAPTER 5.B.1 (Ordinary Parts): THE CALL TO PUBLIC WORSHIP
“O come, let us worship and bow down:
Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
For he is our God;
And we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.”
1. Corporate worship is both a great privilege and an act of covenant obedience to the Triune God, who graciously summons His people to come into His saving presence in worship. The Scriptures bear ample witness to such calls to worship, particularly in the book of Psalms (Ps. 34:1-3, Ps. 95:1-7, Ps. 96:1-9, Ps. 98:1-6, Ps. 100, Ps. 105:1-6, Ps. 107:1-3, Ps. 111:1-5, Ps. 113:1-3, Ps. 117, Ps. 118:1-4, Ps. 150). These Biblical calls to worship serve to set apart our public worship as a holy act in the presence of the holy God, to emphasize God’s worthiness to receive the worship of His people, and to summon God’s people to the humble and joyful adoration that God desires. In these calls to worship the church also looks forward in hope to that time when all creation shall join together in praise and thanksgiving to God (Ps. 96:1-3, Ps. 97:1, Ps. 98:7-9).
2. Thus it is appropriate that a call to worship be proclaimed at the inception of the worship service. The content of this call may be taken from Scripture, although other forms may be used insofar as they are consistent with Holy Scripture and The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.