I was wondering if folks would mind sharing their order of service. I'm in a non-reformed Baptist church with no other options and I'm just curious how the reformed churches are doing things?
I was thinking of this after a pastor mentioned the time of kneeling for confession at his church. I've never witnessed this and I'm particularly interested in how that goes.
Our services basically go like this:
Opening prayer,
Some scripture reading,
Two songs,
Announcements,
Another song,
Sermon,
Closing video song the pastor likes.
I watched a service at Phil Kayser's church and it really left me longing for that.
I'm not looking for a debate on what's right or what's wrong. Just want to know what I might be missing.
The following might be helpful, I wrote/compiled it for our URCNA church bulletin, we run this explanation monthly. Note that the evening service substitutes the recitation of an ecumenical creed for the reading of the law.
Our Order of Worship
Call to Worship: The service begins with the Triune God calling us with his Word to worship him with reverence and awe. A Biblical text, often a Psalm, is read as a summons to the people of God.
Silent Prayer: An opportunity for each person to come before the throne of grace, to ask God to bless the worship service, and to keep us from distraction.
Votum: Having heard God’s call to worship him, we rise to our feet and invoke (call upon) the name of God and confess our dependence on him.
Salutation: As a response to his people invoking his name, God announces his grace and peace to all who come to him in true faith through Jesus Christ.
Song of Praise: Having heard God’s blessing, we respond by lifting up our voices to him and singing a psalm or hymn, as we are commanded to “Come before His presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2)
Reading of the Law: In the worship service, God’s law serves to show us his holiness and our sinfulness, and is also a guide to living a thankful Christian life.
Song of Confession: Having heard God speak to us in his law, we together in song confess our sins and plead for God’s mercy.
Assurance of Pardon: The Lord responds to our confession with joyful announcement of his promise of forgiveness in Christ.
Congregational Prayer: The whole congregation joins in prayer through the words of the minister, who ordinarily prays for a benediction on the preaching of the Word, for the spreading of the gospel throughout the world, for other congregations and mission works, for particular needs in the congregation, and for our nation and civil authorities.
Offering: We respond to God’s grace with our monetary giving of two offerings: first for the general church budget, and second for a special cause noted in the bulletin each week. We do this as an act of worship, knowing that “each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Song of Preparation: We sing in preparation for the meal God is about to serve for our souls in the preaching of his Word. We sing another psalm or hymn, saying to the Lord, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105)
Scripture Reading: Having asked God to open our ears and hearts to receive his Word, we listen to him speak as his Word is read.
Sermon: As the centre of the worship service, God continues to speak to us as his Word is explained and proclaimed. The minister gives a faithful exposition of the text, which ultimately calls us to repentance of sin and faith in Christ.
Prayer: We respond together in prayer through the words of the minister who asks that God would apply his Word to his people.
Song of Application: Having heard the word of Christ, we “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly,” by “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in [our] hearts to the Lord”. (Colossians 3:16)
Doxology: We celebrate in song the goodness, glory, wisdom, and supreme majesty of God.
Benediction: The triune God has both the first word and the last word in the worship service. With uplifted hands, the minister blesses the people of God from the Word of God, which is available to all who receive it through true faith.
