Inasmuch as the worship service is the main event in most churches, it must be done well. It needs to assist worshippers experience the presence and glory of God. The focus must be on God and always take into account Jesus' instruction to the woman at the well, "Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship"(John 4:23, TM). You might want to try some of these ideas:

• Pastoral preparation—Every worship leader must commit to personal spiritual preparation for leading the people of God. "Prayer-fed," Richard Foster's term, applies to leadership of worship as well as preaching.
• Focus on God—Contemporary services often talk more about human needs than about God's grace and victory. Get God in your sights and talk to Him and about Him.
• Bridge-builder/priest—Worship leaders need to see themselves as the connector or priest that connects the people of God with the Heavenly Father. Credibility for this work comes from effective pastoral care within the congregation. Cheerleaders or masters of ceremony are not good worship leaders. People want to follow a godly pastor into the holy of holies.
• Music—Make sure the music is as good as it can be. Does it say anything? If you do not have competent musicians, use creativity and determination to find people who can help you. Digital accompaniment is available for your congregation. Technology can overcome a musical deficit with proper preparation and diligence.
• Scripture—Use scripture frequently in every service. Read it together with your people. Use it as a call to worship, responsive reading, theme passage, part of your pastoral prayer, sermon foundation, or benediction.
• Logistics—Give attention to logistics such as where you sit, how long it takes you to get to the pulpit from where you sit, where the special singers sit, what the signal is for ushers to get ready to take the offering, how the choir or worship team exits, who helps latecomers find seats, and where the money is taken after it is received. Ten seconds of dead time can ruin the mood of a service.
• Consider Kierkegaard's idea—In worship, he believed worshippers are the actors, the leaders are the prompters, and God is the audience. This idea will move worship from being self-centered to God-centered.
• Question yourself about every aspect of the service—The main question is, "How can I bring this congregation of people into a more significant relationship with God?"
• Library of resources—Build a personal library of worship resources including music, poetry, liturgies, biblical translations, and printed prayers. Printed prayers, if read during the week, will prime the pastor's pump for the pastoral prayer on Sunday.
• Pastoral prayer formula—A useful acrostic is ACTS: A=Adoration, C=Confession, T=Thanksgiving, S=Supplication and/or Service. C. S. Lewis shared a great discovery: "Prayer in the sense of asking for things is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine."
• Lift people—The elements of worship must be used to inspire, instruct, and challenge. Believers do not need to be scolded or harangued when they come to church. Avoid preaching, teaching, exhorting, flattering, and rebuking in public prayers.
• Feed your soul—Read lofty books, read great sermons, acquaint yourself with insightful devotional writers, spend time with the hymnal, and learn to love the language. Building these influences into your soul's reservoir will show in your preaching and praying. Emptiness usually shows.