Let’s Help Each Other Worship

If you want to know a bit more about what's involved in doing a Bible reading, leading the prayers, resourcing kids activities or doing the Livestream then take a look below.

And then email Sera via ministry@stdenys.com so she can involve you in a service.

Huge thanks for thinking about getting involved.

Doing the Bible Reading in a service

God’s word is at the heart of our worship, and he speaks to us as we listen together to it being read. So, would you be willing to read some verses in a service?

Before the Sunday: check the rota for the Bible passage, read it through a couple of times so you feel comfortable about it, find out from the service leader when in the service you’re reading the Bible.

During the service: Come to microphone and bring a copy of the reading with you (on paper or the Bible). Start by telling everyone where the reading is from, read the passage, finish by saying ‘This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.’

Don’t panic...if there are unfamiliar names or words that seem hard to pronounce, it’s not a problem if people say them differently.

Leading the prayers for the world, community and individuals

God invites us to bring the needs and concerns of the world to him, and tells us he will hear and respond. So, would you be willing to be a voice that helps us to pray?

Before the Sunday: check the rota for the Bible passage as it might help with themes, notice what concerns seem to come your attention in the days before the service (it can often be God nudging you), feel free to look at prayers and resources that others have written, write down 3 or 4 short prayers that bring concerns and needs to God at different scales (maybe global, national, local and individual)

During the service: Come to the microphone when invited by the service leader and bring a copy of your prayers, after each prayer you could say ‘In your mercy’ and invite people to say ‘Lord hear our prayer’, feel free to allow pauses and times of silence for people to pray too.

Don’t panic…if you feel you’re not ‘good’ at praying, prayer is not a performance but sharing our hearts with God’s heart. He delights when we pray, so relax!

Operating the computer so the livestream can happen.

God meets with people wherever they are, and some can’t make it to the church building for a service. So, will you help us bring the service to people wherever they are?

Before the Sunday: chat with Sam S who will show you how to control the camera from the laptop & how to link to the YouTube channel, he’ll also show you the laptop we use (all the instructions are also written down)

During the Service: You’ll need to arrive 15 minutes before the service, and take a seat behind the musicians (where the laptop is), check the tech is working, press the button at 10 to start, monitor the camera during the service and turning it off while people receive communion, stop the livestream when the service ends.

Don’t panic… if the technology doesn’t work, as sometimes there are glitches we can’t fix straight away. God can still meet with people when the tech isn’t quite right.

Providing the activities for the kids to do in a service

God deeply values the involvement of kids in worship, he can meet with them, and also meet with us through them. So, will you help kids turn their hearts and minds to God in worship?

Before the Sunday: look at the reading for the day on the rota, thing about 2 or 3 different activities that kids between 1 & 8 years could engage with in different ways whilst sitting in a pew or at a table, chat with Sera and Hannah about the resources available (we have a hilarious mix of things available) and about any printing needed.

During the Service: Come along about 20 minutes before the service, gather any resources from church supplies, set up the resources on the Kidzone Table, keep an eye out for children and parents who might need encouraging to get stuck in, after the service tidy away the remaining resources.

Don’t panic... if the kids do something completely different than you planned with the resources, Kidzone just needs to be a springboard to worship.