A call to worship is the Scripture read at the start of a service to invite God's people into His presence. Classic KJV calls include "O come, let us sing unto the LORD" (Psalm 95:1), "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands" (Psalm 100:1), and "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psalm 122:1).
Many churches open worship with a short passage of Scripture read by a pastor or worship leader, sometimes with the congregation responding. It reminds everyone that God calls us before we come. People search for call to worship verses while planning a Sunday service, a chapel or a youth night, a home church or family devotions, and especially in Advent, which begins Sunday, November 29, 2026. These twelve King James verses are ready to read aloud: openings for any Sunday, calls to praise and thanksgiving, and calls for Advent, Christmas and festival Sundays. For worship itself, see worship; for music, see music.
Come, let us worship
1. Psalms 122:1
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."
A song pilgrims sang on their way to Jerusalem for the feasts. It captures the joy of gathering, and it works well as the very first words of a service or a welcome after the announcements.
2. Psalms 95:1
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation."
Psalm 95 is the Venite, sung at the start of Morning Prayer in the Anglican tradition for centuries. For a fuller call, continue with "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker" (Psalm 95:6), which is on our worship page.
3. Psalms 100:1-2
"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing."
Psalm 100 is the Jubilate, and the source of the hymn All People That on Earth Do Dwell, sung to the tune Old Hundredth. It is a natural fit for Thanksgiving Sunday, November 22, 2026. Its famous verse 4, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving" (Psalm 100:4), is on our gratitude page.
4. Habakkuk 2:20
"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."
A quieter call for reverent services: communion, Good Friday, a service of lament, or the moment before prayer. In context it contrasts the living God with silent idols (Habakkuk 2:18-19). Read it slowly, then pause in silence.
Calls to praise and thanksgiving
5. Psalms 105:1-2
"O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works."
These words also appear in 1 Chronicles 16:8-9, sung when the ark came to Jerusalem. Make known his deeds among the people: a good call before testimonies, a mission moment or a baptism. See thanksgiving.
6. Psalms 145:3
"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable."
Short enough for a congregation to repeat line by line: the leader reads, the people echo. It suits children's sermons and youth gatherings too.
7. Psalms 103:1
"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."
A call to the soul, not just the voice. The modern worship song 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin is based on this psalm, so it pairs well with an opening song.
8. Psalms 117:1-2
"O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD."
Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm and the shortest chapter in the Bible. Paul quotes it to show that the gospel is for every nation (Romans 15:11), so it is ideal for a missions Sunday or a multicultural service.
For Advent, Christmas and festival Sundays
9. Psalms 24:7
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."
A favourite for Advent, Palm Sunday and Ascension; Handel set it in Messiah. Read it responsively: the leader reads verse 7, then the people ask and the leader answers with the next verse, "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle" (Psalm 24:8).
10. Isaiah 40:9
"O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"
Good tidings to Zion: an Advent call that ends with Behold your God! Handel set this verse in Messiah too (O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion). It suits the second Sunday of Advent, December 6, 2026, when the Revised Common Lectionary's first reading is Isaiah 40:1-11. See Advent.
11. Isaiah 2:3
"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
The Revised Common Lectionary reads Isaiah 2:1-5 on the first Sunday of Advent in Year A of its three-year cycle (in Year B, which begins November 29, 2026, that Sunday's reading is Isaiah 64:1-9). Come ye, and let us go up is a ready-made invitation, and the verse ends with a promise to walk in God's paths.
12. Psalms 47:1
"O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph."
A joyful call for Easter and Ascension Sunday: the psalm goes on, "God is gone up with a shout" (Psalm 47:5), which the church has long read of Christ's ascension. It also suits children's services, where clapping is welcome. For Christmas Eve, the Revised Common Lectionary psalm is Psalm 96, "O sing unto the LORD a new song" (Psalm 96:1); see music.
A short prayer
Lord God, You call us before we ever come to You. As Your people gather, open our hearts and our mouths to praise You. Quiet the noise we bring with us, let us enter Your presence with gladness and singing, and make us glad when we hear, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Be glorified in our worship this Sunday and every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Plan your Advent Sundays with our free Advent reading plan · Print our free Bible verse bookmarks · Prepare your heart for Sunday with the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What is a call to worship?
It is the opening words of a worship service, usually Scripture, that invite the congregation to turn their attention to God. Many Reformed, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican and Lutheran churches use one every week, and many Baptist and non-denominational churches use them too. It can be read by one leader, read together, or read responsively.
How do I make a responsive call to worship from Scripture?
Split a verse at a natural break. For example, Leader: "O come, let us sing unto the LORD" People: "let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation" (Psalm 95:1). Psalm 24:7-8 above works the same way, and on Palm Sunday you can split Psalm 118:26 in two: the leader reads "Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD" (Psalm 118:26) and the people answer "we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD" (Psalm 118:26). Keep the people's lines short, print them in bold in the bulletin or on screen, and keep the wording exact so the congregation reads the Bible itself.
What is a good call to worship for Advent and Christmas?
For the four Sundays of Advent (November 29 and December 6, 13 and 20, 2026), try Isaiah 2:3, Isaiah 40:9, "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2) and Psalm 24:7. For Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24), "Arise, shine; for thy light is come" (Isaiah 60:1) is a beautiful opening. See Christmas and our free Advent reading plan.
Can I use a call to worship at home or in a small group?
Yes. Families and small groups can open devotions the same way: one person reads a call and everyone responds. Jesus promised, "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). See prayer.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about worship · Bible verses about music · Bible verses about prayer · Bible verses about gratitude · Bible verses about thanksgiving · Bible verses about Advent · Bible verses about Christmas · Bible verses about Palm Sunday
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