Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 4

Article 5

Article 6

Articles on Order of Worship

Silent Prayer

Votum

Salutation

Psalm of Praise

Principles of Music - 1

Principles of Music - 2

Singing - 1

New Article 

Entering into God’s presence -Silent Prayer

The first several activities of a worship service center around the proper attitude with which we enter into God’s Presence. The Call to Worship, the Silent Prayer, and the Votum and Salutation lead us through this process.  In our study so far the Call to Worship has already been issued.  The Almighty God of heaven and earth, our Lord and Savior, has summoned us into His presence.  This summons sets the tone for the worship experience.

How should the worshippers respond to this summons?  As always when confronted with a situation of great importance God’s people come to God in prayer.  This prayer is called to as the Silent Prayer.  The Silent prayer is the second step in the process of entering God’s presence in worship.

The Silent Prayer might be referred to as a specific prayer.  Topically the prayer has only one subject and that is worship.  Each one of God’s people offers a prayer to God seeking His blessing on the worship service.  However there are several different areas of the worship that is addressed in their prayer. 

The first request concerns the preacher and the preaching of the Word.  God has called weak and sinful men into the ministry.  They have been entrusted with His Word that must be administered to the congregation. Without God’s blessing on their efforts all will come to naught and be unproductive.

The second request is for the Holy Spirit to be present and active in our worship. The Holy Spirit has direct involvement in our worship in two different ways.  In the first, He is the One who works through the preaching of the Word.  Our prayer is for Him to work faith in the hearts and minds of the listeners and that we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The second area of work by the Holy Spirit is in the hearts and minds of the congregation.  Our prayer is that He will work in the congregation and through the congregation to bring the proper worship to God. 

 The third request is for ourselves that the Holy Spirit will enable us to worship God properly.  That our attitude is that our attitude is one of humility and submission to His Word, that our attention is completely focused on worshipping God, and that the songs and prayers express the desires of our hearts.  Finally we ask that in our offerings of praise and gifts that His Name might be glorified. 

The Silent Prayer then is a short specific prayer seeking both God help and His blessing on our worship. In this prayer each member of the congregation offers a prayer to God that His Name will be glorified and those in attendance be edified.