For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)
Why meet for a congregational worship service? Because it is actually the most important thing a Christian does in faith. It is when the congregation gathers to worship the Triune God, more than at any other time, that God fulfills all His promises to His children. Unbelievers are converted. Children come to faith. Weak Christians grow strong. Wounded Christians are healed. Broken Christians are renewed. In the congregation’s worship on Sunday, we express our love for God, because He pours out His love on us (1 John 4:19). God is glorified (John 15:8) as He fills up our joy (John 15:11).
Worship: Enemies to Avoid, Resources for Faith
We gather to offer God reverent and joyful worship:
- Such worship is submissive to God’s instruction.
- Worship is a conversation between God and His children, those united to Christ by the Spirit through faith.
- In worship, God speaks to His children through His word via the means of grace, the Bible, prayers, and the sacraments.
- God’s children respond in prayer via their songs and responses of faith.
- We celebrate weekly communion, understanding it to be a means of grace whereby, the Spirit responding to our faith, spiritually feeds us on Christ crucified and all His benefits.
- Such biblically informed worship will be reverent and joyful as God’s children find Him blessing their faith.
This is confessionally rooted worship.
The Gospel provides the pattern for worship
- God calls His children to believe in His Son,
- He cleanses them of their sins through His Son,
- He consecrates them through the Bible read and preached,
- He communes with them in the sacraments, and then
- He commissions them to serve Him in the world.
This is the covenantally-patterned worship.
Notes
A Sunday morning bulletin is available before worship on the church website (link at bottom of this page), but everything you need is projected at the front of the sanctuary.
- We read and preach from the English Standard Version (ESV). Copies are available in the Fellowship area just before you enter the Worship Center, as well as in the pockets on the backs of many of the chairs.
- Singing in worship is a form of prayer. To help remove distractions and enable you to sing with joy, all the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs used this morning are in the bulletin and are projected. There are also notebooks with copies of the music on the backs of some of the chairs for those who prefer to see the music notation. You can read more about our special music (HERE).
- For the Lord’s Supper, the deacons will guide you when to come forward in groups to the tables on the sides of the sanctuary where you will be served communion by one of the elders. If you are unable to come forward, please let one of the deacons know and they will make sure you are served at your seat.
- In the Lord’s Supper, both grape juice and wine are offered (the dark cups toward the outside of the tray are the wine).
- For further advice and helps in worship, please see the printed brochures in the pockets on the backs of most of the chairs.
We would be happy if you could join us to worship Him.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! (Psalms 95:6; 105:3)