Worship at Christ Reformed Church is more fully articulated in the Directory of Public Worship of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. This document was founded upon The Directory for the Public Worship of God of 1645, produced by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster and subsequently adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. It is based on the Biblical principle, rediscovered during the Protestant Reformation, of Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). That is, the worship at our church is both informed by and limited to those elements of worship stipulated in the Bible. These Biblical elements of worship are the reading, teaching, and preaching of the Word of God; prayer; the singing of Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; practicing of the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper; alms giving; and fellowship. This “Regulative Principle of Worship” is best summarized by the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 21.1, “the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture.”
Another great principle of the Protestant Reformation is Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be the Glory). Therefore, at Christ Reformed Church, our worship service is a worship of God – not man. Based on this simple idea, we have an Order of Worship designed to bring about glory to God – not man. The participation of saints in our worship service is designed for all praise to go to God – not to preachers, musicians, artists, missionaries, church leaders or children. Therefore, an appropriately humble deportment in all aspects of worship leadership and practice will assist us each Sunday in disallowing performances and enhancing our awareness of God’s admonition, “Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner” (1 Cor. 14:40).
At Christ Reformed Church, we rely upon the Holy Spirit to help us in establishing the type of environment that encourages and advances our entry into the transforming presence of the living Lord Jesus Christ in the most thoughtful, organic, and appropriate way possible.
We worship as a congregation every Lord’s Day at 10:30 AM (Sunday School at 9:30 AM). The Lord’s Day is more than just another day of the week – it is truly, as the Puritans believed, “the market-day for your soul.” Sundays grace Christians with revelation and holiness and a loving community. Let us, therefore, “call the sabbath a delight” (Is. 58:13) by remembering “the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).
However, while Sunday Morning worship is absolutely essential, it is not sufficient for the Christian who wants to grow spiritually. For this reason, members are encouraged to spend time daily reading the Scriptures and in prayer. The church also offers regular Bible studies for men, women, and young people. Our Sunday and mid-week Home Groups provide excellent opportunities in fellowshipping together with the sharing of a meal, discussing the Scriptures, praying together, and serving one another and the community at large.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
9:30 AM
MORNING WORSHIP
10:30 AM
EVENING HOME GROUPS
© 2021 All rights reserved