Anatomy of a Worship Service

We follow a pattern of worship at Old Union Presbyterian Church, modeled on the principles of worship in the Reformed tradition, that draws us into God’s presence, enables us to respond to his grace, and sends us out to live and act in his name.

Worship begins by coming into God’s presence.  As we gather, our greetings and conversations move us from being friends and family toward being fellow worshipers.  The progression begins as we enter the sanctuary.  It develops as the prelude music and the entrance of the choir and pastor focus our attention away from the matters that we brought with us into the sanctuary and toward the Lord whom we meet there.  After sharing announcements, the lighting of the candles represent for us the flame of the Spirit among us, so we may be even more fully aware of his presence.

When we recognize God’s presence, our first response is thanksgiving and praise.  With our opening hymn, we offer to God the honor and glory we know he deserves.  Our second response is an awareness that our sinfulness and brokenness render us unworthy to be in the presence of the Holy One.  We express this by confessing our sin to one another and to him.  Words from Scripture that proclaim his love and forgiveness not only assure us of God’s desire to be with us, but prompt even more praise to God, in the form of the “Gloria Patri” song and the choir anthem.

We are now ready not only to be in God’s presence but to listen to him.  We hear him in the reading of Scripture and then, by the working of the Holy Spirit, consider through the sermon how these ancient words continue to guide, challenge, comfort, and encourage us where we find ourselves today.  Following the sermon, we share a hymn to reinforce God’s message and to inspire us in our response to it.

It is not enough simply to hear God’s message: the hearing causes us to act.  Having heard God’s message to us, we lift up to him our prayers to thank him for how we have seen his grace in our lives, and to seek his favor for those in difficult circumstances.  Next, the offering is more than collecting money to finance the church’s ministry.  It symbolizes and expresses our willingness to offer all that we are and all that we have to the Lord whom we have encountered in worship.

We cannot stay in the Lord’s presence forever; he calls us to go into his world to proclaim his grace in word and in deed.  Our declaration of faith with the Apostles’ Creed reminds us of the message we carry with us.  The benediction (literally the “good word”) includes words of praise for the God whom we serve, a blessing in God’s name, a charge (or direction and instruction) to guide how we live our faith, or a combination of these.  The benediction ends with a reminder of God’s specific call for our congregation and its members: to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  Our worship concludes as the candles are extinguished, to remind us that the Holy Spirit leaves with us to equip and guide us through the week, and with a final song to express our commitment to God.