The second part of the Wesleyan form of worship is the Proclamation and Response. Within the Proclamation and Response one might find Prayers for Illumination; Scriptures; Sermon; Response to the Word; Concerns and Prayers; Confession, Pardon and Peace; and an Offering. The Prayer for Illumination seeks the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the reading, preaching, hearing, and doing of the Word. It can be offered as a separate prayer or as part of another. Scripture readings may follow the Prayer for Illumination. The Revised Common Lectionary for the week suggests texts which can be read in the traditional order: First Reading (usually the Old Testament); Psalm; Second Reading (from the New Testament, but not the Gospels—often Epistles); a Hymn, Song, or Alleluia; then a Gospel text. Care should be taken, if all are not read at each service, to read selections from each over a period of time. Readings from the Gospels share the words of the Savior with the community of faith and it would be appropriate to greet this encounter with the living Christ with an Alleluia and to remain standing for the reading of His Word. One or more scripture readings is proclaimed and interpreted in the Sermon in such a manner as to be spiritually nourishing to a broad range of ages and spiritual development. The community of faith has the opportunity to react to the Sermon in the Response to the Word. The Response contains an Invitation to Christian Discipleship and hymns which invite first professions of faith, formal and informal reaffirmations, and reception into the United Methodist Church or the local congregation. Concerns and Prayers of intercession, petition (bidding prayers), and thanksgiving are appropriate here if not offered earlier. If not offered previously, Acts of Confession, Pardon, and Reconciliation (Peace) could be offered at this or various times in worship. The final element of the Proclamation and Response is the Offering during which the faith community may offer money, the fruits of labor, and the Elements of Bread and Wine for the Eucharist. The ordering of the foregoing elements of worship are not prescribed or legislated; they may be combined, rearranged, and ordered by local congregations in a manner which best expresses their corporate worship. Like the Entrance, the Proclamation and Response offers the community of faith another opportunity to commune with the living Christ--through the proclamation and interpretation of His words.
Resources:
Benedict, Daniel T, Jr.
Patterned by Grace. 2007. Upper Room Books: Nashville, TN.
Hickman, Hoyt.
United Methodist Worship. 1991. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.
The United Methodist Book of Worship. 1992. The United Methodist Publishing House: Nashville, TN.
United Methodist Calendar & Workbook 2009. 2008. Abingdon Press: Nashville, TN.
Smith, N. Y.
The Sacristy: A Community for Wesleyan Sacristans,
, found August 20, 2009, updated August 20, 2009.
