Worship Services
The Worship Service
We gather in worship to glorify God for what he has done through Jesus, and to remind ourselves of what it means to be Jesus' disciples. Christian worship has always included singing, prayers, and reading from God's Word. Since the Reformation, preaching has had a prominent place in Protestant worship services. The morning worship service at Providence includes doctrinally-rich hymns (both ancient and modern), readings from the Old and New Testament, confession of sin, prayer, and a sermon. Once a month we gather to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
Our afternoon worship service is somewhat less formal; we usually have a time of hymn requests and a time of congregational prayer in addition to the sermon.
Children and Worship
Children of all ages are welcome to join in the worship of God at Providence. Because we know that worship can sometimes be a challenge for little ones (and their parents), a nursery is provided for infants and toddlers (up to 3 years old) for the duration of the worship service. Children from ages 3 to 5 join in the first part of the worship service with their families; a children's church program is offered for them during the second part of the service.
What to Wear?
Our congregation comes from several different kinds of church backgrounds; others didn't grow up going to church at all. Some prefer to dress up a bit on Sunday and others come more casually dressed. We strive to keep first things first and encourage reverence for God and consideration for others, while remembering that ``people look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.``
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!
Amen.
-- 2 Peter 3:18
Evangelical
We are committed to the cross of Jesus Christ as the only remedy for human sin, the need for all people to experience a spiritual rebirth, the inspiration and authority of the Bible, and the necessity for Christians to express their faith in Jesus Christ through obedience to his teachings.
Reformed
Our beliefs are in accord with the ancient creeds of the church (the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed) as well as the historic Reformed statements of faith (the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Three Forms of Unity).
Presbyterian
Our church is governed by a group of elders, elected in accordance with the teaching of Scripture (e.g., in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9), and connected to other congregations in a regional association known as a presbytery.
Our Denomination
Providence Community Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America, an association of evangelical and Reformed churches primarily located in the United States (but with a growing presence in Canada).
[1] that there is but one true and living God, who exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God alone is the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things visible and invisible, who will never forsake the work of his hands,
[2] that the eternal Son of God, incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus was God with us on earth, declaring and embodying God’s glorious reign in his words and works. After living a life of perfect obedience to his Father, Jesus died on the cross as a perfect atonement for sin. In His death and bodily resurrection, Christ not only defeated the powers of darkness, but rescued his people from sin and death, in order to unite in him all things in heaven and on earth. Exalted as Lord above all authority and power, He continues to intercede for His people at our heavenly Father’s right hand,
[3] that the Holy Spirit is both Lord and Giver of life, sent by the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, to enlighten our hearts in the knowledge of our Saviour, to guide the church in all the truth, and to adorn our lives with grace and holiness so as to serve each other in love,
[4] the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments together, to be Holy Scripture. It is the authoritative written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, inerrant in all that it teaches, and the one entirely trustworthy rule for faith and life. The teachings of Holy Scripture are grasped through careful study and prayerful reflection, under the guidance of God’s Spirit,
[5] that God created humankind, male and female, in His image. God’s design for marriage was the spiritual and physical union of one biological male and one biological female with each other for life. Man’s purpose in life is to glorify God, to love his neighbour, and to be thankful stewards of God’s good creation,
[6] that sin and suffering entered God’s perfect world when Adam and Eve listened to the serpent in the garden, and ate that which was clearly forbidden, plunging the human race into misery. Humankind thereby incurred God’s just judgment, by falling into sin, guilt, and shame,
[7] that God in mercy and grace redeems all sinners who repent of their sin, forsake the world and trust in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. Through faith in the Saviour Jesus, they are justified and adopted as God’s own children, and sealed with the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of their eternal inheritance, who also empowers them for their holy calling in this world,
[8] that the one holy, catholic and apostolic church, existing in local communities of faith, is the body of Christ, the people of God, and the temple of the Spirit. Christ’s bride is sent into the world to embody the unity in the Trinity, to proclaim God’s truth, and to exhibit God’s love to a lost and broken humanity in word and deed,
[9] that Jesus Christ will appear again as judge of the living and the dead: the righteous unto eternal blessing and the unrighteous unto eternal shame and damnation. He will then consummate His kingdom of peace and everlasting life, which is the new heavens and the new earth, where sin, shame, suffering, and death will never enter into again.
Adopted by the elders of Providence Community Church
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
-- Romans 15:4
