Our worship services usually include a Call to Worship at the beginning to help us to focus our minds on worshipping God and to prepare us for worship. At the end of the service there is usually a Blessing (or Benediction) that is spoken to all those present.
re:Worship is a useful website with resources and reflections for worship planners and leaders.
There are lots of wonderful prayers, poems and readings that have been written for these very purposes but we think it is important to read and hear directly from the Bible. There are lots of Bible passages that can be used for calls to worship and benediction; below is a useful but not complete list.
Calls to Worship: Scripture
- Exodus 15:2
- 2 Samuel 22:47
- 1 Chronicles 16:8-10
- 1 Chronicles 16:23-25
- 1 Chronicles 16:31-34
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
- Psalm 7:17
- Psalm 8:1-9
- Psalm 9:1-2
- Psalm 9:9-11
- Psalm 18:1-3
- Psalm 19:1-6
- Psalm 24:1-5
- Psalm 28:6-7
- Psalm 29:1-2
- Psalm 33:1-3
- Psalm 34:1-3
- Psalm 36:5-7
- Psalm 40:4-5
- Psalm 42:1-2
- Psalm 46:1-3
- Psalm 47:1-2
- Psalm 57:9-11
- Psalm 61:1-2
- Psalm 63:1-3
- Psalm 66:1-4
- Psalm 67:1-5
- Psalm 68:34-35
- Psalm 69:30-34
- Psalm 72:18-19
- Psalm 84:1-4
- Psalm 84:8-12
- Psalm 86:8-10
- Psalm 89:5-8
- Psalm 91:1-2
- Psalm 92:1-4
- Psalm 93:1-4
- Psalm 95:1-3
- Psalm 95:6-7
- Psalm 96:1-3
- Psalm 96:7-9
- Psalm 96:11-13
- Psalm 98:1-3
- Psalm 98:4-6
- Psalm 99:1-3
- Psalm 100:1-5
- Psalm 103:1-5
- Psalm 103:19-22
- Psalm 104:1-2
- Psalm 104:31-34
- Psalm 105:1-3
- Psalm 106:1
- Psalm 107:1-3
- Psalm 108:1-4
- Psalm 111:1-3
- Psalm 113:1-3
- Psalm 117:1-2
- Psalm 118:1-4
- Psalm 118:24-26
- Psalm 130:5-8
- Psalm 134:1-3
- Psalm 135:1-3
- Psalm 136:1-3
- Psalm 138:1-2
- Psalm 145:1-3
- Psalm 146:1-2
- Psalm 147:1-5
- Psalm 147:7-11
- Psalm 148:1-6
- Psalm 148:7-13
- Psalm 149:1-5
- Psalm 150:1-6
- Isaiah 7:14 (Christmas)
- Isaiah 9:2-3 (Christmas)
- Isaiah 9:6-7 (Christmas)
- Isaiah 12:1-2
- Isaiah 25:1
- Isaiah 42:10-12
- Lamentations 3:22-24
- Micah 5:2 – (Christmas)
- Zechariah 9:9 (Palm Sunday)
- Matthew 21:1-9 (Palm Sunday)
- Matthew 28:1-9 (Easter)
- Luke 1:46-50
- Luke 1:68-69
- Luke 2:13-14 (Christmas)
- Luke 2:15-20 (Christmas)
- Luke 19:33-38 (Palm Sunday)
- Luke 24:1-9 (Easter)
- John 1:1-5
- John 4:23-24
- John 6:35
- John 8:12
- John 10:7-11
- John 10:14-18
- John 11:25-27
- John 14:6
- John 15:1-5
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- Revelation 4:11
- Revelation 5:9-13
Blessings / Benedictions: Scripture
- Numbers 6:24-26
- Psalm 19:14
- Psalm 23:6
- Psalm 29:11
- Psalm 89:52
- Psalm 90:16-17
- Psalms 121:7-8
- Romans 8:38-39
- Romans 11:33-36
- Romans 15:5-6
- Romans 15:13
- Romans 16:25-27
- 2 Corinthians 13:11
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
- Galatians 6:18
- Ephesians 1:17-20
- Ephesians 3:16-21
- Ephesians 6:23-24
- Philippians 1:9-11
- Philippians 2:9-11
- Philippians 3:19-20
- Philippians 4:23
- Philippians 4:7-9
- Philippians 4:19-20
- Colossians 3:15-17
- 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16
- 1 Timothy 1:17
- 1 Timothy 6:15-16
- Philemon 25
- Hebrews 10:19-22
- Hebrews 13:20-21
- 1 Peter 1:13-15
- 1 Peter 1:18-21
- 1 Peter 4:10-11
- 1 Peter 5:10-11
- 2 Peter 3:18
- 2 John 3
- Jude 24-25
- Revelation 1:5-6
- Revelation 5:12-13
- Revelation 7:12
- Revelation 22:20-21
