Services on the Lord’s Day both morning and evening follow the same form based on Biblical principles we believe please the God of Heaven. It is His Worship and what pleases Him must be the ONLY guiding principle.
The service is always led by the minister and begins with a short Bible reading and prayer then the first hymn of our sung worship. We also have a dedicated time of prayer for “intercession” praying for the needs of our world and God’s people, the cause of Christ and our nation. The centre of every service is the “preaching” of God’s Word the Bible.
The Bible is God’s book, the record of His dealings with men and His communications with them. It is absolute truth and as scripture itself testifies:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”
Therefore Christian Worship should revolve around the Ministry of God’s Word and methodical teaching from it. The Bible should govern Worship, Church life and Christian living.
There are many modern Bible translations, some of them are very unreliable and casts doubt upon the teaching ministry of the Church. Crucial to all things in the Church is a reliable translation of Holy Scripture.
Pastor preaches using the Authorised Version (AV) also known as the King James Version (KJV). The pew Bible of the Church currently is the New King James Version (NKJV) which, of all the modern translations is least reliant upon the principle of “Dynamic Equivalence” or interpretation.
We believe that worship should be conducted in a godly manner with respect for God’s Holiness. Emotions should be engaged in true humble adoration of God’s goodness and kindness but the mind should control our actions under the influence of the Holy Spirit and a knowledge of God’s Word. Music is a helpful medium for expressing worship, so the angels of heaven sing God’s praise but music should not be the focus.
At Chardsmead we use organ music via as an accompaniment to singing Psalms and Hymns. Everything we sing is carefully selected on the basis OF FAITHfulness to pure Biblical Doctrine. The words we sing must always speak the truth about God and honour Him. This should not be human ideas about God then, rather what God reveals about Himself.
We currently only use one Hymn book, the old Christian Hymns (not the new one). There is another very good hymn book called Christian Worship but we have not acquired this yet.
The Chapel has rows of chairs for the congregation facing the Pulpit with the hymn numbers and Bible readings listed above. The Pulpit is central demonstrating the importance of God’s Word and its teaching in all Christian practice. The Communion table is in front of the Pulpit.
Above the Pulpit is a quote from scripture of special significance to God’s people here taken from Psalm 46 speaking reliance upon God in all things.
