Presbyterian Church of ManchesterOur Worship
Our Lord's Day worship is centered on the Word of God and follows the historic pattern of Christian worship handed down through the centuries. The Lord gathers His people each week on the Lord’s Day to worship Him through His Word and Spirit. Our worship seeks to be reverent, joyful, and shaped by the Scriptures.
We believe that God Himself calls us into His presence, speaks to us through His Word, and sends us out again strengthened for lives of faithful service. Our worship follows the historic Reformed principle that God alone determines how He is to be worshiped in His church. For that reason, we seek to include only those elements that God Himself has given His church in Scripture: the reading and preaching of Scripture, prayer, singing, and the sacraments.
Before the Service
Beginning at 10:00 AM, the sanctuary is set aside for God's people to prepare themselves for worship. It is a time reserved for calming our souls as we prepare to meet with our God.
At 10:20 AM, before the service begins, there is a brief time for announcements and prayer requests. This is a time for the congregation to share needs as we prepare our hearts for worship.
The worship service begins at 10:30 AM, and typically concludes around 11:45 AM. Worship bulletins are provided to guide the congregation through the service.
The Shape of the Service
Our services follow a historic Christian pattern of worship and are led by the elders of the Church. In certain seasons, we welcome selected members of the body to read selected passages of Scripture from the floor of the sanctuary.
Below is a brief description of how these elements shape our Lord's Day worship.
God Calls Us to Worship
We can only worship our God because He, first, invites us to Himself. We begin with a call to worship from Scripture. Through a responsive reading from the Psalms or the Prophets, God summons His people to worship Him.
Invoking His Presence
We cannot worship God in our own strength. Even in worship we depend upon Him and the gift of His Holy Spirit. An elder offers a prayer asking for God's grace and mercy in our worship. Following this, the congregation joins together in praying the Lord's Prayer.
Singing God's Praise
We sing hymns and psalms together from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, lifting our voices in praise to God. Because we seek to keep our music simple and centered on congregational singing, we avoid electronic instruments and musical settings which drown out the voices of the congregation. Christian worship is the congregation's response to God's grace in Christ.
Confession of Sin
Because we come into the presence of a holy God, we confess our sins together and silently. In response, we hear the good news of God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ—that though our sins are many, His grace is greater.
Prayer
The congregation joins together in prayer, being led by the Pastor, as he brings our needs, the needs of the church, and the needs of the world before the Father.
The Preaching of the Word
Central to our worship is the preaching of Scripture. In the preaching of the Word, Christ feeds His people—convicting us of sin, strengthening our faith, and renewing us in the Gospel. The sermon typically lasts about 30-35 minutes.
In addition to the sermon, Scripture is publicly read during the service, since God speaks to His people through His Word.
The Lord's Supper
On the first Sunday of each month, we celebrate the Lord's Supper together during the service, remembering Christ's saving work and strengthening our faith in Him. The Supper is presided over by the Pastor and served by the ruling elders.
All baptized believers who are trusting in Christ and are members in good standing of a Bible-believing church who have publicly professed their faith in Christ are welcome to partake.
God Sends Us Out
Our service concludes with a benediction, a blessing from God's Word sending us out to live our lives in faith and obedience.
Children in Worship
We warmly welcome children of all ages in our worship services. We know that children can be noisy. They fidget. But we believe the sound of children in worship is not a distraction. It is evidence of God's covenantal faithfulness to His people. We rejoice to see families worshiping together. We are gladdened to hear the voices of our children join with us in singing the doxology.
But for parents who do desire it, whether to enable themselves to hear God's Word, or as grace to their child, we offer:
- Nursery (ages 0-3)
- Children's Church (ages 3-5)
These ministries are available during the service, but families are always welcome to keep their children with them in the sanctuary.
What Should I Wear?
You will find a range of dress on Sunday mornings. Many people dress business casual or slightly more formal, while others come more casually. Our concern is not outward appearance but that we come with heart, soul, and mind, ready to worship and honor the LORD.
What to Expect
If you are visiting, you will find a congregation that seeks to worship God reverently, hear His Word faithfully preached, and encourage one another in the faith.
We would be delighted to have you join us.