|
|
 |
|
 |
Biblical Worship is beautiful
because God, the object of our worship,
is supremely beautiful. We realize and
confess that our form of worship is
imperfect and |
| |
culturally colored;
yet God knows our desire for a more
intense appreciation of His majesty
and grace as we come together Sunday
after Sunday. As you consider joining
us for worship, we remind you that
we are Reformed in our doctrine and
worship with these distinct emphases.
God's covenant
relationship with His church defines
our understanding of and practices
in worship. In worship the people
of God respond in faith to the God
who has established a relationship
with believers and acts on their behalf.
This covenant relationship is displayed
in our worship by the centrality of
God's Word and our role in responding
to what God has done and declared
to us. 
|
| |
The climax of our
service is the preaching of the
Gospel, to which believers are called
to respond with faith in their heart
and holiness in of life. This relationship
is also evident in the visible aspects
of worship such as the minister's
role to guide in worship and the
females' adornment with head-coverings
(1 Corinthians 11). The reality
of the covenant reminds us that
our worship isn't just individual,
nor is it just corporate. It balances
both for the greatest possible Christian
growth.
Union with Christ in the Holy Spirit,
as declared in the Holy Scriptures,
is the reality at the heart of our
worship. This reality also calls
us to be alive to the work of the
Holy Spirit as He uses the Word
to work grace in the heart and life,
all flowing from the finished work
of Jesus Christ. This is obviously
intangible, but it is very definitive
for Christian identity and determines
our approach to God. At the same
time, we aim to help people understand
the biblical truth about how God
deals with our hearts and draws
us to Himself (we call this "experiential
religion").
The final trait that we cherish
is the role that the Bible plays
in our worship. We read from the
Bible, we sing from the Bible (the
book of Psalms) and the Bible saturates
our prayers and our giving. We pray
that as people prepare for worship
and leave worship that the Bible
is increasingly known and applied
to their specific heart and life
situations. We seek the Holy Spirit's
illumination as we orient our lives
to God's rule and glory and away
from our own preferences and sins.
More could be said about our worship,
but we pray that you may be inclined
to join us and experience the blessings
Reformed worship gives us and be
drawn closer to the Triune God with
us. 
|
|
|
Sacraments |
|
 |
The
God-ordained sacraments of baptism and
the Lord's Supper are vital for the
life of our church. We practice infant
baptism for those children who are born
into the church com-munity and are |
|
|
included by God into covenant with Himself
and marked by God's promise of grace in
Jesus Christ. We also practice adult baptism
for those who were not baptized and yet
have been graciously "born again"
by the Spirit (John 3) and profess faith
in Christ and desire to be included as living
members in Christ's church. If you would
like more information about Christian baptism,
please don't hesitate to contact our pastor.
We also celebrate the Lord's Supper quarterly
(beginning of January, April, July, and
October). These are precious occasions for
our church, both personally and corporately
and so we aim to maximize spiritual profit
for everyone. In communion, the believer
is having special fellowship with the ascended
Christ by faith. The Holy Spirit uses the
bread and the wine to lift our hearts up
on high where Christ is residing and ruling,
to feed on what He has done (especially
in His death and resurrection) and what
He continues to do for the good of His church.
Also, the Lord's Supper strengthens the
bonds of faith that exist between believers
- bonds that are often overlooked and underdeveloped.
These services are longer than the average
80 minute worship service and in addition
to the normal worship order, consist of
the reading of a form for the administration
of the Lord's Supper and an enjoying communion
seated around an actual table. If you would
like more information about the Lord's Supper
and how we celebrate it, please contact
our pastor and he will be glad to assist
you.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The
Bible teaches, and we believe,
that there is more to the
Christian faith than being
born into a believing family,
adhering to certain cardinal
doctrines, or acting according
to a particular ethical
standard. A robust, biblical
Christianity is one where
the power of the truth of
God’s Word has been
unleashed at the core of
a person, leading to formative
experiences of God’s
grace in shaping that person
and the world in which he/she
lives. This is called “experiential
religion” and nothing
short of this is the demand
of God’s Word and the
delight of God’s people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Fellowship |
An important part of church
life is wholesome Christian
fellowship. Though we are
a smaller group we attempt
to use that as an asset
and promote close Christian
community among our members.
Our greatest time of fellowship
is in the worship service.
Though we are not talking
with each other, we believe
that as each person hears
of Christ and by the work
of the Holy Spirit may believe
in Him, there is a growing
together that is taking
place from person-to-person.
This is the family of God
being built and strengthened
in her life in this world.
This is fellowship not in
shared interests or life
situation, but fellowship
deeply rooted in the Lord
by His Spirit.
Then we give occasion after
the afternoon service to
gather in the fellowship
room for a time of friendly
conversation. We pray that
this time is filled with
spiritual reflections that
result from the worship
of the day, but we also
hope that people may grow
outwardly more aware of
other's life situations.
This is vital for the speaking
of a suitable word at the
right time for those who
need it and gives opportunity
to let our love for each
other manifest itself spontaneously.
We also enjoy monthly times
of corporate singing and
prayer, again after the
afternoon service. These
times bind us together in
profound ways and especially
aim to encourage and uplift
us in our shared calling
before God.
Finally, we hope that the
Sunday time we share flows
over into weekdays that
include thinking about each
other, praying for each
other, and practicing Christian
hospitality among ourselves
and toward others. We encourage
Christian fellowship on
the widest possible scale,
knowing that Christ's body
is great and we are privileged
to be a part of it, on Sunday
and every day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Instruction |
|
One of the greatest gifts
God provides through His
church is instruction
in the Christian religion,
that His people would
grow in knowledge of Himself
and His Word. Just for
this task, He has provided
pastors and elders, through
whom Christ teaches His
people in doctrine and
experience. He has also
given the social environment
in which this instruction
is nurtured and applied,
namely the family as they
attend the worship and
live life together. Most
of all, He has given His
Spirit as the great Instructor
of His people, touching
mind and heart with the
sweetness of divine truth.
In our church we instruct
families, individuals,
and the covenant youth.
Our pastor and an elder
visit each family for
a time of fellowship and
instruction. This is meant
as a time for the truths
of the Word to be specifically
applied to the case of
each family member. This
is a vital aspect of the
ministry of the Lord to
the families of our congregation.
We also have Bible and
book studies that are
geared to individuals.
These meetings often take
place at our pastor's
house and last from 3-9
months. Lively discussion
and especially practical
truths flow from these
studies and each person
leaves very much helped
by the study. In the past
we have studied books
like God's Big Picture
by Vaughan Roberts and
Living in the Hope of
Glory by Adolphe Monod.
For our youth, we offer
catechism instruction
on Sunday afternoons from
September to June. It
is important to explain
the Christian faith to
young people so that they
may understand how the
whole scheme fits together
and see the world view
that Calvinism offers.
We stress, as God does,
the importance of the
mind in the Christian
religion, yet we do not
rest with the knowledge
of facts. It is imperative
that in all of our instruction
we aim for the heart -
for affections and wills
that confide in and respond
to the God of truth.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
