Come, Let us Worship
Presbyterians trace their roots back to the
Reformed branch of Protestant Christianity. Worship, in the
Reformed tradition, is decidedly personal and uniformly
corporate. Private times of worship are important but
communal worship fills a different need – the need to share
an experience of faith that allows us to examine our lives in the
perspective of heritage and hope. As Presbyterians, we
believe in the priesthood of all believers. Thus we are the
doers of worship, and not simply the receivers of it. In
each service participation of lay assistants is visible and the
active responses of all sitting in the congregation are
encouraged.
Our worship is the bringing of the past into
the present as well as bringing the future into the present.
It is communal dialogue and community with God by word,
sacrament, rite, song, prayer and silence.
Worship builds community in our life by
offering us a sense of belonging as we express our praise of God
and develop our sense of identity as a child of God.
We hope that your experience of worshiping
with this church family will bring to you power in your life as
together we discover both who we are and whose we are. Our
worship service emphasizes the love of God and encourages us to
recognize that presence of love in our lives and enables us to
live out that love in relationship to others.
A
Guide To Our Worship Service
Prelude – A
musical prelude begins the service by providing a time of
transition to the corporate worship of God. During this
time you are invited to meditate or quietly greet those nearby.
Greeting and Announcements
– This is a time when all are greeted and special
announcements of church activities are highlighted.
Introit – Ordinarily the
choir offers this time of music to help us put aside the business
of the world and the church so we may focus on our worship of
God.
Call to Worship – The
Call to Worship is a responsive reading which sets the mood for
the service. It announces God's presence in our midst and
directs us to reverence and praise.
Hymn of Praise – The
first hymn focuses attention on the One in whose name we gather,
praising God's goodness, power and mercy. This hymn often
reflects our corporate rather than private worship of God.
Confession of Sin/Pardon
– This is recognition of the reality of sin in both our
personal and our common life. In the acknowledgement of our
sin – our being separated from God and from others – in
the beginning of our worship we clear the way for reconciliation
and prepare ourselves to be open to hear God's word. The
Pardon is the declaration of God's mercy offered to us that we
may know the peace of God's forgiveness and be empowered to
forgive others.
Response – Gloria Patri
– In response to God's forgiveness we sing this ancient
verse of praise.
The Peace – In the early
church, the kiss of peace was a formal and solemn act, regarded
as a seal of prayer. This is a time for us, as the people
of God, to offer to one another a sign of recognition of God's
gift to us and our love for each other. It is a handshake
accompanied by the exchange, "The peace of God be with
you," and the reply, "And also with you."
Prayer for Illumination –
This is a prayer offered to prepare us for the reading of the
Word of God. It is an appeal to open us to the message the
Word offers us this day.
Scripture
Anthem – This is a
musical offering given by the choir or by individuals in response
to God's Word.
Children's Time –
Children bring special gifts to worship and are always welcomed
in our church. The message is a special time for these
children as it offers God's Word in a way they may understand and
remember. Following the message, during the regular school
year, children may leave to attend
Gospel Lesson/Sermon –
The Gospel lesson is included in and instructs the sermon. This
is the proclaimed Word and is offered in the belief that through
the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is present to the gathered people
offering to call to grace and the call to discipleship. The
degree of inspiration the worshiper experiences is influenced by
the Holy Spirit as well as the openness of the mind and heart of
each of us.
Hymn – This hymn usually
follows the theme of the scripture and sermon's message.
Affirmation of Faith – In
response to the Word, we affirm our faith with repetition of a
creed or other faith statement. Often used is the Apostle's
Creed – a statement of faith based upon the teaching of the
apostles, a summary of ways we have experienced God in our lives.
Sharing of Joy and Concerns/Prayers of
the People/the Lord's Prayer – Communal prayer is
the Body of Christ lifting up the needs of individuals of the
church, of the community and of the world. Individuals are
invited to share with the church family those urgent concerns or
joys they wish to be lofted up in our prayer. The prayer
that follows includes thanksgiving, intercession on behalf of
those requested and a petition for guidance and support for all
present. In this church we use the words "debt"
and debtors."
Offering – The gifts of
the congregation are collected and brought forward. These
represent our response to God's many gifts and our commitment to
God's calling. This is followed by the Doxology (a song of
praise) and a prayer of dedication of the gifts and the givers.
Hymn – The final hymn
moves us towards closure and focuses on God's call to us and what
our response may be.
Commission and Benediction
– When we leave this place of worship, we carry not only the
memory of this particular experience but the continuing
relationship of being bound together in the spirit of Christ.
As we go out into the world we take with us the assurance of
God's love and God's continual presence by our side. Sustained
by God, redeemed by Christ, nourished by the Spirit, we go forth
from worship enabled to love as God would have us live in the
world.
Postlude – This final
musical offering provides a transition from our worship to our
moving out into the world in service. Having received the
charge and the blessing we proceed to go out with enthusiasm.
The Sacraments of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper – The Reformed tradition understands
the Sacraments to be instituted by God and to be signs of the
real presence and power of Christ in the Church.
The Sacrament of Baptism is, at times, a
part of our worship. This, we believe, is a time of
initiation into the Body of Christ. We celebrate as a
family the love of God that reaches out to all people no matter
what age they are. And we give thanks for the symbol of
water that reminds us the new life all Christians have in Christ.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is
normally offered on the first Sunday of every month. This
is a time when we show our oneness with Christ and with each
other. All who believe in Jesus Christ are invited to join
in the feast our Lord has prepared for us. On the Sundays
when the Lord's Supper is offered, the order of worship is
shifted so that the Sacrament immediately follows the
proclamation of the Word and immediately precedes our going out
into the world. Thus, the connection of the Word made
visible and the nourishment for service is intimately connected.