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Anatomy of a Worship Service
Why do we do what we do in a worship service?
Call to Worship: We worship/honour God by responding to his invitation to us to gather in his name as we listen to a Scripture that directs us to look at God and praise Him for who He is.
Songs of Praise: We worship/honour God by focusing on His character and expressing our adoration and praise through music. Feel free to sit, stand or clap as you feel comfortable. (Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!)
Prayer of Confession: We worship/honour God by acknowledging our sin (living independently of God in our thoughts, words and actions) -- both our failures and our self-righteous efforts. We equally confess and receive the righteousness of Christ on our behalf. (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins)
Songs of Assurance: We worship/honour God by singing and rejoicing in the forgiveness and restoration we receive because of Jesus' blood shed as payment for our sin.
Scripture Speaks: We worship/honour God by reading His Word and hearing from Him through Scripture (All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness)
Prayer for the Church in the City: We worship/honour God by asking God to strengthen his people and send them out into the city. We ask for his leadership and lordship to to come more fully in our city and world.
Giving of Gifts: We worship/honour God by recognizing that all we have is a gift from God. We express our gratitude and demonstrate our trust in his continued provision by offering, in faith, our financial gifts back to him. If you are a visitor, please do not feel obliged, though you are welcome to participate if you so choose.
Baptism: We worship/honour God by baptizing new Christians and "covenant" children. This sacrament is an admission of the visible church. It is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace. Baptism signifies the engrafting of the person of Christ, the washing away of the person's sins, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the one baptized.
Receiving of New Members: We worship/honour God by welcoming people who identify themselves officially as a part of the local body of believers at Grace Vancouver Church and see themselves as a representative of it.
Community Update: We worship/honour God by hearing how God is working in the city and considering how we may enjoy his work, participate, support and pray for it.
Sermon - God's Word Today: We worship/honour God by hearing and applying God's truth to us today. We are strengthened in faith and understanding of who God is and how he would have us live in our city and world in the light of the gospel and Jesus' power to change hearts and lives.
Communion (The Lord's Supper): We worship/honour God by remembering the sacrifice of Christ by sharing a family meal for Christians. We draw spiritual nourishment by taking the bread and cup as a symbol of Christ's body broken and blood shed for us, in pledge of our communion with him and with each other as members of Christ's body.
We invite all who belong to Jesus Christ by faith to partake in this sacrament: those who are baptized members of a congregation that proclaims the gospel, who are at peace with God and their neighbour, and who seek strength to live in a deeper communion with Jesus.
If you are a believer struggling with doubt, we especially encourage you to come to the table. If you are not a Christian, or you are not prepared to share in this meal, we are glad you are here and we encourage you to spend this time in prayer and reflection expressing your heart honestly to God simply as you are. We hope this time is of real benefit to you as you reflect on your relationship with Christ and with his people, the church.
At Grace Vancouver communion is given at the front, where you are invited to come, dip a piece of bread in the wine (dealcoholized wine also available) and take a moment of reflection.
Song of Response: We worship/honour God by rejoicing in God's love again and commit ourselves to his service.
Benediction: We worship/honour God by receiving a closing blessing for the strengthening of his church.
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