Whether we are sitting in the pews, serving as ushers, or singing in the choir, we gather in the sanctuary as a community of spiritual travelers worshiping God. We sing God’s praise, we hear God’s Word, and we speak and listen to God in prayer. We strengthen our belief even as we struggle with our unbelief. Our worship together reflects our conviction that God is at the center of our lives, and our intention to offer our lives in God’s service.

The Elements of Worship

Worship at the Meeting House is in the Reformed tradition. A Reformed worship service does not follow a fixed liturgy, but orders the elements of worship in a series of movements centered around table, font, and pulpit.

Gathering— With awe and reverence, we come into God’s presence and recognize God’s claim on our lives. We are called to worship in words and music that remind us of God’s majesty, eternity, and gracious intentions toward us.
In the corporate Prayer of Confession, we acknowledge the reality of sin in the church, the world and our personal lives, and ask God for forgiveness and help in amending our lives. The waters of baptism and the Declaration of Pardon assure us that God’s grace in Christ Jesus overcomes our sin. Having thus experienced reconciliation with God, we then seek to be reconciled to one another, exchanging signs of peace during the passing of the peace.

Hearing— The reading of Scripture and its interpretation in a sermon are central to the Reformed worship tradition. The choir anthem and time with the children also seek to interpret God’s Word to us. As we listen for this Word, we open ourselves to be shaped and transformed by it.

Responding— As we hear the good news of God’s love for the world, we are called to respond with acts of faith and commitment. We affirm our faith using one of the church’s historic creeds or statements of faith. In prayer we bring before God the concerns of the congregation, the church and the world, knowing that God is present and active in the world. We commit ourselves anew to living as disciples of Jesus Christ. We also respond thankfully to God through the offering of our material wealth, as a sign of our willingness to work for God’s purposes in the world. The offerings of the people in service to Christ represent a corporate act of self-dedication, and are in intrinsic part of our worship.

Sending— As we sing the closing hymn and are dismissed with a blessing and charge to go into the world to love and serve God, we are reminded that our lives of faith and service do not end in the sanctuary. As we leave, we are called to carry our worship into our daily life and work in the world.

Sacraments

In common with other Protestant traditions, the Presbyterian Church (USA) recognizes two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which were instituted by Christ. In the Sacraments, God’s promises to us are made visible and tangible through the ordinary elements of water, bread and (unfermented) wine and the words and actions that accompany them.

Baptism is a sacrament of Christian initiation. As an individual is cleansed by the waters of Baptism, the whole congregation is reminded of God’s everlasting covenant with us in Jesus Christ. Parents who wish to nurture their children in the Christian faith are encouraged to present them for Baptism. Baptism is the same sacrament for both adults and children: the Presbyterian Church (USA) recognizes all baptisms with water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit administered by other Christian churches.

The Lord’s Supper (also known as the Eucharist or Holy Communion) is the Sacrament of Christian renewal and sustenance. When we come to the Lord’s table, we give thanks for God’s mighty acts of creation and salvation. We remember Christ’s sacrificial death for us, enter into communion with the living Christ and with others of the family of faith, and look forward to the day when God’s reign will be fully realized. The PCUSA observes an “open communion”: all baptized Christians, including children, are invited to share in the Sacrament, recognizing that it “is not a right conferred on the worthy, but a privilege given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance and love” (Directory of Worship, W-2.4011a). At the Meeting House the Lord’s Supper is observed every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. service, and according to the liturgical year at the 11:00 a.m. service.

Children in Worship

Children are an integral part of our life as a worshiping community. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to worship with them; a children’s sermon focusing on one of the Scripture readings for the day is offered at the 11:00 a.m. service each week. On most Sundays, children in grades K-2 may leave the sanctuary after the Time with Children to participate in Godly Play, a special worship program targeted to the needs and understanding of children in the age group.