"So
you're interested in our. . .
Worship Life"
Definition
of Reformed Worship
A Definition of reformed
worship insists on three elements that must always be present in our
understanding of worship:
1. Worship is a corporate meeting between God and His people.
2. Worship is convened by God and is at His
gracious invitation.
3. Worship should give praise to God and blessing to His people.
The simplicity
and beauty of such a definition of reformed worship provides the most basic
guideline by which we must always evaluate our worship life.
Our Commitment
Hillcrest
Christian Reformed Church has committed itself to gather"...to express our
awe, gratitude, and praise to our Lord, to celebrate God's presence in our
lives, and to be taught and led through inspired Scriptural preaching."
Principles of Worship
1. Because worship is a "meeting between God and His
people", the primary emphasis in worship must be on the vertical
dimension (God - Worshiper). The horizontal dimension (Worshiper - Worshiper) is to be
clearly secondary.
2. Since reformed worship assumes an
established relationship between God and the worshipers, it has a restricted
purpose. Its primary purpose is to
strengthen and edify believers of all ages, with evangelism as a secondary
focus. In those situations where
evangelism is to be the primary focus, a different format will be needed.
3. Worship should be understood as an
activity presented to God for His glory.
We should avoid the impression that worshipers are to be
entertained. Those individuals and
groups that participate in worship leadership should carefully avoid giving the
impression that a "performance" is being presented for the enjoyment
of an audience.
4. The essential elements of worship
are song, prayer, offering,
proclamation, and sacraments; and they should be coordinated well and
carefully integrated so that the worship service is consistent in purpose and
spirit.
5. The content and message of all
elements of worship should be consistent with Biblical truth and Reformed
faith.
6. Music is one of the primary
vehicles for worship-praise and should have a prominent role in the worship
life of the congregation.
Putting It into Practice:
1. Since those who are familiar with
the life of our congregation are able to lead us best, the participants in
worship leadership should generally be members of Hillcrest CRC. Whenever others are included, there
must be careful integration and coordination.
2. The purpose of all participants,
whether persons or groups, shall not be that of doing the worshiping for others
but of leading others to worship more meaningfully.
3. It is appropriate to include lay
members of all ages in leading the whole community in its worshiping. All who lead in worship must be
prepared well, integrated carefully, and competent to lead according to their
developmental level.
4. Music is the offering and response
by the worshipers in a given situation and location. It evokes a spontaneous response out of a specific moment in
worship and, therefore, it should be live. Those requiring amplified sound should use the church's
sound system.
5. The use of appropriate visual aids in
the sanctuary is encouraged for the purpose of enhancing the spirit of a
worshipful atmosphere and directing the hearts and minds of the worshipers.
6. The use of drama is appropriate, not as
a production/performance but as a helpful aid to the corporate meeting between
God and His people.
7. The primary responsibility for planning
the worship services shall be that of the Senior Pastor and the Director of
Music in consultation with the Worship Committee and the Elders. All other worship leaders shall serve
under their direction.
8. All those who serve in worship service
support capacities (such as sound, custodian, ushers, etc.) shall carry out
their tasks carefully and responsibly to aid in meaningful worship.
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Last updated: September, 2003