Worship restores our purpose
Throughout the week, we are bombarded with the responsibilities of life, a mixture of blessings and stress. We believe that God calls His people to come on the day of worship and lay our burdens at His feet, thanking Him for holding everything together. He shows us His power, grace and love in the faces of our brothers and sisters. In worship, we find the forgiveness, encouragement or correction that we need in Christ, and we respond with praise and adoration of our all-powerful, all-loving God. Worship is the fruit that springs from embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Worship restores our participation
Given our nation’s media culture, it is common to expect an entertaining experience in church. At Pine Ridge, however, we see God as the audience, not ourselves. Ministers and musicians are not there to perform for the congregation, but to assist and encourage the people to present their worship to God. Like an orchestra, the people bring their unique, individual sounds together under the leadership of their pastors and musicians as an offering to God. This is the essence of worship.

Worship restores our history
Pine Ridge seeks to worship in ways that are understandable and relevant to our culture. At the same time, we appreciate Christianity’s rich history. We maintain a connection with believers from centuries past by using a pattern for worship that has remained consistent through church history, even as we embrace contemporary expressions of faith. The Scriptures describe worship in heaven as a glorious gathering of cultures, nations and languages from all of human history, all praising one God, in one faith, in the unified voice of the bride of Christ.

The elements of our worship service:

Announcements
The congregation hears about activities and events. Testimonies are presented occasionally.
Invocation
The pastor begins the service by invoking, or asking, God to be present with us, to be pleased with our worship and to bless us as well.
Confession of sin and asking for God’s grace
The congregation meditates silently, praying for forgiveness of sins and for God’s grace during the worship service. It is a way to prepare one’s heart to enter into worship.
Call to worship
The call to worship is God’s invitation and command to worship Him. We read the call to worship from various parts of the Bible.
Hymns and songs
We sing to God both contemporary praise songs and historic hymns, exalting the work of salvation as the Holy Spirit applies it to our minds, lives and experience. The songs often highlight an aspect of God’s character that will be covered in the sermon.
Confession of faith
We use the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds and sections of the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism to enhance the sermon’s theme. These creedal confessions articulate great Biblical principles and connect us to God’s faithful plan of redemption working through history.
Tithes and offerings
We give in acknowledgment that God is our provider and that our ability to create wealth comes only from Him. We worship Him by bringing the “first fruits of our increase” to Him.
Congregational prayer
Believing that prayer is a potent part of worship, we submit written requests for prayer. The pastor voices these praises and requests as the congregation participates silently.
Together, we repeat the Lord’s Prayer as individuals and as members of the body.
Sermon
We hear a biblically-based message, instructing and encouraging us to align our thoughts, actions and experience with the grace of God found in our savior Jesus Christ.
The Lord’s Supper
Monthly, we take the symbolic meal that Jesus instituted for the spiritual nourishment of His people. Our elders distribute the bread and juice among the congregation, and all wait to consume them at the same time under the direction of the pastor. Any baptized Christian who is a member of a church that proclaims the gospel is welcome to participate. God requires us to come in sincerity and truth, so we are warned to search our hearts and repent of our sins before we take part.
Benediction
We end every service with the pronouncement and assurance of God’s blessing to His people.