CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
LITURGY
ABOUT OUR LITURGY
Although our liturgy may vary from service to service, below is the
general outline of a typical worship service at First Artesia:
*Please note: In between sections of the liturgy, the congregation typically sings a hymn together. The lyrics of the hymn will be displayed on the screen in the front of the Sanctuary for your convenience.
The pastor will invite the congregation to stand as we sing songs of praise to God.
Please note: Our two services are not the same. In the reformed faith, we believe in upholding the 4th Commandment, which calls us to keep the Sabbath holy. We do that by beginning and ending our day in worship. Ideally, this means members are attending both services, so each service is unique in its liturgy and sermon. But don’t feel bad if you are unable to make it to both services. We understand life can get busy! Each service typically lasts around 75 minutes.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
1. Call to Worship
Where the congregation is asked to stand (if able) while the pastor reads a portion of scripture which reflects the work of God in calling His people to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. The pastor will then lead the congregation through a prayer, asking God to prepare our hearts for worship.
2. Adoration
Having been called to God, we are blessed with the privilege of standing in His presence, we are exposed to His glory and holiness. God is so almighty and righteous, that the only reasonable response is to reverently adore and worship. A portion of Scripture is read by the pastor which describes the majesty of God.
3. Confession
Having been exposed to God’s holiness and righteousness, we now come to realize our own sinfulness and wickedness. Our uncleanliness before God should make us repentant of our shortcomings and the Holy Spirit dwelling within us compels us to confess our sins. The pastor will then read a portion of Scripture highlighting the need to repent of our sins before God. A moment of silence is observed where we are to silently confess our sins to God. The pastor ends the moment of silence by praying out loud for the forgiveness of our sins.
4. Assurance of Pardon
Because God is also perfectly merciful and gracious, He does not hold on to the sins and transgressions of those who are in Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ fully and once and for all paid the penalty of our sins upon the Cross, and because of that we have assurance of our pardon and our justification before God. The pastor reads a portion of Scripture reminding us of God’s love and forgiveness.
5. Reading of the Law
God instituted His Law, not in order to save us by our works, but to reveal to us our own inability to obey Him and to live perfectly. The Law shows us our desperate need for a Savior, that being the Lord Jesus Christ, truly God and truly Man. A portion of the Law is read to the congregation as a reminder of our need for Christ and as direction for how we should live. At First Artesia, we also subscribe to Ecumenical Creeds and Reformed Confessions. Frequently, our liturgy will include a “Responsive Reading” where one of these documents will be recited by the congregation. The reading will be put on the screen for your convenience.
6. Pass the Peace
In the spirit of our new life in Christ and unity with His Bride, the Church, we take an opportunity to great our neighbors, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
7. Supplication
Having now been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, our sins being wiped away, we are now worthy to enter the special presence of God and present to Him our prayers for supplication. During this portion, the pastor will lead the congregation as they pray for congregational needs (sick individuals) as well as prayers in response to societal issues and events.
8. Proclamation
This is the main hub of Reformed worship, the Word of God. The Word of God is the Bible, but the Bible also says that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-4). So, when we read the Bible and hear it preached faithfully, we are hearing Jesus Christ speak to us. This is the most important part of the liturgy—when God speaks to us, through His Son, in His Word, by the spiritual working of His Holy Spirit. In faithful preaching, we encounter God in a special way.
The Bible is also our sole, infallible authority as Christians. All doctrines of faith and tradition must be rooted firstly in Scripture. During this portion, the pastor will read the Scripture for the service and then preach a sermon exhorting on the message and meaning within. The congregation is invited to stand (if able) for the reading of the Word. Once the Word has been read, pastor will say: “This is the Word of the Lord.” And the Congregation responds with, “Thanks Be to God.” And is instructed to take their seats.
9. Communion (First Sunday of the Month)
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is an important part of the Christian’s faith. Through this sacrament, we publicly profess the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, that His Body was broken for us and His blood shed for us. By participating in this truth, we receive by faith, through the Holy Spirit, the true body and blood of the Lord, and with it the grace of His riches. During the sacrament, the Church Elders will distribute the elements to the congregation, beginning with the back row of pews and moving forward. The Elders will first distribute the bread, then after partaking, will distribute the wine. When the dish containing the elements reaches you, if you are a repentant, baptized, and professing Christian, you are invited to receive the element and pass the dish along to the person next to you. In this way, we as a congregation are united in participating of the sacrament, rather than just individuals who are consuming at the same time. Once all members of the congregation receive the element in their hands, the pastor will recite the significance of the element and instruct the congregation to partake. This process is repeated for the wine, followed by a concluding prayer. In the Reformed Tradition, we believe in a true, spiritual presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the bread and wine.
10. Commission
Having been called to God, repented of our sins, received the assurance of pardon, and hearing the proclamation of the Gospel, we are now commissioned to enter the world, having been transformed by God’s grace. We are to be faithful witnesses of the truth of the Gospel, proclaiming it to all the nations and making disciples of Christ.
11. Benediction
Benediction—The service concludes with the pastor giving a benediction, a prayer of blessing that we can be empowered by God to be His servants in the world to build up His Kingdom and bear witness to the majesty of Jesus Christ. The congregation then sings one final parting hymn and the pastor ends the service by saying: “Peace be with you” and the congregation responds with: “And also with you”
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Worship is Every Sunday at 9:30 am & 6:00 pm
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18411 Alburtis Ave, Artesia, California, 90701
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CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Copyright © First Artesia Christian Reformed Church
18411 Alburtis Ave, Artesia, California, 90701
Email Us | Phone: 562-865-4947
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