There is not any better way of understanding corporate worship than this: “The purpose of the Sunday service is covenant renewal.” – Jeffrey Meyers, The Lord’s Service.
We have, in the corporate worship service, God graciously gathering His people together to renew the covenant made with us in Christ. This allows us to come as expectant worshipers, eager to offer a sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving, treasure, and ultimately, to offer our lives as “living sacrifices” as we are renewed in the covenant, served by this great God, and sent out into the world to extend this glorious kingdom
We begin our worship with a prelude and call to worship, anticipating God calling His people out of the world and into His presence. This is truly gathered worship as God delights to graciously draw near to us. As we are confronted with this God who “is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth” (Westminster Shorter Catechism question 4), we are reminded that we are in desperate need of his grace and mercy, as we come to him as sinners. We then hear the Word, calling us to confession and repentance, and then receive the Word of pardon that is ours in Christ Jesus.
The Word is central to our worship, as we hear and respond to our God through this Word. We affirm throughout our service that “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproofing, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
We are also a congregation who loves to sing. As the Psalmist says, “Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.” (Psalm 5:11)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)