How we worship.

1. Call to Worship. A pastor reads a passage of Scripture that calls the congregation to worship God.
2. Opening Hymn. We sing a hymn, usually from the Trinity Hymnal.
3. Confession of Sin. We confess our sin corporately. A silence is kept for personal confession. The pastor pronounces the assurance of pardon from Scripture.
4. Pastoral Prayer. A long prayer covering the needs of the congregation, community, and world.
5. Scripture Reading. The sermon passage is read in full.
6. Hymn.
7. Sermon. 30-35 minutes of expositional preaching through the current book of the Bible.
8. Lord's Supper. Weekly communion.
9. Closing Hymn.
10. Benediction. A pastor pronounces a biblical blessing over the congregation.

Total time: about 75 minutes.

Reformed worship follows what's sometimes called the Regulative Principle: we worship God in the ways He has prescribed in Scripture, not according to our personal preferences or cultural trends. The order above comes from careful attention to what the Bible teaches about Christian worship: it should include the reading and preaching of Scripture, prayer, singing, confession, the sacraments, and the pronouncement of God's blessing.

This doesn't mean the service is dusty or dead. It means we think the worship God calls for has a particular shape, and we try to honor that shape.

Reformed worship also follows a dialogical pattern: God speaks (Scripture, assurance of pardon, sermon, benediction), we respond (confession, prayer, hymns, communion). The service is a conversation, with God initiating and his people responding.

Shearer sings traditional hymns and the occasional metrical psalm. Trinity Hymnal is our standard hymnal, with words projected on screens as well.

Our music is led by piano, sometimes with a cello, violin, or small ensemble. We don't have a praise band. We don't have a drum kit. We don't sing contemporary worship choruses from popular worship labels.

This is a deliberate choice, not a judgment on other churches' practices. We believe hymns and psalms carry theological depth that trains a congregation over years and ties us to the historic church. We also believe simpler instrumentation keeps the focus on congregational singing rather than performance.

If you're new to hymn singing, it takes a few weeks to feel confident. Nobody expects a visitor to belt out verse four of "A Mighty Fortress" from memory. Sing along as you can, listen when you can't, and the hymns will become familiar faster than you expect.

We don't do altar calls, response moments, or any form of asking visitors to come forward.

We don't have announcements as a long interactive segment. Announcements are brief, usually at the beginning, and the pastor keeps them focused.

We don't show videos or film clips. We don't perform music as a solo or group number separate from congregational singing.

We don't have theatrical lighting, haze machines, or stage design that resembles a concert. The sanctuary is well-lit, the pulpit is central, the Communion table is in front, and the design focus is on the Word and the sacraments.