The MalaBLOG » covenant http://blog.twoagespilgrims.com The Pilgrim Life of the Malabuyos Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:13:16 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Our Worship http://blog.twoagespilgrims.com/2009/02/16/our-worship/ http://blog.twoagespilgrims.com/2009/02/16/our-worship/#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:57:20 +0000 Nollie http://blog.twoagespilgrims.com/?p=613 genevanpsalter_t1

When God’s people assemble together each Lord’s Day, they hear his wondrous works of creation and redemption, and glorify him alone in their songs, prayers and promises of thankful obedience. Because God alone is to be glorified in worship, our worship services are God-centered and based on these principles:

Worship must be Biblical. We may do that and only that in worship which is required explicitly or implicitly in God’s Word.

Worship must be historical. We believe that the ancient and Reformed worship liturgies that we follow in our worship services reflect patterns of worship in Scripture.

Worship must be both reverential and joyful. God is a God of order and splendor, and as such, he is to be worshiped with an attitude of reverence and joy.

Worship must be covenantal, dialogical and liturgical. Because our corporate worship service is also a renewal of our covenant with God, our worship service is ordered as a dialogue between God and His assembled people: God speaks to us, and we respond with prayer, singing, thanksgiving and vows.

This is why we have a well thought out liturgical order of service designed to reflect the above principles:

God Speaks
The People Respond
Called to Worship
Call to Worship (God calls us into his own presence.) Psalm 95:6-11
Invocation (We confess that our help is in the name of the Lord, Creator of
the universe)		 Psalm 124:8
Salutation (God greets us with grace, mercy and peace.) Ephesians 1:1-2
Opening Prayer (We ask God to bless us and be with us during the service.)
Song of Praise “O Come Before the Lord” #183:1-3

Confession of Sin
Reading of the Law (The Law teaches us of our sin, drives us to Christ for our salvation, and is our guide to thankful obedience for such a great salvation.) Exodus 20:1-17;
Matthew 22:37-40
General Confession (Knowing that we always fall short of God’s holy standard, we confess our sin.)
Assurance of Pardon (With words from Scripture, God declares to all who have confessed their sins, believe in Christ, and put their faith in Him alone, that they are forgiven of all their sins, are clothed with Christ’s righteousness, and are justified by God.) Psalm 78:37-38
Response of Gratitude
The Creed (Together, we recite an ecumenical creed as we continue to thank God for bringing us into his universal Kingdom. Apostles’ Creed or Nicene Creed
Song of Thanksgiving “O Give the Lord Wholehearted Praise” #211:4, 6, 7
Offerings (We respond to the gift of salvation with gifts from our abundance, giving to God a portion of what rightfully belongs to Him.)
Congressional Prayer (The pastor prays to God on behalf of the congregation. We can now approach our Father’s throne boldly knowing that our sins are forgiven and that Christ, our Advocate, is seated at His right hand.)
Service of the Word
Scripture Readings Numbers 1:1; 14:28-30; 26:64-65; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 3:1-19
(We heed Paul’s command to read God’s Word in the hearing of the whole congregation.)
 Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
Song of Preparation “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart”
(We prepare to hear God’s Word preached with a song appropriately related to the sermon.)		 #409:1, 3, 4
Sermon
(Ends in
Closing Prayer)		 God and His People In the Wilderness
(The preaching of Christ and Him crucified is central in our worship. Here God proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us
by His Spirit through His messenger, the preacher. This is the
primary way God imparts grace. The Spirit works in preaching to either create faith, confirm faith, or convict an unbeliever.)
Leaving to Serve
Congregational Response “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
(We respond to the Word with a song consecrating ourselves to a life of obedience to Christ.)		 #407:all
Benediction (God assures us that we leave under His blessing, protection, grace and peace.) Numbers 6:24-25
Doxology “Now Blessed Be Jehovah God”
(We unite our voices in praise and adoration one final time
before God dismisses us.)		 #488:all
Amen! “Three-Fold Amen”
(We sing a song of assent to all that we heard, said, prayed and sang during the service.)
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