Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Elements of Worship at Mossy Creek Church


WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

As we gather for worship, the acolytes, usually young people, will often process and light the candles on the Communion Table.  This reminds us that the light of Christ is with us, celebrating the light in our lives and standing against any darkness we might be experiencing. The service then begins with the THE RINGING OF THE HOUR. The pastor welcomes the congregation with THE GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, followed by THE PRELUDE, which gives the opportunity to focus our hearts and minds on God and God's kingdom, by praying silently or engaging in quiet meditation. During the choral season,  THE CHORAL INTROIT follows the Prelude.

Our liturgy, the spoken word of worship, is drawn from the Bible and from Christian tradition.  Worship is not intended to be like a play where all the action is done by a few performers up front - all of us are participating in worship, in our singing, in our praying, and in our meditating on God's presence in our lives.  Beginning with THE CALL TO WORSHIP, the congregation joins in the creative act of worship, and continues as together we stand and sing THE HYMN OF PRAISE. The Pastor then focuses our attention with  THE CALL TO CONFESSION.  While an individual is free to share their personal stories and shortcomings in confidence with the pastor at any time, there is no need to do so; we do not have a "confessional” per se.  In the Reformed Tradition, this collective PRAYER OF CONFESSION reminds us from week to week that we all have "sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, but that we are always forgiven by the amazing grace of our Lord in Jesus Christ.  We confess together, on behalf of the world, even if we ourselves did not commit the sins named, in order to be healed and forgiven as individuals and as a community. After our confession, the pastor reminds us of the incredibly good news of our forgiveness and healing, and we sing THE GLORIA PATRI (Glory be to the Father…), which is number 546 in the Hymnbook.

WE LISTEN TO GOD'S WORD

In the Reformed Tradition, of which Presbyterians are a part, the reading and interpretation of Holy Scripture are the heart of worship. This part of worship begins with THE CHILDREN’S SERMON, which is a time for the young people (up to fifth grade) to interact with the pastor on the lessons of the day. Selections from the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS are often chosen using the Revised Common Lectionary, a calendar of selections from which, from week to week, work through nearly the whole of the Bible and are used by denominations around the world. During the choral season, THE ANTHEM separates the Scripture readings, providing another approach to God’s Word.  THE SERMON  is then preached by the pastor; a sermon is designed to interpret the Bible, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for use in our lives.  Pastors explore the context of the text when it was originally written and seek to connect us with its wisdom and insight, and with the living Word in Christ. 

WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD

Responding to “God’s Word Read and Proclaimed” takes many forms:
We join in THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH; usually The Apostle’s Creed, found on page 12 of the Hymnbook. We sing THE HYMN OF ASSURANCE.
As a congregation, we share THE JOYS AND CONCERNS, followed by the THE PASTORAL PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER, prayed in unison;                                   it too, is found in the Hymnbook, page 12. We then consider how God is calling us to serve and to be His disciples in this world. In THE PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS, we return to God a portion of his blessings to us (our “Tithes”) and gifts of thanks for what He has done for us (our Offerings”) as the offering plate is passed from person to person. But we also give of our time and our talents, a concept made manifest in THE OFFERTORY. THE DOXOLOGY, or “Words of Glory,” reminds us that it is from God that all our blessings flow; we sing this portion of the Old Hundredth Psalm as number 544 in the Hymnbook. The pastor then offers THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING before inviting the congregation to join in THE CLOSING HYMN. The service concludes with THE CHARGE, our “marching orders” for the week, followed by THE BENEDICTION, a prayer for God’s blessing as we depart. Usually, the Benediction is followed by THE CHORAL RESPONSE, which serves as the “Amen” for worship; THE POSTLUDE prompts us to reflect as we depart.

We celebrate two Sacraments in the Presbyterian Church, the two that were instituted by Jesus as witnessed in the Bible: the Lord's Supper and Baptism.
The Lord's Supper
Six times a year, we celebrate the Lord's Supper together, also known as the Eucharist or Holy Communion.  The Communion Table is ever present at the forefront of our worship. As Presbyterians, we believe that the “real presence” of the Holy Spirit is among us during the Lord's Supper.  We trust that, as these elements remind us of Christ's sacrifice for us, we are also being fed in the Spirit for whatever calling God has for us. Communion reminds us of our unity in Christ, and helps to heal the church, the Body of Christ.  And communion is like the joyful feast that we await when Christ comes… again.  At Mossy Creek, the Lord’s Supper is usually celebrated in the pews, when plates of bread and cups of wine or juice are passed from person to person.  When you pass the bread, you might say either "the bread of heaven,” "the bread of life,” or "the body of Christ.”  Likewise, when you share the cup, you might say "the cup of salvation,” or "the cup of life,” or “the blood of Christ.”  Some people respond, after they've received the bread or the cup, by saying, "Thanks be to God.”  All who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and been baptized into any Christian church are welcome to join in this Sacrament.
Baptism
As Presbyterians understand scripture, baptism is a recognition that, before we can respond, God is calling us to be set apart. Therefore, it is appropriate for people of any age, from the littlest baby to the oldest among us to be baptized. Baptism is a sign of God’s love, a seal of the Holy Spirit, and the claiming of the promises of God which have been given to God's people.  . In baptism we join a community of fellow Christians, the "Body of Christ;” because of this, baptisms take place in the context of  a worship service, in which the congregation promises to support the one being baptized throughout their life of faith. If you desire to be baptized or have your child baptized, please contact the pastor, who can then meet with you and talk about what you can expect during the baptism and what it means to have your child baptized.