Contents
WORSHIP
What is Worship?
Christian worship at Trinity joyfully gives all praise and honor, glory and power to the triune God (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit). In worship we acknowledge that God is present in the world and in our lives. We celebrate God’s faithfulness to us. We do so through songs, hymns, prayers, sacraments, giving gifts, and learning from a message given by the pastor based on a passage in the Bible. As we respond to God’s claim and redemptive action in Jesus Christ, we are transformed and renewed. In worship we offer ourselves to God and are equipped for God’s service in the world. That’s why at Trinity we say “enter to praise, leave to serve”.
What do You Worship?
What are Sacraments?
The early Church, following Jesus, took three primary material elements of life — water, bread, and wine — to become basic symbols of offering life to God as Jesus had offered his life. Being washed with the water of Baptism, Christians received new life in Christ and presented their bodies to be living sacrifices to God. Eating bread and drinking wine they received the sustaining presence of Christ, remembered God’s covenant promise, and pledged their obedience anew.
The Reformed tradition understands Baptism and Communion to be Sacraments, instituted by God and commended by Christ. Sacraments are signs of the real presence and power of Christ in the Church, symbols of God’s action. Through the Sacraments, God seals believers in redemption, renews their identity as the people of God, and marks them for service.
Frequently asked questions
This frequently asked questions section seeks to demystify some of the basics of Reformed liturgical practice so that we may attend to the deeper mysteries of Christian worship.
Order of Worship
- What is the order or shape of worship? What are the primary actions?
- Why do we have a confession of sin in worship?
Planning & Leadership
- Who is responsible for planning worship?
- Should Reformed worship be traditional, contemporary or blended?
Christian Year
- What are the liturgical seasons?
- Why does the planning calendar call May 25, 2008, the “8th Sunday in Ordinary Time” when there are no references to Ordinary Time in the previous weeks?
- Why is there a 50-day season of Easter?
The Word in Worship
- What is the lectionary? How do we use it?
- Do we need to include all the readings?
- Should there be a children’s sermon or other special worship activities for children?
Sacraments: Baptism
Sacraments: Lord’s Supper
- It is an altar or a table?
- Is it the Lord’s Supper, Eucharist or Communion?
- What is the proper method for the distribution of the elements in Communion?
- What is the Great Thanksgiving?
- How should we dispose of the Communion elements?
- Won’t more frequent celebrations of the Lord’s Supper make our worship services longer?
- What kind of Communion bread should we use?
- What items belong on the Communion table?
Pastoral Rites & Special Services
- What is a service of wholeness and healing?
- How do we acknowledge a civil marriage in worship?
- Should the casket be open or closed?
- How do we use oil in services of wholeness and healing?
Signs & Symbols
- What are the guidelines for the use of liturgical colors?
- What is the significance of the various clerical garments?
- Is it appropriate to have flags in worship?
- What is the history and use of the Advent wreath?
- What is the Paschal candle? When and how do we use it?
- Why is the seashell a symbol of baptism?
- What does “IHS” mean?
- What is the symbolism of palm branches?
Music, Art, & Worship Space
- What’s the difference between liturgical art and idolatry?
- Are there guidelines for what kinds of music are appropriate in Presbyterian worship?
- What should we take into consideration when arranging our worship space?
