Visiting Our Church Worship 

Corporate Confession of Sin: “It’s so ritualistic!”

I’ve heard comments – mostly negative – about our Corporate Confession of Sin in our worship service. “It’s not from the heart.” “It’s ritualistic.” “It doesn’t bless me.” “It’s too Catholic.” To these, I refer to a short post at Monergism.com. Corporate worship, as our local church understands it, is a time of joyful covenantal renewal which includes confession of sin, assurance of pardon, responsive prayers, corporate song, the preaching of the gospel and the covenantal climax of communion in the Lord’s Supper. To be frank, I previously never thought…

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“What is the Reformed Faith?”

By Dr. Michael S. Horton © 1993 Modern Reformation Magazine How do I go to God?”, someone asked the Scottish Presbyterian, Horatius Bonar. The parson answered, “It is with our sins that we go to God, for we have nothing else that we can truly call our own.” Much like Lutheranism, the Reformed tradition was forged out of the mighty storm known as the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin (1507-64) was a Frenchman who, through his own study of the Scriptures and reading the tracts of Luther and other older Reformers,…

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Visiting Our Church 

“What is a Reformed Church?”

© 2008 by Daniel R. Hyde. All rights reserved A Reformed church is Christian, Protestant, Confessional, not Catholic, not “dead, traditional, or ritualistic.” We believe that sinful humans are saved by grace alone, from eternity past to eternity future, and that we experience this grace of God as the Holy Spirit uses certain means that God has appointed in the Church: the preaching of the Word and celebration of the Sacraments. Introduction AMONG THE circle of churches in which I once worshipped and even was a youth pastor, you either were…

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Visiting Our Church 

A Brief Walk-Through Our Worship Liturgy

Because of Christ’s work in offering himself as a sacrifice to cleanse us of our sin, we are fit to enter the heavenly Holy of Holies to worship the Triune God. “Your worship service looks and feels like Roman Catholic.” This is a typical comment heard from first-time visitors to our church. Our worship service is rooted, not in Roman Catholicism, but in the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” (Nicene Creed) whose head is Jesus Christ. This church “has existed from the beginning of the world and will be…

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Our Typical Lord’s Day Liturgy

§ * All those who are able, please stand. Coming Into His Presence Welcome and Announcements * Call to Worship: Psalm 95:1-7a * Opening Prayer * Invocation (Psalm 124:8) and God’s Greeting (1 Peter 1:1-2) Service of Reconciliation Reading of God’s Will for His People: 1 Peter 3:8-17 Prayer of Confession Promise of Forgiveness: Psalm 34:8-9 Hymn of Confession and Assurance: Ye Children, Come, Give Ear to Me (Psa 34) #59:1, 2, 4 Response of Thanksgiving Congregational Prayer Offerings: Psalm 50:14 Service of the Word * Scripture Readings: Genesis 6:5-8; 1 Peter 4:1-11 (texts) Sermon: “Pilgrims’ Godly Response…

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Visiting Our Church 

Why is Our Worship So Serious?

© 2004, 2008 by Daniel R. Hyde. Originally published as “Why is Reformed Worship so Serious?” in The Journal of the Church Music National Conference (Winter 2004): 3–6. Here in San Diego county we have a weekly magazine called The San Diego Reader. It is a magazine primarily concerned with the cultural scene in the county. One aspect of the culture that gets some ink is religion. Until recently, Jewish reporter Mr. Abe Opincar went from house of worship to house of worship every week and would report on that…

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Visiting Our Church Worship 

Things to Read & Know Before Partaking of the Lord’s Supper With Us

On the first Lord’s Day every two months, we have a holy feast for our souls as we partake of the Lord’s Supper. You are invited to partake of this holy food with us if you read—and agree with—the following articles: “Four Views of the Lord’s Supper.” Our view is the last one presented. (Download PDF) We practice close communion. Find out what we mean by this in “Open, Closed, or Close Communion?” (Download PDF) When you come and desire to join us, please read “A Word to Visitors About the Lord’s Supper,” a brief summary…

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