While all Christian life is worship (Romans 12:1), we are called specifically to regular assembled worship as Christ’s church (Hebrews 10:25). As our Lord resurrected on the first day of the week, we gather every Sunday. Covenant Presbyterian Church assembles in Fort Smith for Lord’s Day worship at 10:30 a.m.
Our worship service is, in essence, a covenant renewal ceremony in which the covenant community assembles to hear the covenant promises, which have been secured for us by Christ, and respond in faith. The congregation is not a passive spectator but an active participant in the worship service.
Liturgical Worship
Drawing from our Presbyterian heritage and the historic Reformed tradition, our worship service follows an intentional liturgy focused on Word, sacrament, and prayer, typically using the following outline:
Prelude
Prior to the start of the service, a musical piece is played for reflection and preparation.
Call to Worship
The purpose of the church’s assembly is singular: worship. And so, the worship service commences with a congregational call to meet with the living God whom we have assembled to worship.
Singing unto the Lord
We are commanded to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs together, making melody to the Lord from the heart (Ephesians 5:19). We understand these to be sung prayers, and therefore, the content is intentionally reverent and God-glorifying. Historic doxologies, such as the Gloria Patri, are also included in the service.
Scripture Reading
Since we are to devote ourselves to the public reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13), reading from the Old and New Testament is given a prominent place in the worship service. It is typically connected thematically to the sermon text.
Prayer
Throughout the worship service, we pray together as a congregation with various prayers led by our elders, deacons, and minister, including corporately reciting the Lord’s Prayer from the Gospel of Matthew.
Confession of Sin & Assurance of Pardon
As we are called to confess our sins (1 John 1:9) and to confess our sins one to another (James 5:16), we use Scripture to lead us in confessing our sins corporately and privately. We then confess the gospel truth of forgiveness of our sins through faith in Christ alone.
Affirmation of Faith
Using the historic Christian creeds, confessions, or catechisms, we confess corporately the essentials of the Christian faith.
Collection of Titles & Offerings
We believe that regular and spontaneous giving is an activity of worship and, therefore, is included in the worship service. As the Lord provides for our every need, we give joyfully, gratefully, and sacrificially out of what he has given us, knowing that everything we have ultimately belongs to the Lord (Malachi 3:10).
Choral
Our chancel choir sings anthems that lead us to contemplate and worship God.
Sermon
Our minister typically preaches through books of the Bible, although some sermons will be topical depending upon the church calendar. Sermons are expositional in structure and are intended to unfold and apply the eternal Word of God.
Benediction
Benediction literally means “good word” and is taken from Scripture to give a concluding blessing to the service. While the benediction is pronounced, the congregation is encouraged to reverently meditate and rejoice in God’s blessing.
Postlude
At the conclusion of the service, a musical piece is played to encourage the celebration of the gospel and the goodness of Christian fellowship.