We see this especially in the book of Hebrews, where we are to “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). This confidence is not arrogance. It is a confidence in which we, with our weaknesses, temptations, and sins (Heb. 4:15), come boldly because “we have a great high priest” (Heb. 4:14). Our boldness is in Christ. Our boldness is that because Christ “was heard because of his reverence” (Heb. 5:7) we too will be heard by the Father. Our boldness is that because Christ “offered himself without blemish to God” (Heb. 9:15) we can now worship. Hebrews therefore says that our attitude is boldness in Christ, not flippancy. As well, our worship is to be done with an attitude of reverence. Our attitude is not to be flippant or the all-too-often “come as you are” casualness of modern worship. Instead, our attitude is to be one of “reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29). What Hebrews says about the attitude of our worship is this: recognize that worship is a sacred meeting between you and the Living God.

For the modern evangelical, worship is defined exclusively in terms of the individual’s experience. Worship, then, is not about adoring God but about being nourished with religious feelings, so much so that the worshiper has become the object of worship.

But there must be more than this to the Lord’s house on the Lord’s Day, right? The apostolic Church emphasized worship as an act of obedience, but we see it as an experience. John on Patmos, worshiping all by himself, but the curtain is pulled back and he sees the significance of his worship: he’s joining myriads of heavenly hosts and saints at the throne of the Almighty (cf. Rev. 4-5). Our subjective feelings, whether over the mood of worship or the aesthetic quality of worshiping in a cathedral do not give worship its value. Worship, like faith, is only measured by its object. When our hearts delight in worshiping God, when we focus on His glory, on what He wants, then we will be pleased and be blessed by worship.

So because we are meeting with God, to receive His ministry to us, to break the tyrannical pattern of the world, and to join in the eschat-ological chorus, let us do so with “reverence and godly fear, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28–29).

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For more information about Pasig Covenant Reformed Church:Tel. Nos.: 02-661-0653 0927-863-6364Email: dvopilgrim@gmail.comWebsite: http://twoagespilgrims.com/pasigucrc

A Brief Walk-Through Our Worship Liturgy

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02-661-0653 0927-863-6364Email: dvopilgrim@gmail.com

Web: twoagespilgrims.com/pasigucrc

A Brief Walk-Through Our Worship LiturgyScripture texts are given as bases or examples

Entering into WorshipWe now have access to God (Eph. 2:18) and can draw near to God (Heb. 4:16).

Silent PrayerHelps us focus on God’s holiness and grandeur and our sinfulness (Hab. 2:20; Exod. 3:; Psa. 46:10; Psa. 62:1-2; Zeph. 1:7; Zech. 2:13); and on the worship service, and not on our worries, families, jobs, etc. (1 Pet. 5:6-7; Rom. 12:1-2).

*Call to WorshipIt is the King who rightly summons us to assemble before his throne. Teaches us about God whom we worship and what worship is (Psa. 95:1-7; 111:1; Heb. 10:19-22; 12:22-24).

*Invocation (Psalm 124:8)We call upon the name of God our Creator and Redeemer.

*God’s Greeting or SalutationThe Lord now welcomes us into His presence (Rom. 1:7; Rev. 1:4-5; 1 Tim. 1:2; Jude 1-2).

*Opening PrayerAfter we are cleansed of our sin, we may now approach God's throne of grace.

*Song of PraiseAfter the Lord welcomes us into His presence, we burst into a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” through song (Psa. 50:14; Heb. 13:15).

Confession of SinReading of the Law

Pliny the Younger’s letter to Trajan implies that the Decalogue was regularly read in the early church's liturgy. Reminds us of God’s holiness and our sinfulness, points us to Christ’s obedience for us, and guides us in our obedience to God’s commandments. Helps unbelievers see their sinfulness and condemnation (Exod. 20:1-17; Deut. 5:6-21; Matt. 5-7; Gal. 3:1-5, 10-12; Matt. 22:34-40). Ten Commandments are read often.

A Meeting With God© 2004, 2008 by Daniel R. Hyde

Excerpted from “Why is Reformed Worship so Serious?”

The first thing we ourselves must understand in order to communicate to the “tourist” and unbeliever alike, is that worship is a meeting with the Triune God. It is no trivial matter for which we assemble. Worship in the Bible is a meeting between sinful people and a holy God, between servants and a King. As such to be in the presence of this all-holy King is to keep silence: “the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Hab. 2:20). To be in the presence of the one true God is to stand on “holy ground” (Ex. 3:5).

What is happening, in Biblical terms, is that we as the LORD’s “treasured possession among all peoples,” the “kingdom of priests,” the “holy nation,” assemble to “[encamp] before the mountain” (Ex. 19:5,6,2). We are meeting with the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of a people. And in the terms of the New Testament we do not come to a physical mountain, but to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:22-24).

Worship is not a time for “hangin’ out with Jesus,” being a part of a great social event, having our numerous needs met as consumers. Instead, it is time in which the infinite, all-holy God of the universe condescends to us in grace and the power of the Holy Spirit through the means of grace.

As the worshiping community, we come to serve the Lord by bowing and kneeling (Ps. 95:6). And it is in that posture that we are to “lift up” our eyes “to the LORD our God till he has mercy upon us” (Ps. 123:1-2); we are to “lift up” our hands “to the holy place” (Ps. 134:2). These postures are the outward way we show our inward attitude of utter dependence upon the LORD in worship. We bow down knowing that we deserve nothing; we lift our eyes because it is from heaven that we seek “grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16); we lift our hands because we embrace the LORD and His promises by faith alone.

Our Typical Lord's Day Liturgy* All those who are able, please stand.

Entering into God's Presence* Call to Worship Psalm 103:1-4* Invocation Psalm 124:8* God's Greeting Jude 1-2* Opening Prayer* Psalm of Praise O My Soul, Bless Thou Jehovah (Psa 103:1-4) #201:1-2

Confession of Sin Reading of the Law Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-14

Confession of Sin: from the 1929 Scottish Book of Common PrayerAlmighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed desires of our own hearts. We have sinned against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we should have done, And we have done those things which we should not have done. And there is nothing good in us. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us miserable sinners. Spare us, O God, who confess our faults, and restore us who are repentant, according to Thy promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of Thy holy Name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon Psalm 103:8-10Response of Gratitude

Song of Thanksgiving The Church's One Foundation #44:1, 3Offerings Psalm 116:12-14

Service of the Word* Scripture Lessons Ezekiel 3:16-21 (text); Acts 20:24-31* Gloria Patri* Song of Preparation Jerusalem the Golden #471:1, 2, 4Sermon WATCHMEN FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

Service of the Lord's SupperWords of Institution • Prayer of Consecration • Confession of Faith •

Sursum Corda • Distribution of Elements • Pastoral PrayerLeaving to Serve

* Song of Consecration I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord #479:1-5* Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow #493* Benediction 2 Corinthians 13:14* Amen! Three-Fold Amen

Confession of Sin (Heb. 10:22; Psa. 51:17)Because the Law exposes our sins, we confess them and repent before Him. The Didache, on the early church’s practice: “first confessing your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.” May be sung or prayed or recited corporately at first, then followed by silent, personal confession.

Assurance of PardonAfter confession, God declares us pardoned through Christ who made satisfaction for our sins. The minister has authority in Christ to declare forgiveness (Matt. 18:18; John 20:23). He may also read 1 John 1:8-9.

Response of Gratitude*Song of Thanksgiving

We continue to thank God for his spiritual blessings through song (Psa. 103:1-5).

*Confession of Faith (may be recited together during the Lord's Supper liturgy)

We confess our unity with the catholic (universal) church of all times and places when we recite the Apostles' Creed or Nicene Creed, or excerpts from the Three Forms of Unity.

OfferingA tangible token of our thanksgiving to God (1 Cor. 16:2).

Service of the WordPrayer for Illumination

We ask the Holy Spirit to illumine our blind eyes, dark hearts, and stubborn will, that we might understand the Word of the Lord (Psa. 119:18; Eph. 1:17-18; Col. 1:9).

Scripture Reading(s)Old and New Testament readings commanded by Paul (1 Tim. 4:13). Old Testament types and promises fulfilled in New Testa-ment by Christ (Luke 24:25-27, 44-46; John 5:39; 1 Pet 1:10-12).

*Gloria Patri (“Glory Be to the Father”)We sing a song of praise to the Triune God for revealing himself to us through his Word.

*Song of PreparationWe sing a song related to the Word just read to prepare us for the exposition of God’s Word.

SermonWe hear God’s Word preached to us for our edification and nourishment, the primary means of receiving salvation and grace (Rom. 10:17; Matt. 28:16-20; 2 Tim. 4:1-2). Christ-centered (Col. 1:28) and redemptive-historical like the apostolic preaching in the book of Acts.

Service of the Lord's Supper (administered weekly or monthly)Words of Institution

What the Lord’s Supper is all about in Christ’s own words (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

Prayer of ConsecrationPrayer imploring the Holy Spirit to lift us up to heaven by faith to feed upon Christ.

*Confession of FaithWe recite the Apostles’ Creed or the Nicene Creed corporately because we are a body united. Just as there is one loaf, so too there is one Church (1 Cor. 10:17) and one faith (Eph. 4:3-6). If Lord's Supper is not administered, this may be recited after the Song of Praise.

Sursum Corda (Psalm 25:1)A declaration of our desire to lift us up to heaven, to deliver us from this sinful world. Used by the church since ca. 200 A.D.

Minister: “Lift up your hearts!”People: “We lift them up to the Lord!”

Distribution of ElementsThe elements are distributed by the elders to the congregation. Only professing believers, members (in good standing) of a true church, and who live obedient lives, are allowed to partake.

Pastoral Prayer (if there is no Lord's Supper, this follows Offering)The minister offers a prayer of thanksgiving for the Sacrament, and intercession for the needs of body and soul, the Church and the world.

Leaving to Serve*Song of Consecration

We give thanks to God for salvation in Christ, and for spirit-ual nourishment received from the Word and Sacrament.

*DoxologyA brief, triumphant song of praise and thanksgiving to the Triune God, such as “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” or other doxological songs.

*BenedictionGod sends us away with a blessing (Num. 6:24-25; Rom. 16:25-27, 1 Cor. 16:23, 2 Cor. 13:14, Gal. 6:18, Eph. 6:23-24, Php. 4:23, 1 Thess. 5:28, 2 Thess. 3:18, 1 Tim. 6:13-16, 2 Tim. 4:22, Tit. 3:15, Phm. 25, Heb. 13:20-21, 1 Pet. 5:10-11, 2 Pet. 3:17-18, Jude 24-25, Rev. 22:20-21). God has the first word in His call to worship, and the last word in His benediction.

*Amen!We declare our agreement with everything we heard and saw in the “Three-Fold Amen.”

*Passing of Peace“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:21).

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Why Do We Sing Mostly Psalms?Although we also sing carefully-selected uninspired hymns, our priority in congregational singing is the 150 Psalms and other inspired portions of Scriptures. In his paper, “Rediscovering the Psalms,” Joe Holland lists eight reasons why Psalm-singing is most beneficial to the churches:

1. When you sing psalms you literally sing the Bible.2. When you sing the psalms you interact with a wealth of theology.3. When you sing the psalms you are memorizing Scripture.4. When you sing the psalms you guard against heresy.5. When you sing the psalms you engage a collection of songs that

address the full range of human emotions.6. When you sing the psalms you praise the person and work of Jesus

Christ.7. When you sing the psalms you are training for spiritual warfare.8. When you sing the psalms you are engaging the communion of

saints.