A church service (or a worship service) is a formalized period of Christian communal worship, often held in a church building. Most Christian denominations hold church services on the Lord's Day (offering Sunday morning and Sunday evening services); a number of traditions have mid-week services, while some traditions worship on a Saturday.
The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be taught the "Word of God" (the Christian Bible) and encouraged in their faith. Technically, the church in "church service" refers to the gathering of the faithful rather than to the physical place in which it takes place. In most Christian traditions services are presided over by clergy wherever possible, but some traditions utilize . Styles of service vary greatly, from the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglicanism, Reformed (Continental Reformed, Presbyterian), and Lutheranism traditions of liturgy worship to informal worship characterized by certain free church traditions, common among and , that often combine worship with teaching for the believers, which may also have an evangelistic component appealing to backsliding and the non-Christians in the congregation (cf. altar call). Quakers and some other groups have no formal outline to their services, but allow the worship to develop as the participants present feel moved.
History
The worship service is a practice of Christian life that has its origins in
Jewish worship.
[BBC, Christian worship, bbc.co.uk, UK, June 23, 2009] Jesus Christ and Paul of Tarsus taught a new form of worship of God.
[Harry Klassens, "The Reformed Tradition in the Netherlands". In Geoffrey Wainwright & Karen B. Westerfield Tucker (eds.), The Oxford History of Christian Worship, New York: Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 465] As recorded in the
,
Jesus met together with his disciples to share teachings, discuss topics,
[Amy-Jill Levine, Dale C. Allison Jr., John Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus in Context, Princeton University Press, USA, 2009, p. 2] pray, and sing hymns.
[Mark 14.26, Matthew 26.30; see John J. Pilch, "A Cultural Handbook to the Bible", Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 2012, p. 263] The holding of church services pertains to the observance of the Lord's Day in Christianity.
The Old Testament set a precedent for a pattern of morning and evening worship that later gave rise to Sunday morning and Sunday evening services of worship held in the churches of many Christian denominations today, providing a "structure to help families sanctify the Lord's Day".
The first miracle of the Apostles, the healing of the crippled man on the temple steps, occurred because Saint Peter and John went to the Temple to pray (Acts 3:1). Since the Apostles were originally Jews, the concept of fixed prayer times, as well as services therefore which differed from weekday to Biblical Sabbath to holy day, were familiar to them. Pliny the Younger (63 – ), who was not a Christian himself, mentions not only fixed prayer times by believers, but also specific services—other than the Eucharist—assigned to those times: "They met on a stated day before it was light, and addressed a form of prayer to Christ, as to a divinity... after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble, to eat in common a harmless meal."[Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, Book X, Letter xcvii.]
The real evolution of the Christian service in the first century is shrouded in mystery. By the second and third centuries, such Church Fathers as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian wrote of formalised, regular services: the practice of Matins and Vespers Prayer, and prayers at the third hour of the day (terce), the sixth hour of the day (sext), and the ninth hour of the day (none). The concept of major hours of prayer corresponding to the first and last hour of the day likely correspond to Jewish practices; that Sunday services (corresponding to the Sabbath in Christianity) are more complex and longer (involving twice as many services if one counts the Eucharist and the afternoon service) also likely have root in Jewish practices. Similarly, the liturgical year from Christmas via Easter to Pentecost covers roughly five months, the other seven having no major services linked to the work of Christ. Though worship services had their origins in Jewish services, it is unlikely that Jewish services were copied or deliberately substituted (see Supersessionism).
Contemporary church services
Contemporary worship services have their origins in the
Jesus Movement of the 1960s.
[Don Cusic, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2009, p. 79] In the 1980s and 1990s, contemporary Christian music, comprising a variety of musical styles, such as
Christian rock and Christian hip-hop was adopted by evangelical churches.
[Suzel Ana Reily, Jonathan M. Dueck, The Oxford Handbook of Music and World Christianities, Oxford University Press, USA, 2016, p. 443][Mathew Guest, Evangelical Identity and Contemporary Culture: A Congregational Study in Innovation, Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2007, p. 42][Don Cusic, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music: Pop, Rock, and Worship: Pop, Rock, and Worship, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2009, p. 85–86] Over the years, the organs have been replaced by
,
and
.
[Monique M. Ingalls, Singing the Congregation: How Contemporary Worship Music Forms Evangelical Community, Oxford University Press, USA, 2018, p. 7][William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 403] These contemporary worship services feature a
sermon based on the
Bible. Worship service in
Evangelicalism churches is seen as an act of God's worship.
[Gerald R. McDermott, The Oxford Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Oxford University Press, UK, 2013, p. 311][Roger E. Olson, The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology, Westminster John Knox Press, UK, 2004, p. 284] It is usually run by a Christian
pastor. It usually contains two main parts, the
praise and the
sermon, with periodically the
Eucharist.
[Bruce E. Shields, David Alan Butzu, Generations of Praise: The History of Worship, College Press, USA, 2006, p. 307–308][Robert Dusek, Facing the Music, Xulon Press, USA, 2008, p. 65][Gaspard Dhellemmes,
Spectaculaire poussée des évangéliques en Île-de-France, lejdd.fr, France, June 7, 2015][Michael Lee, The Diffusion and Influence of Contemporary Worship, christianitytoday.com, USA, March 18, 2017] During worship there is usually a
nursery school for babies.
[Greg Dickinson, Suburban Dreams: Imagining and Building the Good Life, University of Alabama Press, USA, 2015, p. 144] Prior to the worship service, adults, children and young people receive an adapted education,
Sunday school, in a separate room.
[Jeanne Halgren Kilde, When Church Became Theatre: The Transformation of Evangelical Architecture and Worship in Nineteenth-century America, Oxford University Press, USA, 2005, p. 159, 170, 188] With the 1960s' charismatic movement, a new conception of
praise in worship, such as clapping and raising hands as a sign of worship, took place in many evangelical denominations.
[Robert H. Krapohl, Charles H. Lippy, The Evangelicals: A Historical, Thematic, and Biographical Guide, Greenwood Publishing Group, USA, 1999, p. 171] In the 1980s and 1990s, contemporary Christian music, including a wide variety of musical styles, such as
Christian Rock and Christian Hip hop, appeared in the
praise.
Some churches have services with traditional
Christian music, others with contemporary Christian music, and some offer both in separate services.
[ Monique M. Ingalls, Singing the Congregation: How Contemporary Worship Music Forms Evangelical Community, Oxford University Press, UK, 2018, p. 7] In the 2000s and 2010s, digital technologies were integrated into worship services, such as the
for broadcasting
praise lyrics or video, on big screens.
[Christina L. Baade, James Andrew Deaville, Music and the Broadcast Experience: Performance, Production, and Audience, Oxford University Press, USA, 2016, p. 300][AARON RANDLE, Bucking a trend, these churches figured out how to bring millennials back to worship, kansascity.com, USA, December 10, 2017] The use of social media such as
YouTube and
Facebook to retransmit live or delayed worship services, by Internet, has also spread.
[Mark Ward Sr., The Electronic Church in the Digital Age: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2015, p. 78] The offering via Internet has become a common practice in several churches.
[Michael Gryboski, Millennial-Majority Churches Detail Challenges, Success Stories in Growth and Finances, christianpost.com, USA, June 18, 2018][Ghana News Agency, Asoriba launches church management software, businessghana.com, Ghana, February 3, 2017] In some churches, a special moment is reserved for
faith healing with laying on of hands during worship services.
[Cecil M. Robeck, Jr, Amos Yong, The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2014, p. 138] Faith healing or divine healing is considered a legacy of
Jesus acquired by his death and resurrection.
[Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 212] The taking up of
and offerings (gifts made beyond the tithe) is a normative part of the worship services.
The main Christian feasts celebrated by the Evangelicals are
Christmas,
Pentecost, and
Easter for all believers, among others depending on Christian denominations (cf. evangelical feasts).
[William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 402]
[Daniel E. Albrecht, Rites in the Spirit: A Ritual Approach to Pentecostal/Charismatic Spirituality, Sheffield Academic Press, UK, 1999, p. 124][Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Baker Academic, USA, 2001, p. 236–239]
Quaker meeting for worship
Quakers (the Religious Society of Friends), like other Nonconformist Protestant denominations, distinguish between a church, which is a body of people who believe in Christ, and a '
meeting house' or '
chapel', which is a building where the church meets.
Quakers have both unprogrammed and programmed meetings for worship. Unprogrammed worship is based on waiting in silence and inward listening to the Spirit, from which any participant may share a message. In unprogrammed meetings for worship, someone speaks when that person feels that God/Spirit/the universe has given them a message for others. Programmed worship includes many elements similar to Protestant services, such as a sermon and hymns. Many programmed meetings also include a time during the service for silent, expectant waiting and messages from the participants.
Common features
A church service generally includes a reading of
Bible verses and possibly a
psalm. If the church follows a
lectionary, this will identify the readings to be used, and if there is a
sermon, this will often relate to the scripture
assigned to that day. Bible services are devoted primarily to the reading and explanation of biblical texts. Styles of service vary greatly, from the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Reformed (Continental Reformed, Presbyterian), and Lutheran traditions of liturgical worship to informal worship characterized by certain free church traditions, common among Methodists and Baptists, which often combine worship with teaching for the believers, which may also have an evangelistic component.
Often services include the singing of hymns. Vocal music is traditionally sung by a choir or the congregation (or a mixture of the two), usually accompanied by an organ.[William J. Collinge, Historical Dictionary of Catholicism, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2012, p. 280][J. Gordon Melton, Encyclopedia of Protestantism, Infobase Publishing, USA, 2005, p. 345] Sometimes other instruments such as piano, classical instruments, or modern band instruments may be part of the service, especially in churches influenced by the contemporary worship movement. Some churches are equipped with state-of-the-art multi-media equipment to add to the worship experience. The congregation may sing along in or words to hymns and worship songs may be displayed on a screen. More liturgical denominations may have the words to specific prayers written in a or prayer book, which the congregation follows. Though most of the services are still conducted in church buildings designed specifically for that purpose, some services take place in "store front" or temporary settings.[Helmuth Berking, Silke Steets, Jochen Schwenk, Religious Pluralism and the City: Inquiries into Postsecular Urbanism, Bloomsbury Publishing, UK, 2018, p. 78][George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 1359]
For those unable to attend a service in a church building a burgeoning televangelism and radio ministry provides broadcasts of services.[George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 2275–2276] A number of websites have been set up as "cyber-churches" to provide a virtual worship space free to anyone on the internet. Church services are often planned and led by a single minister (pastor) or a small group of elders or may follow a format laid out by the dictates of the denomination.
Some churches are "laity led" with members of the congregation taking turns guiding the service or simply following format that has evolved over time between the active members. More commonly, an ordained minister will preach a sermon (which may cover a specific topic, or as part of a book of the Bible which is being covered over a period of time). Depending on the church, a public invitation follows whereby people are encouraged to become Christians, present themselves as candidates for baptism or to join the congregation (if members elsewhere), or for other purposes. Many congregations begin their church services with the ringing of a church bell (or a number of bells); a current trend is to have an introductory video which serves as a "countdown" to the beginning of the service. churches have usually Holy Communion either every Sunday or several Sundays a month. Less liturgical congregations tend to place a greater emphasis on the sermon. Many churches will take up a collection of money (offertory) during the service. The rationale for this is taken from , , and . But some churches eschew this practice in favor of voluntary anonymous donations for which a box or plate may be set up by the entrance, or return-address envelopes may be provided that worshippers may take with them. Offering through the Internet has become a common practice in many evangelical churches.[Zech, C., The Problem of the Second Collection, America Magazine, published 5 November 2001, accessed 29 May 2021]
Some churches offer Sunday school classes.[George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christian Education, Volume 3, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2015, p. 229]
Attendance for the whole of a church service is the norm. The Second Vatican Council stressed for Catholic church members that taking part in "the entire Mass" was important, especially on Sundays and holidays of obligation.[Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, paragraph 56, published on 4 December 1963, accessed on 26 June 2025] In the Eastern Orthodox Church, members of the congregation may leave the service and return later if they wish, for example worshippers with children may often take a break and return later.[Greek Orthodox Church of
St John Chryosostom in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Common Questions & Answers, accessed on 26 June 2025]
Following the service, there will often be an opportunity for fellowship in the Fellowship hall or other convenient place. This provides the members of the congregation a chance to socialize with each other and to greet visitors or new members. Coffee or other refreshments may be served.[United Parish in Brookline, After worship we offer coffee, tea and some kind of snacks in the Chapel, unitedparishbrookline.org MA, USA, Dec 3, 2023]
Types of church service
Church services take many forms, and set liturgies may have different names. Services typically include:
-
Regular Sunday services: these have a place in most Christian traditions. Holy Communion may be celebrated at some or all of these; often it is included either once a month or once a quarter. A few denominations have their main weekly services on Saturday rather than Sunday. Larger churches often tend to have several services each Sunday; often two or three in the morning and one or two in the late afternoon or evening, as well services on Saturday which anticipate the feast or designation of the following Sunday. Some churches hold religious services conducted through internet technology, for the benefit of those who cannot attend for health or other reasons, or who may want to preview the church before attending in person.
-
Midweek services. Again, Holy Communion can be part of these, either on every occasion or on a regular basis.
-
Holiday (feast day) services. Treated like a regular Sunday service, but made more specific for the day.
-
. These are normally separate services, rather than being incorporated into a regular service, but may be either.
-
. These are generally held as separate services.
-
. These may be incorporated into a regular service, or separate.
-
Confirmation. This is often incorporated into a regular Sunday service, which will also include communion. It was traditionally the first Communion of the confirmee, but more recently, children are invited to communion in some denominations, whether confirmed or not.
-
Ordination of clergy. New bishops, elders, priests and deacons are usually ordained or installed during a solemn but celebratory ceremony on Saturday or Sunday, generally open to the public, either by their own superior or by another approved senior minister with ordination powers. The service is held either at the area headquarters church or cathedral or at another church agreed upon by those to be ordained and the ordaining ministers. Ordination of bishops or elders may require consecration by more than one individual and have a more limited audience.
-
First Communion. Children may celebrate Communion for the first time.
-
Opening of new churches or church buildings.
-
Dedication of new missionary or those about to be sent on new missions.
Places of worship
Places of worship are usually called "churches" or "
".
[D. A. Carson, Worship: Adoration and Action: Adoration and Action, Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2002, p. 161][Jeanne Halgren Kilde, Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship, Oxford University Press, USA, 2008, p. 193][Harold W. Turner, From Temple to Meeting House: The Phenomenology and Theology of Places of Worship, Walter de Gruyter, Germany, 1979, p. 258] Some services take place in theaters, schools or multipurpose rooms, rented for Sunday only.
[Annabelle Caillou, Vivre grâce aux dons et au bénévolat, ledevoir.com, Canada, November 10, 2018]
Attire
Christians have historically tended to wear
Modesty clothes at church services (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9–10).
Men have traditionally removed their caps while praying and worshipping, while women have traditionally worn a headcovering while praying and worshipping (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1–11).
These practices continue to be normative in certain churches, congregations, and denominations, as well as in particular parts of the world, such as in
Eastern Europe and in the Indian subcontinent, while in the West, attention to these observances has waned generally (apart from those denominations that continue to require them, such as Conservative Anabaptist churches).
In many nondenominational Christian churches, it may be customary, depending on the locality, for people to be dressed casually.
See also
Notes
Citations
External links
