“Oh come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture.”
— Psalm 95:6–7
Six Principles
What is Worship?
Worship is the centerpiece of the corporate Christian life. The following are several principles that guide the worship at Providence Presbyterian Church
01
One
Worship Is an Event
Worship is a gathering of believers with God. Something unique is happening — God is present in a special way, graciously welcoming His children into the joy of His presence.
Psalm 100
02
Two
Worship Is Dialogical
Worship is an exchange between God and His people. God calls us. We respond. We praise and confess, and He speaks to us through His Word.
Psalm 99
03
Three
Worship Extols the Majesty of God
The elements of our worship are chosen to reflect the dignity and majesty of the One we praise. The Word — read, preached, and visible in the sacraments — is central.
Psalm 145
04
Four
Worship Reflects God's Relationship
We are sinners yet remarkably adopted into God’s family. Our worship reminds us of what God has done and of His covenant relationship with His people.
Ephesians 1:3–14
05
Five
Worship Is Christ-Centered
The context for our worship is the God who has reconciled the church to Himself in Christ. The good news that Jesus died for sinners must be made clear throughout.
Colossians 1:15–23
06
Six
Worship Is a Corporate Experience
On the Lord’s Day we worship God together. Corporate confession, congregational singing, and the Word preached bind us as one people before the living God.
Hebrews 10:23–25
Our Worship
Ascending Mount Zion
We take our cues in worship from three Biblical truths: the Creator's majesty and holiness; our sinfulness; and His matchless grace in Christ, which calls us to come and meet with Him.
Holy
Reverence & Awe
God Is Holy — We Come in Awe
Hebrews 12:28–29
God is holy; thus we come in reverence and awe. Yet redeemed sinners in Christ are justified and undergoing His gracious renewal, so we come also with confidence and joy before His throne of grace.
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”
Zion
The Covenant Assembly
We Ascend Mount Zion
Hebrews 12:22–24
In our assembly we take on our defining characteristic as citizens of heaven — ascending Mt. Zion to enter heaven itself to meet with Jesus in the holy of holies. The word "church" means assembly.
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.”
Word
Word & Sacrament
The Preached Covenant Word
2 Corinthians 3:3–6
Central to our worship is the preached Word — nothing less than a proclaiming of the covenant. The Word is then sealed every week with the covenant meal of the Lord's Supper.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Sent
Sent into the World
Strangers & Ambassadors
2 Corinthians 2:14
After meeting with Jesus in worship we are sent back for the rest of the week into the world — to bring the heavenly aroma of the knowledge of Christ as strangers and aliens in pilgrimage.
“Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
“As a church passionate about the Word of God and living in the rich grace of Christ as communicated to us in the Gospel, we heartily invite you to come and taste of the Lord's cuisine with us this Sunday.”
"You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God." — Hebrews 12:22. Our order of worship follows the ancient pattern of God meeting with His people: He calls, cleanses, consecrates, communes, and commissions.
I
God
Calls Us
Call to Worship
Salutation
Song of Approach
Prayer of Approach
Psalm 99
II
God
Cleanses Us
Reading of the Law
Corporate Confession
Declaration of Pardon
Song of Assurance
Isaiah 6:1–8
III
God
Consecrates Us
OT & NT Readings
Prayer of Illumination
Sermon
Confession of Faith
2 Corinthians 3:3–6
IV
God
Communes With Us
Sursum Corda
Gloria Patri
Lord's Supper
Doxology
Acts 2:42 · Acts 20:7
V
God
Commissions Us
Song of Simeon
Benediction
Sent into the World
2 Corinthians 2:14
Our liturgy is not the invention of man — it is the ancient pattern of God meeting with His people, drawn from the whole counsel of Scripture and the historic practice of Reformed worship.
Each week the same story is told: God summons us, exposes our need, speaks His Word, feeds us at His table, and sends us back into the world as His ambassadors.
Children are welcome and encouraged to worship with their families. We love the occasional coos and cries of the little ones of God's family.