Missional Worhip: Resources from Resonate

For many churches, connecting worship with God’s global mission is a challenge. There may be a mission-focused Sunday every year, or a few Sundays during which missionaries living abroad come and give a talk during the service, but otherwise the whole idea of "mission" feels foreign. But in reality, mission is a fundamental orientation of God's people, and embracing a missional mindset can help to orient your church better towards God's love and work in the world, both in your local community and globally. This is where Resonate Global Mission, the CRCNA's global mission agency, can provide support.

Resonate has a host of free resources to support local churches. And what’s especially refreshing about the worship resources from Resonate Global Mission is how unassuming they are. They don’t ask churches to start over; instead, they provide a series of small steps your church can take that, over time, can lead your congregation to lean into God's mission for the world.

Sometimes the simplest place to begin is with what people see. A slide, a bulletin cover, a short reflection can help to reframe a service. They can remind people that the church is part of something bigger then just the walls of the sanctuary. And when those reminders show up regularly, they tend to stick.
Reflect: When people gather for worship in your church, what do they see and hear about the wider world? Is there a small visual or written element you could introduce that might gently widen that perspective?

There’s also something to be said for working with rhythms that are already familiar. The church calendar offers built-in regular seasonsof growth and reflection: Lent, Easter, Pentecost. These seasons can naturally open the door to conversations about mission. Maybe it’s as simple as a prayer that names global needs, or a story that connects resurrection hope to what God is doing elsewhere. 
Reflect: How does your church typically move through the seasons of the church year? Are there moments that could more intentionally point outward, even in small ways?

For some churches, it may make sense to try something a bit more focused. A mission emphasis Sunday, or even a short sermon series, can create space to pause and pay attention. The helpful thing here is flexibility. A smaller church might highlight one local partner. Another might invite a whole panel of people working in missions, both locally and globally. What matters most is creating room for people to listen to mission perspectives so that they can learn, reflect, and grow.
Reflect: What would a mission-focused service look like in your contexte? Who might be able to help bring that to life?

Prayer, too, can take on a different shape with a bit of intention. It’s one thing to pray generally for the world; it’s another to pray specifically and regularly. When congregations begin naming particular places, people, or situations, something shifts. Prayer becomes less abstract. It starts to feel more  more grounded. And over time, that kind of prayer can reshape how people understand their role as actual participants in missional work.
Reflect: How specific are your church’s prayers for mission right now? What might help move from general prayers to something more intentional and consistent?

Stepping back, all of this points to a larger idea: Worship forms people. Week after week, it shapes what a congregation notices, what it values, and how it understands its calling. If mission shows up only occasionally, it will likely feel like a side note. But if it’s woven in, even in quiet, consistent ways, it begins to become a central part of the fabric of your congregation.
Reflect: What is your current worship already forming people to see and care about? Where might there be room to more clearly connect worship with being sent into the world?

All of these resources can help a congregation begin to see itself differently, not just as a group that gathers, but as a community that is sent.

Discussion Questions

• When you think about your church’s worship, where does mission naturally show up and where does it feel absent?
• What’s one small change that feels realistic to try in the next few weeks?
• Who in your congregation might have a perspective or story that could help connect worship to mission in a new way?
• What tends to hold your church back from experimenting with something new in worship?
• How might small, consistent practices shape your congregation over time more than a single large event?