What To Expect
What does a Sunday morning look like at Providence Reformed Church? « Back to HomeAbout PRCOn a Sunday morning nearly two-thousand years ago, the world was changed forever.
Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! Now, the followers of Jesus from all over the world unite to honor and celebrate His victory over the grave by meeting to worship Him as His church on Sunday morning – on “the Lord’s Day.”
What does a Providence Reformed Church service look like? Read on to find out!
What is a Covenant Renewal Service?
Our Sunday morning service follows a pattern known as “Covenant Renewal Worship.” This kind of service has five parts. First is our Call to Worship, during which we are invited to “ascend to the heavenly city,” and approach God’s presence through Christ. Then we sing a psalm and a hymn.
Second, comes our Call to Confession, during which we kneel (as able), offer a prayer of silent confession for our personal sins, read a confessional prayer together, and are reminded that our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus.
The third portion of our service is the Concecration, during which we remember that, in Christ, we have been set apart as members of God’s holy people. This portion of the service includes scripture readings, reciting a creed, hearing a sermon, singing more hymns, being led in corporate prayer, and giving our tithes and offerings.
Fourth, is Communion – during which we sing another hymn, greet one another with the peace of Christ and receive the Lord’s Supper.
Fifth, and finally, is the commission, during which we sing a final hymn and end with singing the doxology, and are sent out to
To view an example of our liturgy, follow the link below:
What You Can Expect
Each Week
We Sing Triumphantly
Our Lord has triumphed over sin and death, so we aim to sing with gusto and joy as we worship Him. We also aim to sing excellent songs – Psalms pulled straight from the scripture, and the very best hymns ever written – from ancient Christendom, to the present.
We Receive God’s Word
Our God has spoken to mankind through the ages by His prophets, culminating in His greatest Word – Jesus Christ. Of ourselves, we have nothing important to say. But we believe that the Bible contains the most important message ever given – the gospel of Jesus. As a result, we aim to make the Word of the Lord the focus of every service and every sermon.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Our Savior instituted the sacrament of Communion – the Lord’s Supper. Every week, in accepting the bread and wine, we remember and partake of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). This is not our table, but the Lord’s table: anyone who is baptized in the name of our Triune God is welcome to take communion with us!
We Learn Sound Doctrine
The apostles of the first century were clear about the importance of thinking rightly about God. Here at PRC, we believe that it matters what we believe, and we hold fast to the faith that has been handed down for all time through the generations (Jude 3). Each week, we affirm our unity with millions of our forefathers by reciting the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, or part of the Heidelberg Catechism.
We Love One Another
Jesus said that the world would know we are His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). We pray and believe that our congregation represents Christ well in this regard! By God’s grace, we believe one of the most attractive traits of PRC is our deep and thriving community that permeates our Sunday service, and our entire week.
We Seek Christ
We love our church, but we don’t consider ourselves an exclusive social club full of perfect people. We are sinners – made saints by the blood of Christ. The whole Bible isn’t about being good people, but about Jesus and His offer of salvation (John 5:39). He is all we have, and He is all we have to offer. Come seek Jesus with us!
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
What denomination is PRC associated with?
Providence Reformed Church is a mission church in the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC). Our denomination is a rapidly growing union of over 130 churches across the globe. The CREC is often known for its relationships with Canon Press and the Theopolis Institute, as well as for its efforts to help believers apply the Word of God to all of life.
What should I wear?
We don’t have a specific dress code – come as you are! That said, you can expect most of us to be dressed in neat casual or business casual clothing on an average Sunday.
Can I attend PRC if I’m not “Reformed?”
Whether you grew up in church or have never seen a Bible before, we welcome anyone to our services! That said, anyone seeking formal membership must affirm the basic doctrines and ethics of orthodox, historic Christianity (see our About page for a summary). Additionally, while it is not required of our members, all of our elders consider themselves “reformed,” and must affirm the Westminster Confession of faith as a faithful interpretation of the scriptures.
What style of worship is your service?
Our service is very liturgical and traditional. We sing psalms and hymns – mostly older ones a few of the best recent ones sprinkled in – with a piano accompaniment.
Are there any programs for my children?
We love having children involved in our worship services! As a result, we are intentional about not having any children programs that take the place of Sunday morning worship. It is our hope that including them in everything we do will help them appreciate our services as they mature. Sometimes, this means that children start to fuss during the service, but this is a small price to pay for their participation. In case it is necessary, however, we do have a cry room with a changing table in the back.
What must I do to be saved?
This is the most important question you will ever ask. Jesus taught that God sent His Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). Simply put, you must acknowledge your sins, and look to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. He is mighty and merciful to save! Visit us for a service, or contact our pastor below to learn more:
Affiliated Resources
Canon Press
Theopolis
DomNet
J.E.E.P.
Athanasius Press
School of Discipleship
Additional Resources
Ligonier Ministries
Banner of Truth
New Christendom Press
Reformation Heritage Books