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An Overview of Worship in the Reformed Church in America

by Carol Peterkin Myers | Feb 21, 2013 | Tags: , , ,

The Reformed Church in America has been influenced by the liturgical movement, the renaissance in the arts, and the praise-and-worship movement. While most churches observe a traditional approach to worship, a great variety of worship styles can be found in the RCA.

The Reformed Church in America is a semiliturgical church. Its liturgy is a part of its constitution (along with the creeds and the Book of Church Order). New liturgical forms join previously approved ones and together form the total corpus of the liturgy. Because liturgical forms are constitutional, they must be approved by the general synod and two-thirds of the district governing bodies (classes). The use of approved orders for the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper is required.
Approach/Word/Response
The most significant event for RCA worship renewal in this century was the publication of Liturgy and Psalms in 1968. These new orders, culminating work begun in 1950, constituted the first major liturgical change since 1906. Liturgy and Psalms gave the church a basic three-part structure for worship: The Approach to God, The Word of God, and The Response to God. This pattern, which allows considerable freedom, brings flow and coherence to RCA worship. In the twenty-five years since this Approach/Word/Response form for Lord’s Day worship was approved, it has gained wide acceptance throughout the church.
A directory for worship was approved in 1986 as an additional part of the constitution. The growing diversity of worship in the church prompted the Commission on Worship to develop principles that could assist churches in maintaining worship integrity within a variety of expression. Initially, there was a possibility that the RCA would become a “directory principle” church with the directory replacing the liturgy in the constitution. However, when the directory was incorporated into the constitution, the historic stance of the denomination was maintained. This directory is described as “equal in authority” to the liturgy. But the liturgy remains the dominant document, the directory being a commentary and instructional piece. The use of approved orders for sacrament and ordination/installation is still required. The directory principles guide both the development of official liturgy and provide sound guidance for those developing innovative liturgy in local congregations.
The principles guiding the Commission on Worship’s liturgical development work since the late 1980s include (1) faithfulness to Reformed theology; (2) incorporation of vivid biblical imagery; (3) use of clear, concise language; (4) breadth in usage of imagery for God; (5) congregational participation; (6) historical sensitivity; (7) attention to the aural nature of language; and (8) sensitivity to emerging ecumenical liturgical convergence. These principles have affirmed within the RCA trends for worship renewal that are occurring in the broader ecumenical community.
Because RCA worship allows for great freedom within quite limited structure, there is enormous worship diversity. It is unlikely that any other communion has a greater variety of worship expression. The range of musical styles, congregational participation, degree of formality, and use of innovation in media, drama, or dance is almost limitless.
Liturgical Balance
RCA churches experiencing health and renewal in worship are moving from the historical dominance of the preached Word (and attendant worshiper passivity) to claim a healthy balance in worship. The integrity of worship as well as the experience of worshipers is enhanced when there is balance between liturgy, sermon, music, and sacrament. A number of trends are contributing to this renewal.
First, a more active role for congregations in responsive sentences, prayer, and music helps the service belong to the congregation, not just pastor and choir. Healthy congregations are moving away from our tradition’s more passive worship style.
The Lord’s Supper is being celebrated more frequently and with greater variety in mode of service. Historically, quarterly celebration has been required. Currently, at least 80 percent of churches celebrate more often than quarterly, 18 percent once a month or more. Most communicants are served in the pew, but more than 30 percent of congregations serve in a variety of ways. Increased frequency of the Supper shows recognition of the centrality of sacrament for the nurture of God’s people and identifies the Word in sacrament as equal in importance to the Word in proclamation as a means of grace.
Increasingly the Common Lectionary serves as a foundation for worship. The lections have been printed on the denominational plan calendar since the early 1980s. Use of the Common Lectionary had grown to 29 percent by 1987. This use helps assure congregations of the breadth of the biblical message.
Observance of the church year has increased dramatically in the last two decades. The major seasons are kept by nearly all congregations with lesser festivals also observed by many. Reclaiming the richness of the liturgical year is a significant shift for a tradition that for centuries looked askance at many practices of historic Christianity. Embracing the church year gives helpful form and structure to worship while encouraging the use of the Common Lectionary.
The last decade has seen increased experimentation within worship. Liturgical drama, dance, and the use of various media has increased in many congregations. This has led to fresh expressions and less reliance on sermon for communication.
The role of music is changing. More congregations, whether using traditional hymnody praise music, Taizé chants, or some combination, are increasing congregational participation in the music of the service. The expanding role of music in the service is a more significant trend than the increasing variation in the type of music used.
All of these recent changes in the worship life of the RCA give worshipers a more active role. They help make worship the “work of the people.”
Recent publications that reflect changes within the RCA include Rejoice in the Lord, 1985 (one of the first of the current crop of hymnal revisions, it incorporates inclusive language for people but doesn’t reflect subsequent concern with God-language); Worship the Lord, 1987 (contains service orders approved between 1976 and 1986); Understanding Worship in the RCA: The Lord’s Day Service with the Directory for Worship, 1988 (an illustrated educational resource); Pray to the Lord, 1988 (a treasury of prayers for corporate worship); Liturgy and Confessions, 1990 (a loose-leaf collection of all approved liturgy, confessions, and the Directory for Worship).
Worship in the Reformed Church in America covers a wide spectrum. It varies from formal to casual, carefully ordered to spontaneous, predictable to idiosyncratic. All its manifestations seek to follow the basic pattern of Approach/Word/Response in giving glory to God.

The Reformed Church in America has been influenced by the liturgical movement, the renaissance in the arts, and the praise-and-worship movement. While most churches observe a traditional approach to worship, a great variety of worship styles can be found in the RCA.

The Reformed Church in America is a semiliturgical church. Its liturgy is a part of its constitution (along with the creeds and the Book of Church Order). New liturgical forms join previously approved ones and together form the total corpus of the liturgy. Because liturgical forms are constitutional, they must be approved by the general synod and two-thirds of the district governing bodies (classes). The use of approved orders for the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper is required.

The most significant event for RCA worship renewal in this century was the publication of Liturgy and Psalms in 1968. These new orders, culminating work begun in 1950, constituted the first major liturgical change since 1906. Liturgy and Psalms gave the church a basic three-part structure for worship: The Approach to God, The Word of God, and The Response to God. This pattern, which allows considerable freedom, brings flow and coherence to RCA worship. In the twenty-five years since this Approach/Word/Response form for Lord’s Day worship was approved, it has gained wide acceptance throughout the church.

A directory for worship was approved in 1986 as an additional part of the constitution. The growing diversity of worship in the church prompted the Commission on Worship to develop principles that could assist churches in maintaining worship integrity within a variety of expression. Initially, there was a possibility that the RCA would become a “directory principle” church with the directory replacing the liturgy in the constitution. However, when the directory was incorporated into the constitution, the historic stance of the denomination was maintained. This directory is described as “equal in authority” to the liturgy. But the liturgy remains the dominant document, the directory being a commentary and instructional piece. The use of approved orders for sacrament and ordination/installation is still required. The directory principles guide both the development of official liturgy and provide sound guidance for those developing innovative liturgy in local congregations.

The principles guiding the Commission on Worship’s liturgical development work since the late 1980s include (1) faithfulness to Reformed theology; (2) incorporation of vivid biblical imagery; (3) use of clear, concise language; (4) breadth in usage of imagery for God; (5) congregational participation; (6) historical sensitivity; (7) attention to the aural nature of language; and (8) sensitivity to emerging ecumenical liturgical convergence. These principles have affirmed within the RCA trends for worship renewal that are occurring in the broader ecumenical community.

Because RCA worship allows for great freedom within quite limited structure, there is enormous worship diversity. It is unlikely that any other communion has a greater variety of worship expression. The range of musical styles, congregational participation, degree of formality, and use of innovation in media, drama, or dance is almost limitless.

RCA churches experiencing health and renewal in worship are moving from the historical dominance of the preached Word (and attendant worshiper passivity) to claim a healthy balance in worship. The integrity of worship as well as the experience of worshipers is enhanced when there is balance between liturgy, sermon, music, and sacrament. A number of trends are contributing to this renewal.

First, a more active role for congregations in responsive sentences, prayer, and music helps the service belong to the congregation, not just pastor and choir. Healthy congregations are moving away from our tradition’s more passive worship style.

The Lord’s Supper is being celebrated more frequently and with greater variety in mode of service. Historically, quarterly celebration has been required. Currently, at least 80 percent of churches celebrate more often than quarterly, 18 percent once a month or more. Most communicants are served in the pew, but more than 30 percent of congregations serve in a variety of ways. Increased frequency of the Supper shows recognition of the centrality of sacrament for the nurture of God’s people and identifies the Word in sacrament as equal in importance to the Word in proclamation as a means of grace.

Increasingly the Common Lectionary serves as a foundation for worship. The lections have been printed on the denominational plan calendar since the early 1980s. Use of the Common Lectionary had grown to 29 percent by 1987. This use helps assure congregations of the breadth of the biblical message.

Observance of the church year has increased dramatically in the last two decades. The major seasons are kept by nearly all congregations with lesser festivals also observed by many. Reclaiming the richness of the liturgical year is a significant shift for a tradition that for centuries looked askance at many practices of historic Christianity. Embracing the church year gives helpful form and structure to worship while encouraging the use of the Common Lectionary.

The last decade has seen increased experimentation within worship. Liturgical drama, dance, and the use of various media has increased in many congregations. This has led to fresh expressions and less reliance on sermon for communication.

The role of music is changing. More congregations, whether using traditional hymnody praise music, Taizé chants, or some combination, are increasing congregational participation in the music of the service. The expanding role of music in the service is a more significant trend than the increasing variation in the type of music used.

All of these recent changes in the worship life of the RCA give worshipers a more active role. They help make worship the “work of the people.”

Recent publications that reflect changes within the RCA include Rejoice in the Lord, 1985 (one of the first of the current crop of hymnal revisions, it incorporates inclusive language for people but doesn’t reflect subsequent concern with God-language); Worship the Lord, 1987 (contains service orders approved between 1976 and 1986); Understanding Worship in the RCA: The Lord’s Day Service with the Directory for Worship, 1988 (an illustrated educational resource); Pray to the Lord, 1988 (a treasury of prayers for corporate worship); Liturgy and Confessions, 1990 (a loose-leaf collection of all approved liturgy, confessions, and the Directory for Worship).

Worship in the Reformed Church in America covers a wide spectrum. It varies from formal to casual, carefully ordered to spontaneous, predictable to idiosyncratic. All its manifestations seek to follow the basic pattern of Approach/Word/Response in giving glory to God.