Worship & the Lord’s Supper at Redeemer

The worship service at Redeemer follows a traditional format that has been the pattern of Christian worship services for over a thousand years. It changes somewhat as it moves through different eras and cultures. But the parts of the worship service listed below are the basic parts you will find in every worship service. If you have attended a worship service at one of the more historic churches (Catholic, Presbyterian, Orthodox, etc.), you will see that the pattern of the worship service is very similar.

Invocation 

The Invocation is the formal declaration of what our gathering is about. We begin not in the name of ourselves but in the name of God as God has been revealed to us: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Confession & Absolution

Confession is a time of calibrating our attitude as we begin worship. We remember and confess that we are sinful beings, in need of mercy from God. We are not “all that.” As Paul writes, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Absolution is the pronouncement of forgiveness. God’s forgiveness has been flowing over you all the time. The scriptures tell us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) But it’s good to hear it! Jesus told his disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. (John 20:23) It’s not a special power. It’s the authority to speak for Jesus like an ambassador.

Readings

Every Sunday includes three readings: one from the Old Testament, one from the letters in the New Testament, and one from the Gospels. Much of the New Testament is comprised of letters written by leaders of the church to churches or specific people. The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” The accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are considered The Good News. So those accounts found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are called the Gospels.

Sermon

The sermon is a chance to learn about the scriptures and apply them to your thinking and life. The pastor is not infallible nor does he expect to be believed just because he said it. It’s a chance to let your spirit and mind engage with a way of seeing the scriptures and life.

Creed

We use two creeds on alternating Sundays: The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. The word, “creed” comes from the Latin, “credo,” which means, “I believe.”

The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian belief drafted and adopted by a universal church council in the city of Nicea in AD325 and amended by another council in AD381. It has been in continual use since that time by all Christian denominations that accept the use of creeds, including Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Orthodox.

The Apostles’ Creed has been an accepted creed in the church for over 1,500 years. Because the Apostles’ Creed was never formally adopted by a church council, the Orthodox Church does not recognize it.

Offering

While we welcome all offerings in support of our ministry, we see visitors as our guests. We're glad you are here and do not want you to feel any obligation to give a financial offering. For us, the offering is part of our worship. We bring our financial resources to the support of the ministry in our congregation, community, and world. 

The Lord’s Supper/Holy Communion

PARTICIPATING IN THE LORD'S SUPPER: We invite you to join us in the Lord’s Supper. We believe that in a mysterious and true way, the bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ for our forgiveness. We believe this simply because Jesus said it: “This is my body... This is my blood... given and shed for the forgiveness of sins.” If you want what Jesus offers — forgiveness and new life in Him — please join us at His table.

IF WALKING IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU. 
If it would be a hardship for you to physically walk to the altar, we would be happy to bring communion to you in your seat. Let an usher know.

If you want to come forward but for any reason do not wish to take the bread and wine, please cross your arms over your chest rather than holding out your hands. This will indicate to the pastor that you will not be receiving communion. The pastor will give you a blessing. You are loved. You are wanted. We are glad you are here.

A SPECIAL TRADITION AT REDEEMER: Over the years, our congregation has developed a tradition of holding hands at the altar while the pastor speaks a blessing after each group receives communion. We invite you to join hands with those on either side of you after taking the bread and wine. However, if this is not comfortable for you, please do not feel any pressure to join in. We're just glad you are here with us today. Simply keep your hands folded until the pastor dismisses your group from the rail.

Lord’s Prayer

This is the prayer Jesus gave his disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray. We don’t pray this prayer like it’s a magical formula. It is deeply spiritual and can be said to encapsulate all prayer. We pray the Lord’s Prayer in meditation and contemplation every week because it is the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.

Benediction 

These words of blessing are spoken at the end of the service They come from Numbers 6:24-26 in the Old Testament. They have been spoken to the Lord’s people for over 3,000 years. As you have worshiped this morning, you have been part of the one family of the Lord that spans the globe and is thousands of years old. It has been our privilege to welcome you.

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