Change.
A word we hear in all areas of life. At home, we are challenged by the changing needs of each generation. In school, the curriculum evolves to meet the demands of society. In the workplace, we are constantly playing catch-up with rapid technological advancements.
It is no different at church, where various ministries respond to emerging needs. Worship planners, in particular, wrestle with what feels relevant—trying to balance form and function in a shifting and evolving worship landscape.
Today, demands around worship are wide- ranging: inclusivity, theology in song, contemporary relevance, engagement and tradition. Added to these are broader societal issues that raise deeper questions about acceptance and belonging. There is much to grapple with.
Rev Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000), an ordained Methodist minister in the UK, was known for writing hymns that bridged traditional and contemporary forms, acknowledging the Church’s constant encounter with change and affirming that it is the Spirit who leads us through it. In the hymn “The Church of Christ in Every Age”, he writes:
The church of Christ, in every age,
beset by change but Spirit-led,
must claim and test its heritage
and keep on rising from the dead.
The last two lines challenge our forms of worship and allude to the ongoing call to resurrection—not only in belief, but in how we gather, pray, sing and live as God’s people. They invite us to be sensitive to the heritage we have received, while remaining open to new expressions that may better serve the present needs of our communities.
How are we using our imagination and creativity to inject fresh life into our worship practices—keeping them grounded in the local context, yet relevant and relatable to today’s congregation? To “keep on rising from the dead” may mean renewing our language, symbols and songs so that worship becomes a living encounter with God that sends us into the world as transformed people.
To “keep on rising from the dead” may mean renewing our language, symbols and songs so that worship becomes a living encounter with God that sends us into the world as transformed people.
Then let the servant Church arise,
a caring Church that longs to be
a partner in Christ’s sacrifice,
and clothed in Christ’s humanity.
While we wrestle with theological and liturgical questions, the hymn reminds us not to lose sight of our mission. We are called to be partners with Jesus, ensuring that the church remains a caring, compassionate and human community—clothed in Christ’s humanity.
The changes that keep us moving and rethinking bring us to these essential questions:
How does worship speak into these changes? How do worship leaders and planners choose expressions that help the congregation connect worship with life— so that worship does not remain a Sunday moment but flows into Monday’s (every day’s) decisions and Saturday’s preparation in anticipation of Sunday worship?
A continuing, prayerful conversation among worship leaders, pastors, and all involved in worship ministry is crucial. These are not just technical decisions—they are formational acts that shape our vision of God, self, and neighbor.
In Rev Green’s final stanza, he writes:
We have no mission but to serve
in full obedience to our Lord:
to care for all, without reserve,
and to spread his liberating Word.
How do the expressions in our worship shape us to be people who care without reserve?
What kind of prayers, songs, gestures or silence prepare us not only to worship God but to serve others from week to week?
These are the questions worth considering—humbly, hopefully and with hearts wide open to the Spirit who leads the Church in every age.