Hillendale Baptist Church, 13135 Hillendale Dr. Woodbridge, Va 22193

SERVICE OF WORSHIP 

We call it a 'service' because, in our prayer and praise, we are serving God. God is served both by our works of love in the world and by our praise in the church. However, this is 'service' in a twofold sense: as we are busy serving God, God is also ministering to us, speaking to us, guiding us, comforting us, prodding us.  

PRELUDE 

After greeting those around you, listen to the music. The Prelude is more than mere background sound; it is the first act of worship. This is a good time for personal prayer, for silent reflections, for looking through the bulletin and preparing to participate in the Service. We have a nursery for our babies and younger children. We encourage you to use this service so you will be able to concentrate on the worship of almighty God.  We also have a Children’s Church for those first grades and under that meet each Sunday. Children can go down to the fellowship hall during the second hymn to participate. 

CHORAL PRAISE 

This is the time when the choir leads our hearts and minds to God through a short musical statement of challenge, faith and commitment. 

CALL TO WORSHIP 

One of our ministers alone or responsively by the congregation and the minister may speak this,  or it may be a sung invitation to “call us” to actively worship God.

INVOCATION 

This is a humble calling upon God to assist us in our offering of worship. It is not an invitation to God to be present, for He is always present when His people assemble. This is a short prayer acknowledging His presence in the Worship Service and asking God to sensitize us to His presence and to open our hearts to receive His blessings. 

CALL TO PRAYER 

This is an invitation to the congregation to unite with the pastor as he leads them in the pastoral prayer. This may be a brief reading from Scripture, a Responsive Reading, or, the choir may sing the invitation. 

PRAYER 

This is spoken by the minister to God for the congregation. 'Usually the prayer focuses upon the concerns and petitions of the people and the needs of the world. Occasionally we will end the prayer by reciting “The Lord’s Prayer.” The tradition at Hillendale is to use the prayer from the Gospel of Matthew 6:9-13, as translated in the King James Version. This model prayer provides us all with the opportunity to confess our sins and to promise to forgive one another. 

MUSIC 

Music is one medium, which can be used in every aspect of worship. We use music to call ourselves to worship, to praise God, to affirm our faith, to confess our sins, to pray, to commit ourselves to service. 

Ps 96:1-2 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, aft the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name, proclaim his salvation day after day. 

The music of worship is worthwhile to the extent that it glorifies God or communicates the Word such that it brings people into closer harmony with God, We should sing to worship God and to inspire devotion and unity in us all. At Hillendale we use both congregational forms of singing such as praise songs, hymns, choruses and prepared music by individuals, ensembles, and choirs. All of these forms should be an offering to God of our praise and worship. 

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE 

Our ministry associates usually lead this time. It is important for everyone to feel welcome and significant at the Service. 

SCRIPTURE READING 

We get a detailed description of the reading and the explaining  of the reading of scripture from a passage in the Nehemiah, Chapter 8. When Jesus went to the synagogue for worship, He read from the Bible and then commented on the passage to the people. Paul told Timothy to 'attend to the public reading of Scripture', l Timothy 4:13. Occasionally, the pastor may request the congregation to stand as the Scripture is read. 

MESSAGE 

The preacher attempts to interpret and apply the Scripture passage in terms understandable and applicable to the congregation. 

INVITATION HYMN 

The purpose of this hymn is to provide an appropriate place in the service for people to show their response to God's invitation. If a person has accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, the next step is to make a public profession of faith in Christ. The Invitation hymn is the appropriate place for a person to make this profession by coming forward to meet the pastor as the congregation is singing. At the end of the song, the pastor will announce the reason why the person came forward.

OFFERTORY PRAYER 

This prayer is usually offered by a deacon to dedicate the people's tithes and offerings to God for His work. 

OFFERINGS 

In Old Testament times, the sacrifice was an important part of the service. In the New Testament church, the offering was a regular part of worship. Worship through our returning to God a proportionate part of His blessings to us is Biblical, 1 Cor 16.2. After we have made our commitment of life, we are given the opportunity to worship and commit ourselves through giving our tithes and offerings. 

OFFERTORY 

Usually music is played or sung while you are dedicating and presenting your tithes and offerings to God. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

As part of our worship, we give opportunity to you to serve Him through various ministries. This is the time of the service when we emphasize these opportunities. Our tradition is to place announcements in the “Herald” and the weekly bulletin. This is not a time to read these but rather for a late notice or emphasis.

BENEDICTION 

The Benediction is a closing prayer by one of our ministers asking God's blessing upon the people. The choir may sing this prayer or it may be a congregational song such as, "Blest Be the Tie". 

POSTLUDE 

The musician plays a final musical offering as we go forth to serve and to love.  

THE LORD'S SUPPER 

At Hillendale, we practice open communion. By this, we mean that anyone who has accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior is welcome to participate with us in the Lord's Supper. We believe that the elements, bread and juice, symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. 

BABY DEDICATION 

We baptize people who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is called Believer's Baptism'. Early in a child's life, however, we invite the parents to dedicate themselves to the Christian upbringing of their child. At this service, the church promises to help the parents meet their promise to God.