Choirs (and their casual, modern descendants worship teams and praise bands) have been near-ubiquitous in Reformed churches for less than two centuries, but just like government programs, once instituted these groups are difficult to disband even though their historical pedigree is weak. Arrangements may be . . . Continue reading →
Reformed Worship
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 3)
This series explores Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 in the hope of providing some clarity on the perennial question of whether women are required to wear head coverings in public worship. The issue basically circles around whether Paul’s instructions about head . . . Continue reading →
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 2)
Sometimes passages take on a life of their own in church life or in church history, confronting us with perennial discussions about specific and difficult questions. Such is the case with 1 Corinthians 11:2–16, where Paul discussed the need for modesty and . . . Continue reading →
The Custom Of God’s Churches: Head Coverings And Cultural Appropriateness (Part 1)
The evangelical impulse to submit our practices to Scripture is a noble instinct. So is the attempt to search the Scriptures diligently to understand what it says and how to apply it. Continue reading →
Until He Comes Again: A Journey Through The Reformed Liturgy
The very God who is all in all, who has revealed himself covenantally through creation and redemption, commands due worship. With human beings as God’s pinnacle creatures, worship actually tends to our greatest blessing and should be our greatest joy. We are . . . Continue reading →
Why Our Worship Leaders Emulate Mick Jagger
Of course, our culture has many problems, but it does not say good things about our churches that by failing to see any difference between serious and frivolous music they are also in danger of losing the ability to distinguish adolescence from . . . Continue reading →
HT515 History Of Reformed Worship
Course Description A seminar in the history Christian worship from the the patristic period through the Westminster Assembly. Students will read and discuss primary and secondary sources. Spring. 2 Credits. Course Requirements: (1) Attend all classes, complete all readings, participate in class . . . Continue reading →
Directory For The Publick Worship Of God
The Directory FOR The Publick Worship of God CHARLES I. Parl. 3. Sess. 5. An ACT of the PARLIAMENT of the KINGDOM of SCOTLAND, approving and establishing the DIRECTORY for Publick Worship. AT EDINBURGH, February 6, 1645. THE Estates of Parliament now . . . Continue reading →
Directory for the Publick Worship of God
The Directory FOR The Publick Worship of God CHARLES I. Parl. 3. Sess. 5. An ACT of the PARLIAMENT of the KINGDOM of SCOTLAND, approving and establishing the DIRECTORY for Publick Worship. AT EDINBURGH, February 6, 1645. THE Estates of Parliament now convened, . . . Continue reading →
The Heidelberg Liturgy (1563)
Greeting (1 Tim 1:2) Psalm (95) Pastoral Confession Heavenly Father, eternal and merciful God; we acknowledge and confess before your divine Majesty that we are poor miserable sinners, conceived and born in sin and corruption, prone to all evil, and unfit for . . . Continue reading →
The Strasbourg Liturgy (1545)
Invocation Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Amen. (Ps. 124:8) Public Confession of Sins My brethren, let each of you present himself before the face of the Lord, and confess his faults and sins, . . . Continue reading →
Bucer’s Strasbourg Liturgy (1539)
Public Confession of Sins Make confession to God the Lord, and let everyone acknowledge with me his sin and iniquity: Almighty, eternal God and Father, we confess and acknowledge unto You that we were conceived in unrighteousness and are full of sin . . . Continue reading →
Principles of Reformed Worship
Adopted September 19. 2000 by the Consistory of the Escondido United Reformed Church ____ In preparation for the invasion of Canaan, our covenant God promised to destroy the nations before us (Deut. 12:29). His chief complaint against the nations was their pagan . . . Continue reading →