Visiting a Reformed church: what to expect
A practical walk-through of a Reformed Sunday: arriving, seating, order of service, length, children, dress, collection, the Lord's Supper and coffee after.
Deo Gloria, . 4 minute read.
Walking into an unfamiliar church is harder than it sounds. You do not know where to sit, when to stand, or whether you will be asked to do something in front of everyone. This page walks through a typical Sunday at a Canadian Reformed church so that nothing surprises you. Every congregation has its own habits, but the outline below will hold almost everywhere.
Before you arrive
Services are held twice on Sunday, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Times are on each church’s website and on its listing here. Plan to arrive ten or fifteen minutes early; people are chatting in the foyer, and it is easier to find a seat before things begin.
There is no dress code. Many members dress up, with men in jackets or suits and women in dresses or skirts, because that is their custom, but visitors in ordinary clothes will not be out of place. Come as you are.
Arriving and finding a seat
Someone at the door will greet you and, if you like, show you where the washrooms and the nursery are. Sit anywhere. If you would like to be able to slip out, a seat near the back or on the aisle is fine. Bibles and the church’s songbook, the Book of Praise, are in the pews, and the order of service is printed in a bulletin or shown on a screen, so you will always know where you are.
Families sit together, and children attend the whole service from a young age. You will hear the occasional small voice. Some churches have a nursery for the very young, but nobody expects a parent to take a child out at the first noise.
The order of service
The service opens with the minister speaking the words of Psalm 124: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” This is called the votum. It is followed by a greeting from God, called the salutation. The congregation stands for these opening words and for the closing blessing; the rest of the time you sit. If in doubt, do what the people around you do.
The morning service includes the reading of the Ten Commandments, which reminds the congregation of God’s will for their lives. In the afternoon, the Apostles’ Creed is confessed in its place, either spoken or sung.
Singing is congregational, accompanied by an organ or piano. Most of what is sung is the Psalms of the Bible, set to melodies from sixteenth-century Geneva, with a number of hymns as well. The tunes will be unfamiliar; nobody minds if you listen rather than sing.
There is a long prayer, spoken by the minister on behalf of everyone, which brings the needs of the congregation and the world before God. Scripture is read, and the sermon follows. In the morning the sermon usually explains a passage of the Bible; in the afternoon it usually works through a section of the Heidelberg Catechism, so that over a few years the whole of the Christian faith is taught. Sermons run about thirty to forty minutes.
A closing Psalm or hymn and a blessing end the service. All told, expect seventy-five to ninety minutes.
The collection
An offering is collected during the service, usually in bags or plates passed along the pews. This is how members support their church and its care for people in need. Visitors are not expected to give anything. Passing the bag along is perfectly normal.
The Lord’s Supper
Several times a year the Lord’s Supper is celebrated, and it is announced the week before. Members come forward in groups to sit at a table, or the bread and wine are passed along the pews, depending on the church. Because the elders have a responsibility to know who is at the table, visitors are not expected to take part, and nobody will be watching to see whether you do. Christians from other churches who want to participate simply speak with an elder beforehand, and the church will explain what it asks.
Afterwards
Most congregations serve coffee after the morning service, in the hall or the foyer, and this is the easiest place to meet people. Members will introduce themselves; if you would rather not be asked questions, it is fine to say you are just visiting. The minister and the elders make a point of speaking with visitors, and they are used to questions from people of every background.
If you would like to follow up
There is no expectation that a visit leads to anything. If you do want to go further, the natural next step is a conversation with the minister, who can meet with you at the church or in your home, or point you to an evening study group. Many churches offer an introductory course on the Reformed faith for adults who are exploring. None of this commits you to joining.
A few small things
- Phones are silenced, but nobody will object to your following the Bible reading on one.
- In many churches the congregation sings the “Amen” after the final blessing, which surprises some visitors.
- Latecomers are welcome; an usher will help you find a seat.
- If you have mobility needs, most buildings are accessible; call ahead and the church will make sure of it.
The local Reformed church listed on this site would be glad to see you on a Sunday, whether you come once out of curiosity or many times. Either is fine.