After the resurrection of Christ, the early believers continued to meet in the synagogues on the Sabbath where they witnessed to their faith in Christ as the Jewish Messiah. At the same time, they met on the first day of the week to "remember" the risen Christ through an observance of the Lord's Supper. When their presence was no longer tolerated in the Jewish synagogues, they began to meet on Sunday for their own service that combined their experiences of the synagogue and the upper room. This primary model of Christian worship is referred to as "The Service of the Word and Table" and is the foundation upon which common worship around the world and at Oakland is built.

As Christian worship evolved, it naturally added the elements of "Entrance" and "Dismissal," thus producing the four-fold progression of Christian worship:

Entrance-Word-Table-Dismissal.

Some congregations such as ours have not continued the practice of proclaiming Christ's death and resurrection at the communion table every Sunday; therefore, the four-fold progressions is expressed as:

Entrance-Word-Response-Dismissal.

Entrance

The Entrance is the time of gathering and preparation and includes our approach to God. It begins as many scattered individuals make their way to the place of worship and, after greeting one another, unify themselves into the worshiping body of Christ. The sounds of the organ, piano, handbells or other musical offerings aid in drawing our spirits together with God's Spirit. The lighting of candles signifies God's presence among us. We light three candles as a symbol of the Trinity. A call to worship encourages us to be actively involved in responding to God. After the invocation acknowledges God's presence and God's initiation of worship, we respond by praising God, often through a vibrant hymn of adoration. Professing the greatness of God causes us to realize and confess our sinfulness; yet, believing in the promises of God, the individual and corporate prayers for forgiveness are followed by assurance of God's pardon. The cycle of confession, repentance and assurance helps worshippers relive their personal salvation experiences, realize the need for daily renewal, and remember the faithfulness of God. The worship actions of the Entrance help us appropriately come before our God and prepare us to hear God's Word.

Word

The Service of the Word involves the congregation in listening and proclaiming. In worship we seek to hear God speak as we experience the fullness of Biblical scripture. Passages from the Old and New Testaments are read or sung by individuals, groups, or the entire congregation. Interspersed with the Biblical proclamations are appropriate responses including Psalms, hymns, anthems and litanies which help illuminate and amplify the scriptural texts. Additional response to the proclamation of scripture is heard in the sermon which invites further reflection and attention to God's Word.

Response

Since worship is characterized by Divine revelation and human response, it is natural to follow the experience of God's Word with various individual and congregational responses involving acts of thanksgiving, commitment, discipleship and service. Responsive acts of congregational dedication are often expressed in the singing of a hymn, through spoken affirmations of faith as well as ministry action. In support of local and worldwide missions and ministry, the congregation responds by giving an offering. Persons who profess faith in Christ are encouraged to respond with the act of Christian Baptism. Oakland practices believer's baptism by immersion. Baptismal services take place several times each year. Presenting the work of the church through announcements allows people the opportunity to become involved in the mission and ministry of the church.

At least once each month, and at other meaningful times in the church year, the congregation celebrates the Table of the Lord, (Communion, the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist) as together we commune with God, present Christ, and know God's Spirit among us. All Christians are welcomed to participate in this significant act of worship.

Dismissal

As the congregation gathers with purpose, so it departs. With lives and faith renewed, worshippers are sent into the world to continue in daily worship and service. The Dismissal characteristically includes words of commission and/or a parting blessing, or benediction. The sounds of the instruments encourages worshipers to return to the world carrying the good news of the Gospel as they go back to their individual and scattered walks of life.

Understanding that common worship has meaningful progression is to understand that every element "from beginning to end" is important; there are neither "preliminaries" nor any "afterthoughts." The progression of the entire service presents an opportunity for worshipers to meaningfully live out their ongoing relationship with God and actively proclaim the life, death, resurrection and coming again of Christ. Great care is therefore taken in the planning of elements and their progression in the common worship services of Oakland.

Unfortunately, in our entertainment-oriented culture, many individuals are inclined to sit and observe worship take place while evaluating it for its entertainment value. Nonetheless, it is our hopeful prayer that each person gathered for worship at Oakland may realize worship's sole purpose and find in every service an active means of participation in the highest endeavor of life: the Worship and Service of God.