The postings of our catechism about our Order of Worship continued in our weekly Church Programs. The coming of the Easter Season put their posting online on delay. Now we begin to move forward once again.
WHO
ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO AT CHURCH?
Why is the first hymn
a Hymn of Praise?
The first hymn gives opportunity for us to lift our hearts
and lift our voices on high in joy to the God who created us, redeemed us, and
sustains us in this life and the life to come.
It is a natural follow on to the Call to Worship. “Let us worship the Living God”…how else can
we respond but in praise and adoration?
To that end, this first hymn is often more upbeat, appealing more to the
emotions to open our hearts to our Lord.
Why is the first
prayer a Prayer of Confession?
The Order of Worship is designed in a specific manner. After the Call, when we have stepped out of
the daily mode of life and come into God’s presence, our first response is to
sing in praise. The next is to
prepare.
The Prayer of Confession is the moment to renew in our lives
the forgiveness granted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the moment to examine our lives and
offer up to the Lord those things in our lives that stand between ourselves and
a clear conscience to worship God’s Holy Name.
It is a direct engagement with the salvation work of Jesus.
This Prayer is offered first as a congregation, and then
individually. That we shall speak of
next week.
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