Covenant renewal worship is a form of worship practiced by Northbridge Church. It is characterized by a thoroughly Trinitarian, historically reformed, and warmly evangelical approach. The structure of a typical Northbridge worship service includes confession, consecration, and communion. The service is designed to renew the covenant between God and His people, emphasizing reverence, awe, and a spirit of dedication.
The worship service is seen as a dialogue between God and His people, rather than a monologue. The worship service involves the participation of all believers, with elements like Scripture reading, sermon, and offertory serving as part of the conversation. At church, you may encounter different postures of the body depending on your background. Some postures include kneeling or raising hands in praise. We kneel during the confession of sin, we may stand while the Scriptures are being read, we sit during the Lord's Supper, and raise our hands in prayer especially when singing the doxology, a prayer song you'll get familiar with because we sing it nearly every week. These postures are not meant to confuse but to engage our whole bodies in worship. The practice of weekly communion is an important aspect of covenant renewal worship, signifying discipleship and the unity of the church.
The Elements of our Worship Service are:
Confession
The worship service begins with the congregation confessing their sins and receiving the assurance of pardon. This element allows individuals to acknowledge their shortcomings and seek forgiveness from God.
Consecration
After confession, the congregation dedicates themselves to God. This involves committing their lives and actions to follow God's will and live according to His teachings.
Offerings
The worship service includes various offerings, such as ascension offerings and peace offerings. These offerings symbolize the worshipper's participation in a covenant meal with God and their gratitude for His blessings.
Commissioning and Benediction
At the conclusion of the service, the minister commissions the congregation to go out into the world as salt and light. This signifies the sending out of the people of God to live out their renewed walk with God. The service ends with a benediction, a blessing pronounced by the minister.
Covenant renewal in the worship service follows the pattern of the Old Testament sacrifices. The structure of the worship service includes confession, consecration, and offering. These elements mirror the confession of sins, dedication to God, and the various offerings made in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament sacrifices and the work of Jesus is the focal point of this renewal. These elements are meant to reflect the work of Jesus in the covenant renewal process. Through confession, believers acknowledge their sins and receive the assurance of pardon through Jesus' sacrifice. Consecration involves dedicating oneself to God, following the example of Jesus' obedience. The ascension offering symbolizes the believer's participation in the covenant meal, which is made possible through Jesus' sacrifice.
Furthermore, Northbridge believes that Jesus established the practice of covenant renewal through the Lord's Supper. The meal serves as a means of renewing the covenant between God and His people. Northbridge holds that we do not have the authority to alter this practice, as it was instituted by Jesus himself.
How we worship is:
Bible Teaching
Music
Sermons at Northbridge are typically expository, working through books of the Bible. They apply the teaching of Scripture to our lives passage by passage. While some messages may be keyed to the church year or address a particular need, most sermons are anchored in specific books of the Bible. The minister's role is to declare the exposition of the text and then apply its principles to the lives of the hearers.
The musical style in the worship service is focused on setting the tone of the service and offering praise to God. The singing of psalms and Scripture-based songs is an important aspect of our worship. Psalms especially provide the backbone of our musical worship, as they are mentioned in the New Testament as a means of addressing one another and expressing praise to God. Singing Psalms allows us to follow the biblical exhortation to worship the Lord with our voices and present our bodies to Him in worship.
Children in Worship
At Northbridge, we firmly believe that children are vital participants in our covenant renewal services. We warmly welcome children to join in the act of worship, as they are an integral part of our covenant community alongside adults. Why? Because we understand that the Lord's promises extend not only to adults but also to our precious children, as Acts 2:39 reminds us.
By actively participating in worship services from a young age, children not only learn the pattern and rhythm of worship but also become familiar with the liturgy, psalms, hymns, and, most importantly, they witness firsthand the beautiful covenant relationship between God and His people. This active involvement lays a strong foundation for their lifelong faith journey.
At Northbridge, we fully support parents who want to help their children understand and embrace their faith. We encourage kids to be kids in the service, and parents can address them without worrying about judgment from others. Additionally, we provide a nursery and worship training space to assist parents with young children in their journey.
We are here to support and walk alongside you and your family as you explore and grow in your faith.
Why do we worship together? We love worshiping as families for several reasons:
Unique challenges in their walk with Christ: Children face unique challenges in their spiritual journey, and when we worship together, they can learn and grow in their faith alongside their peers. It's such a beautiful way to support and encourage them!
Nurturing their faith: By participating in worship services, children get to witness and experience the wonderful worship practices of our church community. It's like a big family coming together to nurture their faith and understanding of God. Isn't that amazing?
Learning from others: Worshiping together gives children the chance to learn from older members of our congregation. These wise and caring individuals serve as role models and mentors, guiding them in their spiritual development. It's like having a whole community cheering them on!
Building a sense of community: Worshiping together helps children develop a strong sense of belonging and community within our church. It's a place where they can form meaningful relationships and connections with other believers. We truly become a family!
Preparing for future participation: By worshiping together from a young age, children become familiar with the practices and rituals of our church. This prepares them for future participation in baptism and the Lord's Supper. It's a beautiful foundation we're laying for their spiritual journey.
In conclusion, worshipping together is not just an act; it's a journey - a journey of growing, learning, and belonging. It shapes our lives and our family's spiritual lives, preparing them for a fulfilling journey of faith. So, we extend a heartfelt invitation to you and your family to join us in our next worship service.
Come and be part of our thriving and loving community. Let's grow in faith, learn from each other, and walk this spiritual journey together.