blhowes
Puritan Board Professor
I'm on travel this last week and next, and today I attended a Presbyterian (PCA) church for the first time. I enjoyed myself immensely - it was quite a blessing.
Order of Worship:
Welcome and Announcements
The Peace (greet other with the peace of Jesus Christ)
The Call to Worship
Song: O Worship the King
Confessing What We Believe (question/answer from Westminster Larger Catechism)
Song: Meekness and Majesty
Understanding Ourselves Rightly
The Public Confession of Sin
Silent Prayers of Confession
The Promise of God's Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Song: Man of Sorrows
Prayers of the People (concluded with The Lord's Prayer)
Sermon
Offering
Doxology
Song: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven
Benediction
Dismissal
I really liked the way the service was structured, beginning with the Public Confession of Sin, where we read the following prayer in unison, followed by the pastor reading the passage from Isaiah 53:3:
Why do you suppose most churches don't (from my limited experience) do that?
I really liked the song called Meekness and Majesty. Any of you ever heard this before?
*Meekness and Majesty
Graham Kendrick, 1986
Meekness and majesty, manhood and Deity,
In perfect harmony, the Man who is God.
Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity;
Kneels in humility and washes our feet.
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty;
Bow down and worship, for this is your God.
Father’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence;
Yet learns obedience to death on a cross.
Suff’ring to give us life, conqu’ring through sacrifice;
And as they crucify prays, “Father, forgive.”
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty;
Bow down and worship, for this is your God.
Wisdom unsearchable, God, the invisible;
Love indescribable in frailty appears.
Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly;
Lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne.
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty;
Bow down and worship, for this is your God.
Order of Worship:
Welcome and Announcements
The Peace (greet other with the peace of Jesus Christ)
The Call to Worship
Song: O Worship the King
Confessing What We Believe (question/answer from Westminster Larger Catechism)
Song: Meekness and Majesty
Understanding Ourselves Rightly
The Public Confession of Sin
Silent Prayers of Confession
The Promise of God's Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Song: Man of Sorrows
Prayers of the People (concluded with The Lord's Prayer)
Sermon
Offering
Doxology
Song: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven
Benediction
Dismissal
I really liked the way the service was structured, beginning with the Public Confession of Sin, where we read the following prayer in unison, followed by the pastor reading the passage from Isaiah 53:3:
Our Holy and Merciful Father, we confess that we are not worthy of your presence, but we come to you through the worthiness of Jesus Christ. We confess that we deserve your condemnation because of our attitudes and speech and behavior. We have harbored and nurtured bitterness in our hearts toward others, even our fellow Christians. We have slandered their reputation with our words. We have been slow to listen and quick to become angry. Our greatest evil is that we have not loved and thanked and worshiped you. Father, apart from you we are without hope. Please have mercy on us. Our sins are too many to count. Please forgive us. Wash our prideful, hateful hearts with the cleansing blood of the your Son, Jesus Christ. Please give us the grace and power to love and serve one another even as you have loved and served us in Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Does your church have this type of public/corporate confession of sin, followed by a reminder of what Jesus did on our behalf? I really liked that part of the service, it was a wonderful reminder of my lostness without Christ, which really enhanced my "worship experience" as I considered Jesus' sacrifice for that sin. Why do you suppose most churches don't (from my limited experience) do that?
I really liked the song called Meekness and Majesty. Any of you ever heard this before?
*Meekness and Majesty
Graham Kendrick, 1986
Meekness and majesty, manhood and Deity,
In perfect harmony, the Man who is God.
Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity;
Kneels in humility and washes our feet.
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty;
Bow down and worship, for this is your God.
Father’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence;
Yet learns obedience to death on a cross.
Suff’ring to give us life, conqu’ring through sacrifice;
And as they crucify prays, “Father, forgive.”
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty;
Bow down and worship, for this is your God.
Wisdom unsearchable, God, the invisible;
Love indescribable in frailty appears.
Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly;
Lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne.
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty;
Bow down and worship, for this is your God.