A New Paradigm for Sundays. Beginning on Pentecost Sunday, May 23rd, we will be making some changes to our morning gathering schedule.

Worship: 9:30a to 10:20a

We will continue to refine our theologically thorough approach to Biblical corporate worship. The main ingredients with remain: God having the first word, confession of sin, celebration of grace, public reading of the scriptures, thoughtful commentary, intercessory prayer, fellowship through the one-anothers, and the ministry of The Table (communion).

The primary changes we will be making include:

• A stronger emphasis on intergenerational, family worship. At Christchurch, we want to see our Sunday worship gathering become the model for family worship in our homes. Each week, when we gather with our families at 9:30a, you will be able to “rehearse” a service of worship you can then take home. This service will be based on specific Bible readings, the Heidelberg Catechism, a standardized method of prayer, and a hymn for the season.
• Scripture reading. Each week, the scriptures will be read publicly in worship. We will also provide some follow-up discussion questions, either through the bulletin or the webpage, for you to consider with your family during the week.
• The weekly reading from the Heidelberg Catechism. This catechism was written in the 16^th century, during the formative days of the Protestant Reformation. Specifically, it was written to serve as a systematic theology for church use that bridges to gaps between strict Lutheranism and strict Calvinism. Reformed churches of many types have embraced this catechism for centuries.

It has been the custom of many churches that use the Heidelberg  to explain it from the pulpit every Sunday, so it has been divided into fifty-two sections. At Christchurch we will have a section of the catechism read by one of our children, with the congregational responding collectively with the answers.

• A standard paradigm for prayer. The Bible clearly says that we are to pray 1) for one another, 2) for our governments, c) for the mission of the gospel, and d) for our church and its leaders. We will adopt this fourfold structure of prayer in our services each week.
• Hymn of the month/season. We will be featuring a particular hymn for weeks at a time. This will allow us to learn it better as a congregation. We also hope you will learn this hymn as a family, singing it at home during family worship times.
• Our financial offerings. Rather than “pass the plate” during the service, we will have places established in our facility where you can securely place your offering each week. This will save us valuable time in our service, and keep those unable or unprepared to give from feeling awkward in a public setting.
• Fewer songs. We will be singing some songs as part of our teaching hour, and less during the 9:30 worship time.
• Timing. The worship portion of our morning gathering is scheduled to last from 9:30-10:20a.

Fellowship: 10:20a to 10:45a

We continue to see this time of fellowship as vital to our life as a church.

• Prayer Room. We will continue to provide a place to gather with men and women who will pray with and for those requesting prayer.
• Refreshments. These will continue to be served in the foyer.
• Welcome Table. We will be working to provide a place where guests can be welcomed, and find answers to their questions about Christchurch.
• Children’s Minsitry Check-in. Check-in time will be moved up to 10:35a.

Teaching Time: 10:45 to 12:00

We remain committed to the teaching of the Word of God, primarily through exegetical, verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible.  This commitment to discipleship through the scriptures will always be the cornerstone of the teaching time.

Some have expressed the desire to engage in some praise and worship as an adult community. We affirm the value of this, and have decided to include some worship singing in this hour, where parents of small children can enjoy the Lord without having to give constant attention to their little ones.

The teaching time, then, will follow this order:

• 10:45       Opening song
• 10:50       Welcome, news
• 10:55       Worship Singing
• 11:05       Scripture reading and teaching
• 11:45       Interaction Q&A

Inviting Guests to Christchurch: 10:30a

For those interested in learning more about following Christ, or becoming a part of Christchurch, the Teaching Time serves as an ideal introduction.  We want to encourage you to freely and aggressively invite your families, friends and acquaintances to join us Sundays at 10:30a. This will allow them time to visit our welcome table, get children checked into the children’s program, enjoy some refreshments, and find a good seat by 10:45a.

Historical Precedent: The “hearers”

In the early church, the gathering for worship consisted of the ministries of the Word, and the Table. Those new to the gospel, who had not become baptized members of the community, were welcome for the ministry of the Word. But, when the service turned to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, guests were asked to leave. In other words, it was wholly appropriate for the Sunday gathering to include a component that was accessible to the spiritual novitiate.

We want to adopt this ancient priority at Christchurch by making sure that the our community knows how welcome they are to come to our Teaching Time, and explore the gospel with us. As they get to know Christ and Christchurch better, our hope is that they will join us for our complete, comprehensive expression of worship at 9:30a.