Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

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“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” Psalm 60:4

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Home / About Us / How We Worship / Order of Service

Order of Service

In the past, differences in the way churches worshipped were not as numerous and pronounced as they are now. People no longer know what to expect when they attend a new church. Here we explain what happens during our services. We warmly invite you to attend any of our places of worship.

For our underlying views on worship, see Why We Worship This Way. Our services are simple in form and reverent in nature. They are primarily to worship God, and also intended for the spiritual and eternal benefit of all who attend.

Free Presbyterian Church, Cameron, Zimbabwe

Below are outlines of the order of service that you can expect when attending a Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland congregation. Believing in Scriptural uniformity,[link needed] the same order is followed by all our congregations throughout the world.

Details are given below for:

  • Usual Lord’s Day services
  • Midweek prayer meetings
  • The Lord’s Supper

Lord’s Day service

(morning and evening)

  1. Praise
  2. Prayer
  3. Bible Reading
  4. Praise
  5. Sermon
  6. Prayer
  7. Praise
  8. [Intimations]
  9. Benediction

Time: The whole service usually lasts around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Praise: The whole congregation sings from a metrical translation of the Psalms of Scripture. The singing is led by the human voice of a precentor rather than any musical instrument. Three psalms or portions of psalms are sung, and the congregation remains seated to sing. In English-speaking congregations, the metrical version used is the so-called Scottish Psalter, which in 1650 was approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and appointed to be used in worship.

Prayer: The congregation stands while the minister leads in prayer. This posture reflects the approved practice of the Scriptures in relation to public prayer (Mark 11:25). See Standing for Prayer.

Bible Reading: There is at least one reading from the Bible in each service, in order to hear the Word of God and understand more fully what will be expounded in the sermon. In English-speaking congregations readings are from the Authorised (King James) Version of the Bible, which we believe to be the most accurate translation in the English language.

Sermon: Christian worship should emphasise sound biblical teaching. The sermon is the longest part of the service, in which a passage from the Bible is explained and applied. Ministers are not always available to take every service. Usually ruling elders will take their place, and worship will be conducted in a similar manner. Sometimes the elder will read a minister’s printed sermon rather than give his own address.

Benediction: The service closes with the benediction, when words similar to 2 Corinthians 13:14 are pronounced. The congregation stands for the benediction.

Midweek prayer meetings

These are structured similarly to the Lord’s Day service, except that they are shorter and the minister will ask male members to pray.

The Lord’s Supper

If you are visiting with us on an occasion when the Lord’s Supper is being administered, (usually on a Lord’s Day morning), the service will begin according to the usual order of service as outlined above. After the sermon and the third singing of praise, the service will be extended as follows:

  1. Fencing the Table
  2. Praise – usually Psalm 116, while the elements of bread and wine are placed on the Table by the elders
  3. Praise – usually Psalm 116, while the communicants go forward and sit at the Table
  4. Bible Reading – the words of institution in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
  5. Prayer
  6. Address to the communicants at the Table
  7. Partaking of the bread and wine
  8. Address to the communicants at the Table
  9. Praise – usually Psalm 103, while the communicants leave the Table and resume their places in the congregation
  10. Address to all (this is not always done)
  11. Prayer
  12. Praise
  13. [Intimations]
  14. Benediction

Time: The Communion service can last up to an hour or more than an ordinary service.

Public worship: Although only the Lord’s people may sit at the Table, the administration of the Lord’s Supper is part of public worship, so it is usual for the whole congregation to remain throughout the whole service. No one is required to leave the building.

Fencing the Table: The minister will invite and encourage those who have a right to come to the Table, by giving marks of grace, to encourage the Lord’s people to keep in remembrance their Saviour’s death. Solemnly, and in the name of the Head of the Church, he will debar the rest, who have no right to sit at the Table, by giving appropriate descriptions of those who are not the people of God, who could not benefit by coming to the Table. Click on the link for more on Fencing the Table.

P1080168

Communion token

Communicants going to the Table: Please note that only those who have been previously admitted by the Kirk Session (the minister and elders) and have been given a token can sit at the Lord’s Table. Follow this link for further explanation of this Scriptural practice. The Free Presbyterian Church does not have a “closed communion” policy; nevertheless access to the Table must be restricted according to Scripture, as the link shows.

Communion Seasons: Beginning on the previous Thursday, preparatory services precede the Lord’s Day on which the Lord’s Supper is dispensed. A thanksgiving service (or services) follows on Monday.

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Headcoverings: Scripture clearly teaches (in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16) that during public worship women and girls are to wear suitable headcoverings, and that men and boys are to keep their heads uncovered. This practice is followed throughout the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

Rev Keith M Watkins

About Us

  • Who We Are
    • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland – Why It Exists Today
    • The Free Presbyterian Church Catechism
      • A Catechism of the History and Principles of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland – PDF
      • 1. Origins of the Free Presbyterian Church (1-13)
      • 2. The Westminster Confession of Faith (14–22)
      • 3. The Declaratory Act and the Free Church (23–53)
      • 4. The Infallibility of Scripture (54-67)
      • 5. Erroneous Doctrines (68-77)
      • 6. Innovations in Worship (78-93)
      • 7. Church and State (94-104)
      • 8. Church office-bearers (105-130)
      • 9. Church Courts (131-140)
      • 10. Church Unity (141-149)
      • 11. Modern Religious Cults (150-159)
      • 12. Modern Errors (160-170)
      • 13. Evolution (171-175)
      • 14. Christ’s Second Coming (176-179)
      • Appendix 1. Deed of Separation 1893
      • Appendix 2. Free Church of Scotland Declaratory Act 1892
      • Appendix 3. FP Synod Resolutions
      • Appendix 4. Questions put to Office-bearers and Formula to be signed by them
      • Appendix 5. Memorandum on the Church of Scotland Enabling Bill 1920
    • The Declaratory Act Controversy
      • Declaratory Act – Reasons for Separation
      • How the Declaratory Act changed the Constitution of the Free Church
      • Explanatory Criticism of the Declaratory Act
      • The Consequences of the Declaratory Act
      • The Declaratory Act and Admission into Office in the Free Church
      • The Constitutional Aspects of the Declaratory Act
      • A Brief History of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
  • What We Contend For
    • Our Free Presbyterian Heritage
    • The Authorised Version
      • The Importance of the Authorised Version for the Church in Britain
      • 2015 Synod Resolution on Versions of the Bible
    • Evangelical or Reformed
    • A Protestant Witness
      • The Pope and the Constitution of the United Kingdom
      • The Pope as the Head of a False Religion
      • Papal Infallibility
      • The Pope in Scripture
    • The Five Points of Calvinism
      • The Canons of Dort
    • The Free Offer of the Gospel
    • Resolution on Creed Subscription
    • Church Discipline
      • The Purposes of Church Discipline
      • The Church’s responsibility to administer Biblical discipline faithfully
      • The benefits of exercising Church discipline
      • Accusations Levelled against a Church Exercising Discipline
    • Baptism
      • Subjects of Baptism – by Rev. William MacIntyre
      • Mode of Baptism – by Rev. William Macintyre
      • Should Infants be Baptised?
    • The Lord’s Supper
      • Why do the minister and elders interview intending communicants?
      • Restricted Communion
      • Fencing the Table
    • Our Separate Stance
    • The Sabbath
      • Why the Sabbath should Still be Kept
      • How the Sabbath should be Kept
      • Sabbath or Lord’s Day – not “Sunday”
      • What about using Public Transport on the Sabbath?
    • Family worship
      • Family worship – a recent overview
      • Family worship – a recent address to young people
      • Family worship – a convicting appeal from C H Spurgeon
      • Family worship – a wartime appeal from more than a century ago
      • Family worship – a review
      • Family worship – another wartime appeal
      • Family worship – an illustration of its power
    • Distinctions between Male and Female
      • Men and Women Equal in Value
      • The Distinct Roles of Men and Women
      • Can women lead in public prayer?
      • Distinct Clothing for Men and Women
      • Long hair for women and short hair for men
  • What We Believe
  • How We Worship
    • Order of Service
    • The Right Way to Worship
      • Standing for Prayer
      • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
    • The Regulative Principle of Worship
      • Does the Bible tell us how we are to Worship?
      • The Importance of the Regulative Principle for Today
      • The Regulative Principle as defined by the Scottish Reformers and others
    • Exclusive Psalmody
      • Does the Bible tell us What to Sing?
      • Why Psalms Only
    • No Musical Instruments
      • Musical Instruments in Worship
    • No Christian “Festivals”
      • Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
  • How We Are Organised
    • Church Courts
    • Scripture does teach the right form of Church Government
    • The Apostolic Church – Which Is It?
      • Statement of the Question
      • Meaning of the word Church
      • Government of the Church
      • Apostolic Principles
      • The First Principle
      • The Second Principle
      • The Third Principle
      • The Fourth Principle
      • The Fifth Principle
      • The Sixth Principle
      • Application of the Test
      • Application of the Test to Prelacy
      • Application of the Test to Independency
      • Application of the Test to Presbytery
      • Application of the Test – Result
  • Important Documents
    • The Scots Confession
    • The First Book of Discipline
    • The Second Book of Discipline
    • The National Covenant
    • The Solemn League and Covenant
    • The Westminster Confession of Faith
    • The Larger Catechism
    • The Shorter Catechism
    • The Directory for Public Worship
    • The Form of Presbyterial Church Government
    • The Sum of Saving Knowledge
    • The Directory for Family Worship
    • The Claim Declaration and Protest
    • The Protest
    • The Deed of Separation 1893
  • Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 9 Mar - Meeting of Presbyteries: Western and Northern
  2. 16 Mar - 17 Mar - Synod Committee meetings
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  • Our responses to what Christ says 11 Oct 2020
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Website Contact

Rev Keith M Watkins
[email protected]

Moderator of Synod

Rev J Bruce Jardine
FP Manse, Tarbert
Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF
UK

Clerk of Synod

Rev Keith M Watkins
Free Presbyterian Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA, UK.
[email protected]

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Mr William Campbell
133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow,
G3 6LE, UK.
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