Desert Springs - Elements of Worship

Elements of Our Worship

• Prelude Normally instrumental music intended to heighten our sense of anticipation of entering the presence of God in worship. The Scriptures teach us that music often soothes a troubled mind and a weary soul.

• Welcome & Passing of the Peace This is done before the service begins. The pastor greets the worshipers and helps them to focus their attention on our church family and new faces. Having this before worship begins also ensures that worship flows in an uninterrupted fashion.

God's Exaltation

• Call to Worship God reveals himself, through the pastor, by verbal summons of his people to gather into his presence.

• Opening Hymn/Psalm A hymn of praise that should be viewed as our procession up into the heavenly city escorted by the Holy Spirit and led by Christ.

• Invocation God has called us to himself, and going up to meet him, we have sung his praises. This, the first prayer of the service, acknowledges that our God has gathered us once again into his presence, that we have come to him through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and that we are in need of the Spirit to stir our hearts and focus us upon the worthiness and majesty of the Triune God.

God's Reformation

• Confession of Sin We come as those who have seen the ongoing realities of sin in our lives. We rightly confess our sin of unbelief and the sins which flow from it. We come not with fear but with grief that all our sins past, present and future brought about our Savior’s death and with the anticipation that as we confess our sins he will be faithful and just to forgive our sins.

• Assurance of Forgiveness and Comfort This is a reminder to the people from God (spoken by the minister) that He loves, forgives, hears, and responds to his people. We have an Advocate in heaven, Jesus, in whose name we pray, who lives forever to make intercession for his people (Hebrews 7:25).

• Hymn of Response This is a hymn sung in grateful response to our ever faithful and righteous God who has not put out the smoldering wick or broken off the bruised reed but rather delights to save and renew his people for his own glory and praise.

• Confession of Faith Having confessed our status as sinners before God and having heard his assurance of forgiveness and comfort we confess our allegiance to Him. Just as our forefathers in Ancient Israel reaffirmed their commitment to the One True God while surrounded by the nations, so we, as those who have been gathered from the nations, reaffirm our faith in the God who has redeemed us.

God's Grace

• Morning Prayer God has spoken to us. The dialogue continues as we speak to God, through the Pastor or another Elder, expressing our corporate praises and needs.

• Scripture Reading God speaks to his people. We read from the Old and New Testaments to remind us that all of worship stands under the authority of Scripture which is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

• Hymn or Psalm of Preparation We sing with quieted anticipation of hearing Christ speak to his bride.

• Tithes and Offerings This element of worship is a symbol of our response to the grace of God. All that we are and all that we have belong to Him, and we give freely because we have received freely. We sing in praise of God for having provided us with all that is necessary for life and godliness.

• Doxology Literally, “words of glory.” We offer glory to the triune God through our praise of Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• Prayer of Illumination This prayer preceding the sermon is a plea that God the Holy Spirit would do in our hearts what Jesus did for the disciples on the road to Emmaus. He caused their hearts to burn within them as He explained the Scriptures. We ask God that what He has previously inspired He would now illumine to us.

• The Sermon We hear Christ speak to his people through his servant, the Pastor. The Lord has provided the “wood” of his Word and The Holy Spirit comes bringing “fire” so that the Pastor and the people might have their hearts ignited and purified by the Word. This is where the power of Christ and of his Gospel should be proclaimed and heard. Not just declaration but application is essential for preaching to be truly biblical.

• Prayer of Preparation We prepare to feast with and upon the Savior.

• Invitation to The Lord’s Table This is an opportunity for all of us to seek the Lord. Communion is an occasion for all baptized Christians to meet with their Savior by faith, to be strengthened and renewed by him, and celebrate him. All who trust alone in Christ as Savior and Lord, belong to a church that embraces the Gospel, are at peace with their neighbor, and seek strength to live more faithfully, are welcome to participate. If you are not a Christian, or you choose not to share in this meal, we invite you to spend this time in prayer (see prayers below). A Word to Parents: Children are invited to receive communion. To receive communion, a child must have been baptized and been formally received as a communing member by the Session of this church or the governing body of the church to which you belong. (Note: we use wine in Communion but grape juice is provided in the outer ring of each tray.)

• Hymn of Celebration We gather around the table of the Lord to celebrate and savor and remember the work of Christ for us and to anticipate and taste the reality and fullness of his return to claim his bride.

• The Communion “Christ is uniquely present at His table. Here we enjoy “communion” with Him, and therefore receive His grace in a way unlike that which we receive at any other point in the life of the church. Here our souls are fed. Here we find refreshment. Here we are renewed and strengthened. Here we “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood” (Jn 6:35). By this sacrament ‘Christ and all His benefits, are applied and sealed up unto us.’ Here we find ‘medicine for poor sick souls.’” (Leading in Worship, 59)

God's Blessing

• Hymn of Hope We go into the world with the praise of Christ on our lips, there to serve Him and represent his grace to those in need.

• Benediction God pronounces his blessing upon his people and reassures them that He will be with them throughout their days. We lift up our heads and our hands to receive the blessings which our heavenly Father delights to pour out upon us. This is an element found throughout the Scriptures. Numbers 6:24, II Corinthians 13:14, II Peter 3:18 are some examples.

• Postlude Music played in a joyous, celebratory spirit to encourage us as the Lord’s people to go into the world to extend the Glory of God in Christ into Tucson and beyond!

Questions Often Asked

1. Why do we confess? Since ancient times, the people of God have shown their penitence and humility before God, acknowledging that we are under his authority and direction and proclaiming to a watching world their allegiance to God because of his calling and uniting them to himself.

2. What are the colored cloths, candles and hangings in the front of the Church, and why do they change? There are many calendars in this world, but the Historic and Ancient Christian Church consecrates the cyclical passing of earthly seasons with the great events in our Lord’s life and kingdom (Incarnation or Christmas, Epiphany, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost, Reformation Sunday/All Saints Day). Thus, the Liturgical colors have an instructive purpose and point us to the life of Christ and the great acts of redemptive history. The five most commonly used colors are as follows:

White which represents glory, purity, and blessing and is used for festivals of the Lord Jesus, primarily Incarnation, Epiphany, Resurrection, and Ascension.

Dark Blue which represents royalty and anticipation of the coming of our Savior and King, Immanuel “God with us”. It is used during the time known as Advent which leads up to Incarnation Sunday.

Purple which represents royalty, repentance, and even suffering. It is used during Lent which is the time leading up to the celebration of the Resurrection.

Red which represents the fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, it signifies the blood of Christ on Maundy Thursday, and it signifies the blood of the martyrs for Reformation Sunday/All Saints Day.