Overview

The pattern of our Sunday Services follows the pattern of the Bible and the Gospel. The technical name for this pattern is liturgy. We use liturgy to help capture all the senses and draw our attention to God. We do this so that we might grow in love for God and love for our neighbour.

This pattern has four core parts. First, gathering in God’s name. Second, the ministry of the word. Third, the Lord’s Supper. Fourth and finally, the sending out of God’s people. These movements are explained below.

Gathering in God’s name

Our service starts by gathering us in God’s name. We gather to worship God and spend time with His people. We start our service this way because it reminds us of God’s pattern of grace. God came to us first, He made Himself known and He rescued us. As we respond to His grace we grow in love for God and our neighbour.

Ministry of the Word

The Bible is God’s word to us. God makes himself known to us through the Bible. So, the focus of this part is on listening to God’s word. In this part, there are four events that happen:

  • A talk, story, or video aimed at teaching children.
  • Public reading from the Bible. Please follow along in your own Bible.
  • A sermon to encourage, train, and equip us to live as friends of Jesus.
  • A communal statement of faith. We say who God is, what he has done and what he is doing. This is to remind each other and us of our great God.

The Lord’s Supper

This third part of the pattern builds upon the foundation set by the first two. In this part we celebrate the Lord’s supper. This is a simple meal of bread and wine. Yet this meal is not just physical. This meal feeds us spiritually as well. We share this meal with God and with each other. It is more than a symbol. This is lived truth, and it is not to be entered into lightly. Which is why we take care to prepare before we eat a meal with God and each other.

Sending out of God’s people

Our time together finishes in prayer. In prayer we prepare to continue on God’s great mission in our daily lives. We hear again of God’s blessing on lives. For we go out as God’s people on God’s mission to proclaim God’s glory. To share His gospel in word and deed. We go in peace, knowing that in Christ we have been reconciled to God and are a forgiven people. We go to love and serve the Lord with all that we are.