Reformed Worship

Rooted in Calvinism and in a strong confessionalism, Reformed churches are being shaped significantly by liturgical and charismatic trends. Although these influences are creating tension and upheaval, the RCA is attempting to deal constructively with change.

The Basic Pattern The Approach to God. The congregation approaches God through the following: Votum While the word votum is peculiar to the liturgy of the Reformed church in America, its content is Psalm 124:8. The votum begins worship by announcing who God is and who we are: "Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." A Latin word, votum means "desire," in this context meaning the desire of the congregation that its whole life is to be lived in the acknowledgment of God's help. The people affirm this to be true with a vocal Amen. Sentences The sentences continue the approach with scriptural words setting the tone of the service. When used responsively, they enable the congregation to be immediately participant. Salutation The salutation is given by the minister on behalf of Christ, reminding us that he is in our midst, bringing grace, mercy, and peace. The colloquial "good morning" or "hello" are tawdry substitutes for the biblical salutations bearing the fruits of our redemption in Christ's precious blood and as such are both inadequate and inappropriate. The salutation is to be delivered in joy and love. Hymn The hymn is the congregation's outburst of praise in light of Christ's grace, mercy, and peace. Prayer of Confession In the medieval church people went to confession before going to church—at least when they partook of the sacrament. In many Reformation churches the service began with confession. While entering the gates of the Lord with praise, we are quick to acknowledge who we are, sinners in need of forgiveness, and thus we together confess our sin. The Reformation renewed the awareness of the corporate nature of sin. Thus it is highly appropriate that we make corporate confession. Some congregations also allow a time for silent, personal confession. Kyrie The Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy), while usually sung as a reiteration of confession, in its original sense was a declaration of the power of the Lord to grant mercy. Its prevalence throughout the church is such that it retains its Greek title. Assurance of Pardon The assurance of pardon is made by the minister in his office as Christ's representative. It is made in the words of Scripture, emphasizing the fact that it is not by human power, but by the power and promises of God that sin is forgiven. The Law of God The Law of God in this position in the liturgy is one of the contributions of the Reformed to the church. Calvin emphasized that the third use of the law was as a guide to Christian living. And in the Heidelberg Catechism the law is explained in the section on gratitude. We manifest our gratitude to God by living according to his law—thus it is read after the forgiveness of sin, not before. Psalter and Gloria Patri The Psalter and Gloria Patri are a fitting response to this encapsulation of the Christian life in confession, pardon, and law. A hymn of praise by the choir can also take place at this time, although it is better when the whole congregation participates. Word of God in Proclamation and Sacrament The heart of the service is the Word of God in proclamation and sacrament. God's living Word, Christ Jesus, comes to us in both proclamation and sacrament. While in practice most RCA churches do not celebrate the sacrament each Lord's Day, frequency is increasing. For the first time in the history of the RCA, the Lord's Supper is printed in the liturgy as normative for the Sunday service. Prayer for Illumination The prayer for illumination recognizes that it is through Word and Spirit that proclamation will be effective. Hymn Because of the desire to tie together the reading of Scripture and the sermon, it is suggested that the hymn precede the reading of Scripture, although its ancient position in praise for the Scripture is also recognized. Lessons There is presently a shift from reading a single portion of Scripture to reading the lectionary passages from Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel, with appropriate responses of praise by the congregation. Sermon Hopefully the sermon will find its source in one or more of the lections for the day. Lectio continua, preaching consecutively through a book of the Bible, still has some advocates, and it is to be hoped that preaching from the church year is supplanting topical preaching. Prayer for Blessing Prayer for blessing on the proclamation. Confession of Faith Most frequently this is the Apostles' Creed, although the Nicene Creed is growing in favor. The general synod of the RCA has voted to put the filioque clause of the Nicene Creed ("who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]") in brackets to indicate its later insertion into the Creed by the Latin church. At times a question and answer from the Heidelberg Catechism or a portion of "Our Song of Hope" (Worship the Lord, 80–85), a contemporary confession of the RCA, will be used. Peace The peace is given at this time to indicate that we live in peace and forgiveness with one another, even as we have been forgiven. Unfortunately, there are still too many congregations that have a secularized version of the peace in the form of a welcome, greeting, or handshake of friendship. Where the peace is used, the words "The peace of Christ be with you" are accompanied with a smile, handshake, hug, or kiss, as is appropriate and comfortable within the congregation. Offering/Doxology The offering in most congregations is the receiving of monetary gifts, although a few are restoring the ancient practice of also bringing the bread and wine for the Lord's Supper at this time. Often the choir will also do its anthem during or after the offering is received. As the offering is brought forward, the people stand and sing the Doxology. Meaning of the Sacrament/Communion The meaning of the sacrament is then read by the minister, explaining the Lord's Supper as a feast of the remembrance of Christ's passion and our reconciliation; our communion with the risen Christ who is with us always; and our hope in his coming again of which this Communion is a foretaste. Invitation An invitation is given to all who have confessed their faith in Christ and are members of a Christian church to come to the Lord's Table. Communion Prayer The Communion prayer precedes the fraction and delivery, wherein thanks are given for the gifts of Creation and redemption, and the congregation responds with the words of the Trisagion of Isaiah, the heavenly hosts of Revelation, and the crowds at the Triumphal Entry. There follows the prayer for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that the bread and wine may indeed become for us the communion of the body and blood of Christ. Communion The Communion includes the biblical words of institution at the fracture. Delivery is most frequently done by taking bread already broken (cubed) and little cups of grape juice to the people in their pews. In some churches people are invited to come forward to stand or sit about the table to receive the elements. In such churches a loaf and common cup with wine are frequently used. The Response to God Thanksgiving after Communion Intercessions and Lord's Prayer Hymn Benediction Response to God. Having completed that portion of the service where we have received the word of God in proclamation and sacrament, it is concluded by our response to God, in which there is first a thanksgiving, frequently Psalm 103 with additions. Then follow prayers of intercession for the congregation, church, and world, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, after which a hymn of thanksgiving is sung. The minister on behalf of Christ gives to the congregation a biblical benediction. Baptism When the sacrament of baptism is celebrated, it is always done as a part of a service of worship with the entire congregation present. Sprinkling, pouring, or immersion are all used, albeit sprinkling is by far the most common gesture. The liturgical action of baptism has not yet begun to catch up with our theology of baptism, which is probably why baptism is so undervalued among the laity. While as recently as 1968 the recommended place in the service for baptism was after the offering and doxology as a response to the Word proclaimed and in positional parallel with the Lord's Supper, more recently a place in the service of approach has been advocated as symbolic of our entry into the church. The liturgy for baptism is then used instead of the confession, pardon, and law sequence, equivalents of which are a part of the liturgy for baptism. Liturgical renewal continues within the Reformed Church in America with the goal of preserving that which was best in the Reformation while recovering those elements of practice which have nurtured the church catholic, and which Calvin sought in and described as "The Form of Church Prayers … According to the Custom of the Ancient Church."