Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 169God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Worship is to be offered in harmony wthe Scriptural principle that whatsoever is not commanded in the worshipof God is forbidden. The purpose of the Directory for Worship is to guideGod' s people in giving glory to God as they gather together as families andcongregations. This Directory wUl help God's people through theirworship to acknowledge their commitment to Christ, to grow spiritually,to encourage one another, and to serve Him in the Church and before theworld.2. The covenanted worshipping institutions recognized in God's Wordare (in addition to the individual), the family, the church and the state.Individuals and families should faithfully participate in the regularlyappointed public worship on the Lord's Day.3. From the resunection of Christ, God appointed the first day of theweek, the Christian Sabbath, the Lord's Day, to be devoted to His worship.The session may designate additional times for public worship, for prayer,repentance, thanksgiving, and pubUc covenanting.4. Sanctification of the Day requires diligent attendance upon theordinances of public worship, unless providentially hindered. The Lord'sDay may be further observed by personal Bible reading and study,instructing and catechizing the children in the home, and family worship.5. No unchangeable order of corporate worship should be establishedby the church, but the following elements are ScripturaUy authorized: callto worship, praise, corporate confession of faith, prayer, the presentationof offerings, the reading of Scripture, preaching the Word, the sacramentsand the benediction.6. The public worship of Almighty God should be conducted in dignityand reasonable comfort. Though a dedicated building is not necessary, theworshipping congregation should maintain suitable facUities which contributetoward the worship of our holy God.7. Divine worship must be in spirit and in tmth. Worshipers who enterthe house of God come into the presence of Him who is infinite and eternal.From the Call to Worship to the Benediction, the public and corporateworship of God should proclaim the church as one body united inexpressing her joy, adoration and praise of God the Father, God the Sonand God the Holy Spirit.CHAPTER 2THE PARTS OF PUBLIC WORSHIP1. The Scriptures do not prescribe an order of worship. The followingis a suggested order for congregational Sabbath-moming worship: call toworship; singing of a Psalm; prayer of adoration; the reading of a Psalm