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Learning Guide

Using Other Texts in a Service

Search for other worship texts for your service using the general Index of First Lines or by browsing the following subgroups:

• Affirmations
• Blessings
• Confessions (Acknowledgments of Limitations)
• Covenants
• Doxologies (Statements of Praise)
• Litanies (Readings with Refrains)
• Responsive Readings

Sample Uses of Other Service Texts

Some service elements -- such as unison affirmations or confessions -- invite a congregation to speak in a united voice. Other service elements -- such as covenants, litanies, and responsive readings -- engage a congregation in interactive speech. Some Unitarian Universalist congregations rarely use unison or responsive texts. Many congregations reserve such texts for special ceremonial occasions, such as a building dedication, homecoming Sunday, or communion service. Other congregations, however, make unison or responsive texts a part of the regular service.

Consider the following outlines, noting especially the variety of additional service texts used:

First Order of Service - See example

Opening Hymn
Chalice Lighting

• Affirmation
  Meditation or Prayer
  Silence
       See the rest of this Order of Service

Second Order of Service - See example

Prelude

• Litany as Opening Words
  Opening Hymn
  Service continues...
  Offering
  
• Unison Affirmation
  Benediction
  Sung Response
       See the rest of this Order of Service

Third Order of Service - See example

Prelude
Opening Words

• Acknowledgment of Limitations
  Call to Worship
  Hymn
  Service continues...
  Sermon or Address
  Hymn
  
• Affirmation
  Benediction
       See the rest of this Order of Service

Fourth Order of Service - See example

Reading

• Responsive Reading
  Prayer
  Silence
  Anthem or Musical Interlude
       See the rest of this Order of Service

Sixth Order of Service - See example

Prelude
Hymn
Opening Sentence
Prayer of Aspiration

• Affirmation of Faith
  
• Doxology
  Anthem
       See the rest of this Order of Service