Question about the PCA

[AndOne]

Just curious to know how the PCA church service is laid out. Does it include a formal line of worship week after week - kind of like the Episcopal church does - with confession, hymns, prayers, reciting of creeds, communion, and a sermon? Or is it more like a Baptist type of service where you have 40 minutes of worship and then 40 minutes of preaching?

Thanks...

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

Just curious to know how the PCA church service is laid out. Does it include a formal line of worship week after week - kind of like the Episcopal church does - with confession, hymns, prayers, reciting of creeds, communion, and a sermon? Or is it more like a Baptist type of service where you have 40 minutes of worship and then 40 minutes of preaching?

Thanks...

There is diversity in the PCA. Some churches have more and some have less liturgy. I think even the least liturgical PCA Church would be slightly more formal than a Baptist Church, but there are some that are very liturgical as well.

Of the two PCA Churches here in SW Louisiana, one is very liturgical and the other is moderately so. Both have weekly communion.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

 

[AndOne]

Thanks Kennith -

I'm going to be visiting one here shortly - I'll give you more details in a PM....

Nice quote btw...

Dave

 

[Elderone]

The PCA which we attend here in PA is conservative, has a set litergy which takes 30 or so minutes with the remaining 30 to 40 minutes for the sermon. The communion is quarterly.

This is very close to the Reformed Presbyterian Church we attended in Virginia with the one difference that in Virginia we sang hymns and Psalms.

 

[AndOne]

Thanks elderone - appreciate the input...

 

[Elderone]

I forgot to mention in my last post that the PCA we attend uses the NIV which isn't a good translation.

Good conservative churches are not very plentyful in our area, so I wish you and your family God's direction in finding one.

 

[AndOne]

Thanks Elderone - we actually have a great "Reformed Baptist" church that we are members of and very active in. We just had a baby however and I have been very diligently studying the issue of padeobaptism - which is why I am going to go visit a PCA church. I really do not want to leave my church - as we have many strong bonds/friendships there - however I am considering bringing my baby daughter to be baptised - and when we do leave this church (in about a year and a half - we are a military family as should be evident from my picture above) - we will start in the PCA at our next duty station. Not sure how this will be taken in my current church should I decide this is the right thing to do - I'm wondering if they would strip us of our membership, take us out of teaching positions, etc. Not that I really care - as I have to answer to God first in matters related to my children. Also - I'm not sure if a PCA church will be willing to baptise my daughter unless we intended immediate membership with them. I'll have to cross that bridge when I make my final decision on this issue.

I have found an outstanding article on this topic however and I wanted to post it here: http://www.girs.com/library/theology/gs_infbap.html for any one that is looking into this as well. I have read countless articles on this issue in recent weeks and this is the best to date that I have found.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I have found an outstanding article on this topic however and I wanted to post it here: http://www.girs.com/library/theology/gs_infbap.html for any one that is looking into this as well. I have read countless articles on this issue in recent weeks and this is the best to date that I have found.

Greg Strawbridge has some great stuff on the web on the subject of paedobaptism. He too is a former credo-baptist only guy who studied his way into paedobaptism. He is Pastor of All Saints Presbyterian Church.

Kenith

 

[Elderone]

I am Not sure how this will be taken in my current church should I decide this is the right thing to do - I'm wondering if they would strip us of our membership, take us out of teaching positions, etc. Not that I really care - as I have to answer to God first in matters related to my children. Also - I'm not sure if a PCA church will be willing to baptise my daughter unless we intended immediate membership with them. I'll have to cross that bridge when I make my final decision on this issue.

If the church your attending is as reformed as you say they should not take away your membership or teaching position(s). If they do, that would just be God's way of making it easier for your move. (I am familure with the 40 boats and you and I have talked on the CG forum with my name being very similar to this one.)

If you find a good reformed or conservative church at your next duty station, they most probably will not baptise your child until you and your wife become members. At our previous church we would not, and we would question both of you thoroughly to determine that you were indeed Christians before offering membership - as with communion being the Lord's table, the Church is also His and we didn't believe "y'all come" in either of these instances was Biblical. We also did not have any people in "any" position of authority unless they were a member and had their theology straight, no matter how qualified. I doubt you will have any problems concerning qualifications by just what you have said on this forum.

I will have you and your family in my morning prayers.

Take care and may God give you wisdom and knowledge.

 

[Wilfred of Ivanhoe]

http://www.rpcbmt.org/030605.html

Here is a link to yesterday's order of worship. I have never attended another PCA church but I am told that we are kind of in the middle as far as liturgy. Communion is the first Sunday of the month. Our initial Psalm is always different as are the different aspects of the confession of sin. The affirmation of faith typically coincides with the sermon text. The only things that are always the same is that we sing the Doxology after offeratory and we sing "Christ we do all adore thee" after taking communion.

 

[AndOne]

Elder One -

If you are talking about Fred's Place and the military.com Coast Guard Forum - you must have me mixed up with someone else. I never post on that website...

I have frequented the Coast Guard Chief's forum before - but only on a limited basis. If you would like to discuss the 47 Motor Life Boat - pictured above - I could go on and on - it is a wonderfull boat - PM me if you like. Would you by chance happen to be ex-CG?

Thank you for your prayers of support!!!

Dave