Christian worship is all about Jesus Christ, the one and only mediator between God and man, who — by his perfect life, his perfect sacrifice offered on the cross, his resurrection, and his heavenly ministry at God’s right hand — now bestows that the fruits of his saving work upon sinners like us.
This means that Christian worship is not mainly about what we give to God; it is mainly about what he gives to us — forgiveness, salvation, and new life. God’s Word teaches that he pours out these blessings on us especially through the preaching of his Word and the administering of his Holy Supper. It’s only natural that we respond in prayer, praise, and consecration as we let “the Word of God dwell in us richly” — thus being “filled with the Spirit” — through the Word and sacraments (compare Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18-19).
We earnestly believe that in worship, above all else, we gather to meet with the living and true God: that in worship God the Father draws near in grace to meet with us through God the Son (Jesus) by God the Holy Spirit; and that at the same time the Holy Spirit enables us to draw near in faith through the Son to meet with the Father. For this reason, the primary focus of our worship is God himself. Some elements of our worship represent God speaking to us; other elements represent us speaking to God. This is why we consciously strive for our worship to be:
- Word-centred
- Word-saturated
- Word-regulated
Worship in Spirit and Truth (i.e., by the Holy Spirit and through Jesus) will be marked both by reverence and by rejoicing. We experience this as he feeds us spiritually on his Word and sacraments, and in response we sing praises to our Lord and pour our hearts out to him in prayer. Please visit our sermons page to listen to recordings of past sermons so that you can hear God’s Word faithfully exposited. As well, take note of Why Our Church Sings Hymns (As Well As Psalms).
Sample Order of Worship
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise…” (Ps. 100:4)
Call to Worship
Response
| Leader: | We are gathered together in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit … Lift up your hearts! Lam. 3:41 |
| People: | We lift them up to the LORD! Ps. 25:1; 86:4; 143:8 |
| Leader: | From where does your help come? Ps. 121:1 |
| People: | Our help is in the Name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Ps. 124:8 |
Salutation
Hymn
Prayer of Approach
Affirmation: The Apostles’ Creed
Doxology
“We have confidence to enter the Holy Place
by the blood of Jesus…” (Heb. 10:19)
Scripture – Call to Confession (guilt)
Prayer to Confess Sin
Scripture – Gospel Comfort (grace)
Hymn
Scripture – Gospel Fruit (gratitude)
Response of Consecration:
……Collection
……Hymn
……Prayer
“Today, if only you would hear his Voice.
‘Do not harden your hearts…’” (Ps. 95:7b–8)
Scripture – Sermon Text
Prayer for Illumination
Sermon
Prayer of Response
Hymn
Benediction
“Do not merely listen to the Word,
and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.” (Jas. 1:22)