Worship is an expansive term. It shouldn’t be limited to a style of music or a certain day or even a particular spiritual discipline. In the Bible worship is described as an offering of our entire body (both personally as people and corporately as a church) in an act of sacrifice to God (see Romans 12:1). Worship calls for us to give all of ourselves. With all this in mind, our worship service is one particular time and place in which we gather together, with all the company of heaven, to praise the Lord in spirit and in truth. Our worship service at St. George’s can be described in a variety of ways:
1- Ancient | Future: It includes ancient elements of prayers, hymns, and creeds alongside modern songs, artwork, and music. We can go from singing a song that was written a year ago to reciting a creed that was formed by the Apostles nearly 2,000 years ago!
2- Communal: “Liturgy” is a combination of two words: “people” and “work”; therefore, our liturgy is a work of the people in praise and worship to a holy God. We will often pray together, read together, sing together, and receive Holy Communion together. There are no spectators or religious professionals: we all have a part … we all get to party.
3- Sensory: You will notice that our worship fills the senses: sights, touches, sounds, smells, and yes even tastes can be expected in our worship.
4- Experiential: Worship changes you. During the service we believe the Holy Spirit is working in our midst forming and growing us as mature followers of Jesus. After Holy Communion we have prayer ministers for people desiring prayer and during this time we encourage families and friends to pray together for the week ahead.
5- Word and Table: Word and Table are the two main parts of the worship service. During the Word we sing, hear the Scriptures read over us, pray, and hear a sermon on how God’s Words can be applied to our lives. During the Table we offer gifts to God, remember what Christ did on the Cross, celebrate communion together, and are sent off in prayer to the world.
