Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1995 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1535 . Family religion should recognize that God is Lord of all of life. Thiswill include thanksgiving for God's provisions, and prayer for His blessings onall of the activities of the family.777!? Church at Worship6. Divine worship must be in spirit and in truth. 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 in expressingher joy, adoration and praise of God the Father, God the Son and God theHoly Spirit.7. From the resurrection 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 public covenanting.8. Sanctification of the Day requires preparation beforehand and diligentattendance upon the ordinances of public worship, unless providentiallyhindered. The Lord's Day may be further observed by personal Bible readingand study, instructing and catechizing the children in the home, familyworship, and visiting the sick.9. No unchangeable order of corporate worship should be established bythe church, but the following elements are ScripturaUy authorized: call toworship, praise, corporate confession of faith, prayer, the presentation ofofferings, the reading of Scripture, preaching the Word, the sacraments andthe benediction.10. 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 facilities which contributetoward the worship of our holy God.Chapter 2: THE PARTS OF PUBLIC WORSHIP1. The Scriptures do not prescribe an order of worship. The following isa suggested order for congregational Sabbath-morning worship: call toworship; singing of a Psalm; prayer of adoration; the reading of a Psalm andits explanation; singing the Psalm; receiving of tithes and offerings; reading ofScripture; preaching the Word; prayer; singing a Psalm; and the Benediction.The order of these parts may be varied, and every public worship serviceneed not include all these elements. Small-group, family, and individualworship will be simpler.Welcome and announcements2. The pastor or the one presiding may appropriately welcome thecongregation to worship, in the name of Jesus Christ.