Week after week, people gather in the sanctuary at Oakland Baptist with the purpose of worshiping the Creator. Though worship can and does take place in other places, in this document we seek to describe what takes place in this particular sanctuary on typical Sunday mornings and at other times during the year. James F. White, in his book Introduction to Christian Worship (Abingdon Press, 1990) calls this time of corporate worship the common worship , for the worship form that the gathered people share in common. This differs from personal devotions which are entirely separate forms of worship. This document is provided to help the reader understand how our community of faith connects with God and with one another as we respond to God's revelation in worship as God's people.

From its very beginnings, common worship has been at the heart of Oakland Baptist Church. The earliest worship services were well planned, thoughtful designs that sought to lead the worshiper into an intimate encounter with God. This practice has continued through the years under the leadership of many outstanding ministers.

Oakland has identified herself with the Baptist worship tradition known as the Charleston tradition. This tradition emphasizes an orderly, planned worship pattern as opposed to the spontaneous style of the Sandy Creek tradition. The Charleston tradition takes great care in planning its liturgy so there is a thoughtful progression between the various elements of the worship service.

Christian worship is God's self-revelation through Jesus Christ and our human response to that action. This response may include words, actions, and/or emotions. In worship we seek to find God's self-revelation through scriptures, prayers, hymns, sermons, anthems, readings, silence, and through celebration of the Eucharist (Communion or Lord's Supper). We respond through these same elements. Worship is communication from God to us and us to God.

Christian worship is "thoroughly social and organic in character, which means it is never solitary in undertaking." The gathering of believers together to worship God is a response that people have made since the beginning of time. When we gather, we are brought from our many varied life situations and are then united with the common purpose of worship. Oakland seeks to continue this practice with the joyful gathering of God's people seeking God's revelation to this church and to each individual.

The church must frequently reaffirm the priority of worship. The worship of God is the single thing that the church retains as its own and the most significant contribution that the church makes to the world. The more familiar expressions of church life-fellowship, music, Christian education, and missions-derive their definition, their quality, and their inspiration from worship. Without worship, these other expressions would have no meaning. At Oakland, we continually challenge ourselves to develop our worship liturgy in ways that will help each person. We seek to improve our search for God's revelation and strive for more effective ways to respond to this revelation. It is this ever-changing dynamic that gives Oakland's worship vitality.