our mission

As a congregation of Christ, we are dedicated to the life-long pursuit of Christ's will: both to know it and to obey it. To this end, in everything we give precedence to Holy Scripture – inspired and inerrant – above every preference, creed, and tradition of man. This stems from our sincere belief that "all things pertaining to life and godliness​" (2 Peter 1.3) are contained in God's Word. This simple truth has a tremendous impact on the way we worship God.  
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Below, you will find some brief explanations of the different aspects of our typical worship service. We hope you'll find the simplicity and reverence of our worship refreshing.

the worship setting

Jesus taught that, under His New Covenant, God's children would worship with an emphasis on "spirit and truth​" (John 4.24) rather than physical location. Thus, for Christians, the worship setting is a simple one: some Christians meet in homes or in rented facilities. Others meet in a modest building that is suitable for the purpose of worship. At our meeting place, you'll find a simple structure where God's people can get together to praise and worship Him.
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We seek to foster an atmosphere that promotes the worship and glorification of God, not man. Instead of being divided into classes or groups, men and women of every age and level of spiritual maturity assemble together (Hebrews 10.25). We hope you will be touched by the simplicity and dignity of our worship. 
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Prayer

Throughout our worship service, you'll hear us say several prayers. Prayer is designed by God as an avenue to bring Him praise, to thank Him for His blessings, to intercede for the weak and oppressed, and to ask for blessings and guidance (Philippians 4.6, Matthew 6.9-13). 
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There is no designated pose a Christian must assume to pray to God. Some bow their heads or kneel to pray (Genesis 24.26, 1 Kings 8.54). Others pray looking upwards (Mark 6.41). Some even fall on their faces (Genesis 17.3). Whatever you choose to do, we politely ask that you humble yourself in some way when we approach the throne of God together.
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contribution

The New Testament church is funded entirely by the free-will offerings of its members. Every first day of the week, we lay something aside (1 Corinthians 16.1-2). The Bible outlines many ways in which the contribution is to be used, including Gospel outreach, relief of needy Christians, and support of ministers such as elders and evangelists. If you are interested in how we are spending our contribution, feel free to ask! This congregation has nothing to hide.

As with communion, this is a duty for members of our congregation. The contribution is not a solicitation of your funds.
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singing

When you enter our meeting place, the first thing you may notice is the lack of any musical instruments. As Christians, we are simply instructed to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5.19, Colossians 3.16). In fulfillment of this, we choose to lift our praises to God using only the instruments He provided us with: our voices! During our song service, the whole congregation raises their voice as one, and no one is exalted above any other. Thus, we find a deep sense of unity and mutual edification in our singing.

You may also notice that we have printed our own songbook rather than purchasing a hymnal produced by some other organization. Contained in this book is a collection of some of our favorite "psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs." We have chosen these songs for their beautiful melodies, convicting words, and scriptural foundation. We invite you to raise your voice with us!
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teaching

We set aside a portion of every service for "the public reading of Scripture, preaching, and teaching" (1 Timothy 4.13). This is accomplished by men speaking one at a time (1 Corinthians 14.40). This portion of service is designed to instruct and exhort in ways of righteousness. We encourage you to follow along in your bible (Acts 17.11) as the speaker presents his lesson. Taking notes for further study or asking questions after service is also encouraged. Our goal is to present sound, Biblical teaching in such a way that everyone in attendance leaves edified.
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Communion

Each Sunday morning, we share the Lord's Supper following the pattern given by Christ on the night He ordained it (1 Corinthians 11.23-26). One of our members will take a loaf of bread representing Christ's body (Mark 14.22), bless it, and share it with the other members of our congregation. He will then take a cup representing the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11.25) filled with grape juice representing Christ's blood (Matthew 26.28-29), bless it, and share it in a similar manner.

This solemn occasion serves both as a memorial of Christ's death and a demonstration of our unity and fellowship as a congregation. Therefore, the Scripture charges all who share this Supper to do so with the utmost reverence and care (1 Corinthians 11.27-29). 
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Oyster Bay • Church of christ

Copyright 2020