Why do we gather together to worship?
People come to church for different reasons.  Some view church as a big classroom where people come to learn; others view church as a family reunion where people come for fellowship; others view church as a variety show where people come to be entertained and experience good feelings and religious stimulation; and still others view church as a welcome wagon where people gather to be treated nicely.  Each of these aspects is a part of worship, but they miss the main reason for the church and its worship.  What each of these above elements shares in common is that the primary reason for the church and its worship is for individuals to get something.  We believe the primary purpose of the church and its worship is to give something.  We give ourselves, our thoughts, our voices, our actions, our talents, our speech and our hearts to God in praise and thanksgiving. 

Psalm 29 teaches us that the primary goal of worship is to “ascribe”.  In worship we gather together and ascribe value and worth to God.  The word “worship” comes from (the idea of expressing) worthship.  Worship then is giving God His worth.  It is to see and understand God’s worth and then declare His worthiness with our hearts, minds and bodies.  In worship we ponder God’s worth and then do something about it.   It is the active work of declaring the greatness of our God.  

God has called us to be worshippers, and in worship God and his people meet.  But worshippers also give and receive from one another as well.  The presence of people is absolutely essential to Biblical worship.  It is part of the reason we meet together instead of merely listening to the radio or T.V. 

What Should You Expect at Our Worship Service?
As you worship with our church family, you will not be embarrassed or tricked into something unexpected.  We will normally follow an order of worship that is carefully planned, but we will also be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our service. 

Worship involves two basic elements:  God addressing us and our response to Him.  God addresses us through the Scripture and in the preaching of the Word.  The people respond with adoration, reception, thanksgiving, prayer, confession, singing, lifting of hands, affirmation, etc.  

God’s Address To Us:
God addresses us primarily through the reading of His Word, the preaching of the Word and the Sacraments (Communion and Baptism).  Our worship service will be reflective of what God is saying to us.  Each Sunday the sermon will be based on a passage or text of the Bible.  This passage of Scripture will serve as our guide for the theme of the service.  You will notice in your worship program a section called “theme”.  The theme is derived from Biblical text and specifies the aspect of God’s work or character which will be the focus of our worship on that day.  Look for the theme throughout the worship service: in the songs, prayers, readings, sermon, etc. 

Our Response To God:
During our time of worship we are called to respond to God’s work on our behalf and to His Word.  Too easily our seats become places where spectators sit to enjoy performances by others.  The Bible knows nothing of such a passive dimension in worshipping God.  To “ascribe” is an active verb, calling each person to be active in worship.  Worship involves the entire congregation in performing for the enjoyment of a divine audience.  Worship is ours to do and to do as well as we can.  Each person who comes here to worship the Lord Jesus Christ is a part of our worship team.  Each person has an instrument to play to the glory of God.  For most that instrument is their voice.  We encourage you to be an active participant in the worship of God not only with your heart and mind, but with your voice as well

Why Do You Read Creeds & Have Responsive Readings?
A creed or catechism is a statement expressing what we believe.  When we sing, the words are given to us and we sing to a tune.  Creeds and catechism are words given to us that we speak in unison.  We read these to express publicly what we believe and because we want our children to hear and to memorize what we believe.  The selected readings are chosen based on the theme of service.

Must I Give Money?
During the worship we will receive an offering. However, we do not ask or expect our guests to give.  In 1 Corinthians 16:2 we read that God’s people brought a portion of their income to the local church.  The offering is an act of worship and it provides an opportunity for those who are a part of this congregation to give of their resources.  Our money is our time, our energy, our work and our sustenance.  By presenting the firstfruits of our increase, we show that God and His local church have priority in our lives. 

What Is Your Worship Style?
Here at Grace Covenant Church our goal is to produce a worship service that reflects joyful reverence.   We desire to stand before our God in worship that is reverent and accurately reflects the respect and awe due to Him.  We also desire to stand before Him with grateful hearts that are full of joy because of His great kindness and mercy towards us.  Our song selection is not primarily based on style, but rather they are chosen to reinforce the theme which is being presented in that service.

One last word to our visitors.  Hospitality is not only a command of the Bible for all of life, it is specifically an aspect of worship.  The Scripture calls us to greet one another.   Our hope is that you receive our hospitality.  We encourage you to be a part of this hospitality by greeting others.