Glossary of Terms
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Worship Glossary
Special Services
General Order of Worship
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Advent
The four weeks just before Christmas.
A time set aside to get ready for the coming of Christ.
Follow this link to our Advent Liturgy.
Anthem
Special music sung by the choir or a soloist just before the sermon.
Apostles' Creed
A statement that the congregation says together that reaffirms what we, as Christians, believe.
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent. During the Ash Wednesday service, those who wish to begin the Lenten journey by receiving the symbol of ashes are invited to
come forward during NPC's evening communion service. The congregation is also asked to begin a period of prayer and Bible study lasting until Easter.
Assurance of Pardon
After the prayer of Confession in a worship service, the minister declares, "In Jesus Christ,
we are forgiven." This is done to reaffirm the Scripture's teaching in
I John 1:9,
"If we confess our sins, he
who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (NRSV)
The congregation responds to this declaration by singing
Gloria Patri.
Baptism
The application of water as a sign and symbol of God's grace and love.
Baptism signifies the beginning of life in Christ, not its end.
Baptism is the same whether given to those who confess
their faith on their own or those whose parents confess their faith and
promise to raise their child in that
faith. (As a young adult, the child can then reaffirm those promises.
See Confirmation.)
Benediction
The pastor asks for God's blessing on the congregation.
This is done at the end of the worship service.
Chancel
The front part of the sanctuary containing the lectern, pulpit, communion table, and, in NPC's case, the choir loft.
Chapel
A place of worship, in addition to the sanctuary,
where smaller weddings, funerals, and other special services are held.
Choral Response
A response sung by the congregation, choir or a soloist during worship.
Christmas
A celebration of the birth of Christ and
the coming of hope for all people.
Communion
The eating of bread and wine (or grape juice)
that symbolizes the body and
blood of Jesus. It is a sign of eating and drinking in "communion"
with the crucified and risen Lord Jesus.
He commanded his followers to share the bread and the cup to
remember his death and resurrection until he comes again.
Confession
A prayer we say together to admit our sins to God
and to ask his forgiveness. This is often followed by a time of
silent confession. Confession comes early in a worship service because we
have to tell the truth about ourselves before we can
hear the truth of God's Word to us.
Confirmation
The act in which one "confirms" the vows or promises
made on one's behalf by one's parents at infant baptism.
Through discussions with the pastor, the young people come to more fully
understand the grace of God received at baptism and now are able to
renew those promises on their own.
Those who have not been baptized are usually baptized at this time.
After confirmation, one is considered
to be an adult member of the church.
Doxology
A song of praise and thanksgiving used by the church for more than 300 years.
We sing it as the ushers bring the offering plates to the front of the sanctuary
to remind us that all blessings come from God.
Easter
The day we celebrate the Lord's resurrection. The Easter season continues until until Pentecost.
Epiphany
January 6, a day for commemorating God making himself known
to all people. The ancient church associated this with the visit of
the three Kings, or "Wise Men," to the baby Jesus.
Eucharist
Another word for Communion or the Lord's Supper.
It comes from the Greek word meaning "gratitude" and refers
to the part of Communion where we give thanks to God.
Eucharistic Prayer
A prayer dating back to the early church
in the 3rd century. This prayer is said prior to the Words of
Institution during Communion services.
Gloria Patri
A song of praise to the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
used by Christians for 1,500 years.
Good Friday
The Friday before Easter.
It is the day Christ was crucified.
We call it "good" because it is through Christ's death on the cross
that we receive the forgiveness of our sins.
Homily
A short sermon usually given at a Communion service or shorter than usual service.
Hymn
A song of praise to God that also instructs us in the Christian faith.
Introit
The first song sung by the choir "introducing"
worship (or inviting us to worship). This is usually a song of praise to God.
Invocation
An opening prayer that asks God to be present with us as we worship.
Kyrie Eleison
A Greek phrase that means "Lord have mercy."
The Kyrie is often sung during Lent in worship.
Lent
The 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays).
It begins on Ash Wednesday and is a
time for us to remember the forgiveness of our sins
because of Christ's death and how much God loves us.
Litany
A group of sentences or phrases that the pastor
and the congregation take turns reading.
Liturgist
One who helps to lead worship.
Liturgy
The various parts of the worship service and
how they work together to help us experience God's Word to us.
Lord's Prayer
The prayer Christ taught his disciples
that is still used by followers around the world.
You can find it in
Matthew 6:9-13 or
Luke 11:2-4.
Maundy Thursday
The Thursday just before Easter.
On Maundy Thursday we remember
Jesus' Last Supper with His disciples.
It was then that he gave us the sacrament of Communion. The word
"Maundy" comes from the Latin for "mandate" and refers to Christ's
command at that time to love one another.
Narthex
The hallway or lobby between the door of the church and the sanctuary.
Nicene Creed
A statement of our beliefs, like the Apostles' Creed,
that we read together on Communion Sundays.
The Nicene Creed was written in 325 A.D. when Christians wanted to
make clear they believed that Jesus was the Son of God.
Offering
The congregation is asked, as an act of worship,
to give back to God a portion of
what they have received. This is also called the Offering.
We give to God from our time, talent and
treasure.
Offertory
The music
played or sung while the offering is being received.
This is a time when the people of the church can thank God for
his blessings and offer back to Him their money, their time and
their lives to be used for God's work in the world.
Offertory Prayer
A prayer the pastor says after the Offering is
taken to thank God for His
blessings and to present our offerings to be used for God's work.
Pastor
A Christian minister who serves as Christ's shepherd for the congregation.
Pastoral Prayer
A prayer by the pastor or liturgist for us
(the congregation), our city, our nation and the world.
Having our needs cared for in the sermon,
we respond by caring for the needs of the world around us.
Pentecost
Forty days after Easter, the disciples
"were filled with" the Holy Spirit. This was
the beginning or the "birthday" of the church.
Pentecost is a day to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the
church.
Postlude
The music played as we leave the sanctuary following the service.
Prayer of Adoration
The first prayer of the worship service
where we tell God how much we
love or "adore" Him. It is aprayer of thanks and praise for who God is.
Prelude
The music played as the congregation enters
the sanctuary and prepares for worship.
Psalm
A sacred song or hymn. King David wrote many of the Psalms.
Sacrament
A visible sign of an invisible act of God.
The two sacraments of our church are communion and baptism.
Sanctuary
The holy place in our church where we join to worship God.
The sanctuary is also used for weddings, funerals and other special services.
Sermon
The interpretation or explanation of the scripture lesson used in worship. In the
sermon the preacher helps us understand how the scripture applies to our lives.
Scripture Reading
A passage from the Bible that is read by a church member or
pastor. The sermon for the day is based on this reading.
Trinity
A word which refers to the fact that although God is One,
He is made up of three persons, the Father (God), the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit.
Words of Institution
These words spoken by Jesus to His disciples
at the Last Supper and repeated by the apostle Paul in
I Corinthians 11:23-26.
These words are said during the Cornmunion
service prior to receiving the communion elements.
Installation Service
The dedication of people who have been
ordained to do a particular
ministry in the Church, such as a pastor, elder or deacon.
Ordination Service
The "setting apart" or blessing of
someone for service to God. Pastors,
elders and deacons are ordained.
Commissioning
The blessing and sending out of a church member
to do work for God away from the church.
The biblical practice of laying on of hands by other pastors
and elders is a part of the installation, ordination
and commission services.
Sundays at 9:15 and 11 a.m.
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Prelude
Call to Worship
Hymn
Prayer of Adoration
Choral Response
Confession
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Apostle's Creed
Sacrament of Baptism (if scheduled)
Welcome and Announcements
Hymn
Scripture
Anthem
Sermon
Response
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord's Prayer
Offering of Tithes and Gifts (including Offertory)
Doxology and Prayer of Dedication
Sacrament of Communion
Hymn
Benediction
Choral Response
Passing the Peace
Organ Postlude