REFORMED WORSHIP: The Worship Service is not about us, but about our Triune God. He calls us to worship and we respond, seeking to please Him as we lift up our worship to His throne. In doing so, He meets our needs. He comforts our souls. He convicts us of sin. In worship the Word of God is our only guide. We sing the Word, read the Word, preach the Word, pray the Word, speak the Word, hear the Word, and see the Word in the sacraments.

THE PRELUDE is a sacred curtain dropped between the world and our time of worship. During this time of preparation, you are encouraged to pray silently, asking the Holy Spirit to enable you to cling to and delight yourself in Christ.

CALL TO WORSHIP draws our attention from our many concerns to the primary concern of the moment. Through words drawn from Scripture, we are led toward God, and invited; “Come, let us worship.”

INVOCATION is a prayer of worship, adoration, and praise that marks the beginning of the worship service. The pastor asks God for his blessing on the worship, that He would be glorified in our midst.

THE HYMN OF PRAISE reflects the fundamental purpose of Christian worship. Praise is the people’s joyful response to God’s gift in Jesus Christ. This hymn is chosen to be uplifting and vibrant, reflecting the praise we seek to offer to our God.

THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION takes place early in the service, suggesting that both the individual and the corporate body need to be cleansed in order to hear and receive the Word and Sacrament. To come into the presence of God dramatizes how far we fall short of God’s intended glory; so together we openly acknowledge our need for repentance, forgiveness and grace.

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON reminds us of God’s promise that forgiveness follows the sincere confession of and repentance for our sins. Drawn from Scripture, this declares the amazing grace God in Christ offers to each of us who truly are sorry for our sins and desire to live a more faithful life.

THE GLORIA PATRI dating back to 529AD, is sung in response to the good news that we, in Jesus Christ, stand forgiven.

THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH is recited as a corporate affirmation of what we believe and serves to place the contemporary Church in the tradition of Christendom which has endured through the centuries. Each confessional statement that is used is drawn from the historic confessions of the Christian church. The Apostles Creed (100AD), the Nicene Creed (325AD), our Confession of Faith (1646), the Ten Commandments, or a similar statement from Scpriture is confessed together.

THE SCRIPTURE READINGS are central to the service, the elements of which are drawn from the ancient synagogue service which was concerned primarily with the reading and preaching of God’s Word. While the synagogue service consisted of readings from the Old Testament, Christians added the inspired writings of the New Testament writers. We read from each testament, or covenant, reflecting the biblical center of our worship.

THE OFFERING is our response to God’s blessing and is a significant part of worship. As we dedicate our gifts to God, we also dedicate our lives and acknowledge once more that we are God’s and what we have is but a gift to be held in trust.

THE DOXOLOGY is a Trinitarian song of the praise we sing as our gifts are brought forward. “Doxology” is Greek for “words of praise” and we sing to the Old Hundredth tune.

THE PASTORAL PRAYER is a time of adoration and petition. The pastor gives thanks to God for His blessing, praises God for His goodness, and prays the church.

THE READING OF THE SERMON TEXT OF SCRIPTURE focuses the congregation on the specific part of God’s Word that will be expounded. As the congregation has been praying for the service, the sermon, and the pastor, the reading of this text is a time of joy and anticipation.

THE PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION invites the presence of the Holy Spirit to bless us with the understanding of God’s Word in Scripture.

THE SERMON is the exposition of the inspired text. The preaching of the Word of God is the centerpiece of the worship service. The inspired text of Scripture is explained and applied to the glory of God. Christ is shone forth in the Scripture as the only Redeemer, the Good News of the New Covenant. The Spirit of God makes the preaching of the Word an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation.

THE HYMN OF RESPONSE is an affirmation in response to hearing God’s Word. This hymn is usually more reflective and meditative and often is tied to the theme of the morning’s Scripture and sermon.

THE BENEDICTION, a blessing spoken by the pastor sending us out into the world to enact the Christian faith we have confessed. The pastor’s hands are symbolically raised as the blessing God taught Moses is proclaimed upon God’s people. “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his countenance toward you and give you peace.” Many receiving the blessing from God raise their hands to reflect the attitude of their hearts.