c o n v i c t i o n s a b o u t w o r s h i p
h o l i s t i c w o r s h i p
We believe that authentic worship is not confined to Sunday morning, but is a continual activity of the human soul, especially placed by our Creator, so that nobody does not worship (e.g. Acts 17:16-28). That is, we all worship someone or something. As followers of Christ, our life-long call is to live by sacrificing ourselves to God (Rom 12:1), so that we are delivered continually from bowing to created-gods to walk in the life of the Creator God. Authentic worship encompasses all of life; it is holistic.
r e n e w a l w o r s h i p
We also believe that God has established corporate worship as a regular means of renewing his covenant with his church. God is present in the assembly of his people, and his purpose is not merely to be glorified, but to renew our individual and corporate relationship with him. Worship is a dialogue between God and his people in which he speaks grace to us through his word and sacraments, to which we respond in prayer and song. While gathered worship instructs us, its purpose goes beyond education. God assures us of his gracious purpose in our lives, convicts us of sin, displays who he is, and instructs us in truth and love (Heb 10:24-25). We understand that our worship is never impressive to God apart from his grace, but that he accepts our worship on account of the righteousness and forgiving blood of Jesus Christ, who alone is head of his body the church. We come to worship God as humble sinners seeking grace and resting in God's promises.
e v a n g e l i s t i c w o r s h i p
We understand that biblical worship (in the language of the Psalms) invites the nations -- those who may not yet have a saving knowledge of God -- into God's presence to worship with us. As such, we ask God to minister to persons who may be yet worshipping false gods, who may be immature in faith, and who come to public worship with both genuine and felt needs. Many among us first met God after worshiping as part of the church community. The faith we show in our corporate worship is nothing if it is not infused with and inseparably bound to love for our neighbors (1 Cor 13:1-2).
c a t h o l i c w o r s h i p
Though we are not in communion with the Roman Church, we understand that we are not the first generation of Christians. We understand ourselves to be a Reformed and reforming branch of the one catholic church that Jesus founded in the first century. Therefore we worship within that ancient pattern of Christian worship established in the first centuries of Christian history, approaching God, entering into a service of the Lord's Word, and progressing into a service of the Lord's Table, just like Christians have done since ancient times. From time to time you will find us confessing the ancient creeds of the church, singing the very ancient Gloria Patri and Doxology, and praying litany prayers (like Psalm 136) and the Lord's Prayer.
m i s s i o n a l w o r s h i p
Though we still sing seventeenth and eighteenth century hymns out of the Trinity Hymnal, we are increasingly singing new songs and new arrangements of old songs that reflect the language and styles of the postmodern city. We believe true worship is missional worship -- worship in the voice of the city.
d i v e r s e w o r s h i p
The diversity represented in our congregation is a unique gift to the urban church. We embrace our diversity and work to love and appreciate each other's preferences as a people of love. We understand that our worship of God is invalidated if we do not love one another as Christ commanded and indeed modeled (1 Jn 4:19-21). Jesus willingly left the best worship in heaven to worship in first century synagogues for our benefit, and so we're willing to sing some songs we may not prefer if such songs may benefit another believer. Self-denial is an act of worship. We may therefore sing back-to-back from the 5th century Liturgy of Saint James and the 21st century chorus God of Wonders.
