Worship at City On A Hill
What happens when we gather for worship?
A Liturgy in Five Movements
Worship at City On A Hill is in the Reformed Liturgical tradition. The order of service reflects Biblical patterns of how God encounters and blesses his people, from Genesis to Revelation.
On Sunday morning, we step into that pattern. God gathers us. God hears us. God speaks to us. God communes with us. God sends us. God's grace and initiative always come first. We respond in faith.
I.
God Gathers Us
The First Movement
Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker. Psalm 95:6 · The Call to Worship
Throughout Scripture we see God calling his people to himself. Some of the most comforting lines of Scripture come in Genesis 3 when God calls out to Adam and Eve, hiding from him in their shame, “Where are you?” Each Sunday we begin with his gracious call to us to be restored and renewed in the image of God in Christ.
The opening hymn of adoration responds to the call. The prayer of invocation asks God to pour out his blessing on our time together.
A typical opening
“Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”
II.
God Hears Us
The Second Movement
O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. Psalm 65:2 · The Prayer of the Church
Prayer is the offering of our desires to God, by the leading of his Word and Spirit, with a recognition of our sins and his bountiful forgiveness. At City On A Hill we use all three forms of prayer in the Christian tradition. Responsive written prayers deepen our expression and expand our capacity in prayer, spontaneous prayer affords us the opportunity to unburden our hearts in the moment, and praying Scripture nurtures our faith and grounds us in the Bible as God's revelation to us. We say the Lord's Prayer every Sunday.
We begin this movement of worship with the confession of our faith from one of the ancient creeds of the church, situating our prayers in our relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
A typical prayer
“Merciful Father, we come to you with empty hands and hearts in need. Wash us, hear us, sustain us — and through us bless the city you have called us to love.”
III.
God Speaks to Us
The Third Movement
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose. Isaiah 55:11 · The Word of the Lord
God speaks to us through the reading and preaching of the Scriptures, which the Holy Spirit enables us to understand. There is a real spiritual communion that comes with careful attention to God's Word. At City On A Hill we tend to preach through books of the Bible to allow us to draw upon the context and depth of each passage as we consider its relevance to our lives today.
IV.
God Communes with Us
The Fourth Movement
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16 · The Lord's Supper
Jesus established two sacraments for our faith to be encouraged: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Each week we celebrate the Lord's Supper together. The Lord is present with us through his Spirit in this meal. It is an opportunity to rejoice in what he has accomplished for us in his crucifixion and resurrection, be reminded of his current presence with us, and look forward to the future inheritance that awaits us. As the Scriptures say, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).
The invitation to the Table
“The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.”
V.
God Sends Us
The Fifth Movement
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24–26 · The Benediction
Having been gathered to worship by God's gracious invitation, we are now sent out from worship under his gracious blessing. Benediction literally means “good word.” We leave the service with the good words of God encouraging us that he goes before us until we meet again.
The sending
“Let us go forth in the name of Christ. — Thanks be to God.”
Come and See
Worship at City On A Hill is a time of joyful discovery of God from his Word and joyful communion with one another in his presence.
We sing hymns old and new. We read Scripture aloud. We confess the faith using words the church has used for centuries. We pray for one another and for the city. The sermon is Christ-centered and Spirit-filled. We share the Lord's Supper together.
Those who already believe are strengthened. Those figuring out what they believe are given the space and time to do so.
When
Sundays at 11:00 AM
Refreshments from 10:30
Where
New York City Center
130 W. 56th Street
Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Come and see what happens when we gather.