What to Expect
How we worship together on the Lord’s Day.
Our bulletin
Here is the front page of our Sunday bulletin. It helps you follow along with the order of worship explained below.
Order of Worship
Here at ECCM, we follow the regulative principle of worship, as we believe it is the most faithful way of worshiping God, meaning that our entire worship service is guided by God’s Word—the 66 books of the Bible—which instructs us on how to worship Him. Therefore, our worship includes praying, singing, reading, and preaching the Word, as well as observing the Word through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Day
Gathered worship on the Lord’s Day is central to God’s plan for His church. It is the most important event in a believer’s life each week. In Scripture, the first day of the week—Sunday—is called the Lord’s Day in commemoration of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We gather on this day for worship in accordance with the biblical pattern (Revelation 1:10; cf. Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, 19–23, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2) and the practice of the church throughout history.
The service, step by step
The following lists each element of our worship service in order, with an explanation of each. Communion is observed only on the first Sunday of every month.
Preparatory Song
We begin our gathering with a hymn/song, signaling that the service is about to begin. This time allows the congregation to remain seated while becoming aware of the transition into worship, quieting their hearts, reflecting on God’s presence, and focusing their attention on Him.
Welcome & Announcements
After the preparatory song, we transition to the welcome and announcements, keeping us connected as a church family. This is an opportunity to extend a warm greeting to all in attendance, including our visitors and newcomers. The announcements serve as a brief prelude to our worship service, updating us on upcoming events, ministries, and opportunities to grow and serve together as the body of Christ in its local expression, the Evangelical Covenant Church Manila.
Call to Worship & Prayer of Adoration
God has the first and last word in our gathering. The call to worship is a reading from Scripture where God invites us to joyfully worship Him through His Son. This is followed by a prayer of adoration, which exalts God’s greatness and expresses our reverence and praise for Him as we enter into worship.
Congregational Singing
Scripture instructs us to “speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody with our hearts to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). In response, we sing songs that are rich in biblical truth and well-suited for congregational participation, including psalms and hymns. We encourage everyone to sing wholeheartedly and without hesitation, rejoicing in the shared worship of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Scripture Reading
God’s Word commands us to devote ourselves to the public reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13). As part of our worship, a designated service leader reads a passage that aligns with and deepens our understanding of the sermon text for the day. Unlike the congregational reading, where the whole church participates, this reading is led by one individual, allowing the congregation to listen attentively and reflect on God’s Word.
Prayer of Confession
Recognizing our continual need for God’s grace, the Prayer of Confession provides a time for the congregation to humbly acknowledge our sins before Him. Led by a designated service leader, this prayer expresses repentance and dependence on God’s mercy, seeking His forgiveness through Christ. It is a moment of both individual and corporate reflection. After the Prayer of Confession, a passage of Scripture is read to assure us of God’s pardon through the gospel.
Congregational Reading of Scripture / Congregational Reading of Creed
In this portion of the service, we engage in responsive reading—either alternating with the reader or reading together in unison. Every last Sunday of the month, instead of a Scripture passage, we affirm our faith by reading a historic creed together, grounding ourselves in the foundational truths that have united the church throughout history.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Following the reading of Scripture or the recitation of the creed, the same service leader leads the congregation in a prayer of thanksgiving. This prayer is a response to the biblical truths or doctrinal affirmations declared, offering gratitude to God for His revelation and work among His people. It is also a time for the congregation to collectively express thanksgiving, acknowledging His goodness and faithfulness.
Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer is led by one of our elders, lifting up the needs of the congregation before God. In this prayer, the pastor intercedes for the church, seeking God’s guidance, provision, and grace in our lives. It also includes petitions for the church’s ministry, the broader body of Christ, and the advancement of God’s kingdom in the world.
Congregational Singing & Giving
Following the Pastoral Prayer, we respond in worship through our giving. This act of worship expresses our gratitude to God for His provision and acknowledges His lordship over all we have. Scripture calls us to give regularly, generously, sacrificially, and cheerfully to support the local church and the work of God’s kingdom (2 Corinthians 9, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Galatians 6:6).
Sermon
At ECCM, we follow expository preaching through a series on entire books of the Bible. The sermon is the time when God speaks to us most clearly through His Word. We believe that the Holy Spirit works through the preaching of Scripture to reveal Christ to us.
Expository preaching seeks to make the main point of the sermon the main point of the biblical text. The preacher’s goal is not to entertain, offer mere life lessons, or promote personal opinions, but to faithfully proclaim the message of Scripture—explaining its meaning and applying it to our lives. This approach is Christ-centered, showing how every passage ultimately points to Christ and His redemptive work.
We encourage you to listen attentively, engaging both your mind and heart, as we seek to be shaped by God’s Word.
Response Song
Following the sermon, we sing a response song that aligns with the theme of the message. This song serves as a moment of reflection and commitment, challenging the congregation to respond in faith and obedience to God’s Word. It reinforces the application of the sermon, encouraging us to internalize its truths and live them out in our daily lives.
Communion
Communion is a sacred covenant meal for baptized believers in Christ, where we remember His sacrificial death, affirm our unity as the Body of Christ, and proclaim His death until He returns. Scripture instructs us to examine ourselves thoughtfully before partaking in this meal.
Benediction
Just as God begins our worship gathering with His Word, He also has the final word. The term “benediction” means “blessing.” The pastor proclaims a blessing from Scripture over the congregation, reminding us of God’s grace, presence, and calling as we go forth to live for His glory.
Moment of Silence and Reflection
Following the benediction, we take a moment of silence to reflect on the sermon and the truths we have received. This time allows us to prayerfully meditate on God’s Word and consider how it applies to our lives.
Doxology
The service is then concluded with the singing of the Doxology.