The worship services of Grace Church follow a rhythm – “a divine conversation in which God speaks, and his people respond.”¹ In our worship services, we seek to glorify God, build up Christian believers, and welcome those who do not believe in Jesus to gain a better understanding of who God is and what it means to be a Christian.
Our worship services also tell the story of God’s amazing grace. We are reminded every week of God’s great love in giving his son, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. We are reminded that Jesus died for our sins, rose to conquer death, rules over all things from heaven, and one day will return to make all things new. We are also reminded that Jesus is with us every day by his Spirit, including when we gather to worship him. The retelling of this story every week results in heartfelt, reverent joy.
Our Liturgy
Every church worship service has a liturgy (the type and order of the elements of the service, such as singing and the sermon). Our liturgy incorporates the following historic practices of the Christian church in a sincere, warm, and accessible way.
Call to Worship
God calls his people to gather and worship him. All throughout the week we find it easy to forget who we are and what by grace we are called to do. The Call to Worship is a call back to reality and into the practice of reverence for God.
Prayer
We talk to God through prayer. Prayers of adoration give praise to God for his attributes (who he is) and actions (what he has done). During the congregational prayer, we pray for the needs of Grace Church, the Rochester community, and the world. Though only one person is giving voice to our prayer, we too pray with him by being attentive and affirming the requests that are made.
Praise
We gather to praise God through singing not only because he commands it but also because he delights in it, and as we do so his truth is driven deeper into our hearts. Our music is a blend of historic and contemporary hymns.
Confession of sin
Because God loves us, we can confess our sins to Him.
Assurance of God’s forgiveness
We are forgiven because we belong to God and Jesus died for our sins.
Tithes and Offerings
Giving is a way to worship God with what he has given us. As we do, we demonstrate our own dependency on the Lord, the maker and sustainer of all things. Visitors should feel under no obligation to give.
Reading the Word
God speaks to his people through his Word. When it is read in our service we listen attentively and expectantly. We stand for the Scripture reading out of reverence for God.
Preaching the Word
God’s Word reveals who God is and teaches his people how to live for him. We worship through the preaching of the Word by measuring what is said against Scripture and meditating on the truth that is proclaimed.
Sacraments
God gives us signs to proclaim his love for us and seal us as his own. In the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, we remember Christ’s saving work in the past, anticipate the fullness of joy we will know with him in heaven, and are nourished by him spiritually as we receive the bread and wine (or juice) in faith. The sacrament of Baptism signifies cleansing from sin and newness of life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We baptize infants and young children of members as well as older children and adults who have met with our elders, desire to be baptized, and are prepared to become members of the church.²
Profession of Faith
We gather and affirm what we, as God’s people, believe. Because the truth we believe comes from the heart of a personal God, in the profession of faith we are ultimately acknowledging the one in whom we trust.
Benediction
God sends us with his blessing into the world to live out his mission.
Doxology
“Doxology” is derived from two Greek words: doxa (meaning, “glory”), and logos (meaning, “word”). A doxology, then, is a “word,” spoken or sung, which ascribes “glory” to God. We end our worship services on a note of praise.
¹ This description, as well as the illustrations and descriptions of the elements of our worship service, are drawn from the Teach Us to Worship resources developed by the Presbyterian Church in America. Visit www.teachustoworship.org to explore their excellent resources for teaching children about worshiping God.
² Infant baptism, properly understood, offers a beautiful picture of God’s saving grace. Click here to read an article articulating why the baptism of infants as well new converts to Christianity is a biblically faithful application of the sacrament.