Worship - What to Expect
Facility
We meet on the campus of the Central Valley Christian Academy (formerly the Modesto Adventist Academy). There is a large parking lot in front. Enter through the iron gate and follow the open doors back to the courtyard which leads to the auditorium where we meet for worship. Address for Worship: 2020 Academy Pl, Ceres, CA 95307
People
Expect children...a lot of children. On any given Sunday you can also expect as many as 175 people gathered for worship, spanning a wide spectrum of age and culture.
Attire
Church attire will never be an issue for worship. Although CVP would not be considered a "formal" church, most still put on their "Sunday Best" for worship. The men in leadership wear ties and the women dress modestly.
Order of Worship
We gather corporately, so you can prepare your children in advance to sit through the worship service at your side. The service typically lasts over an hour.
- Morning Exhortation
- Call to Worship
- Corporate Confession of Sin
- Hymns/Psalms
- Pastoral Prayers
- Tithe
- Sermon
- Confession, Creed, Catechism
- Lord's Supper
One of the elders will read a pre-worship exhortation to frame the worship service.
An interactive reading of a psalm or a reading from the Old or New Testament.
An interactive and corporate reading of our confession of sin (also on the home page under Worship Documents in the left column).
The music remains a fresh mix between traditional church hymns from the Trinity Hymnal and favorite psalms. A piano accompanies our worship each Sunday.
The elders of the church lead in praying for the needs of the congregation, the denomination, the local and worldwide communion of saints, and the governing authorities.
A weekly tithe is gathered from the congregation.
One of the elders provides the preaching of God's Word every week.
We corporately recite from one of these each week.
We celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly.
Sacraments
The Lord's Supper is celebrated weekly. We celebrate from one loaf of unleavened bread and the option of wine or grape juice. The elements of communion are distributed by the elders and we consume them corporately. Baptism of new converts and covenant children occurs as the situation arises.
After Worship
We typically gather for a 15-20 minute break to stretch our legs and let the little ones get the wiggles out of their bodies. Coffee and treats can be found in the courtyard.
Disciple Makers
Our Sunday School time is also a corporate gathering. We meet together back in the sanctuary for another half hour of singing choruses and a brief discipleship time. To see what we are corporately studying please go to the Disciple Makers section of the website.
Fellowship
Each Sunday, following worship and Disciple Makers, we remain for fellowship and a church wide lunch. The church provides the main dish and families are encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert to share. On warm days we eat on the patio and during the rainy months we move chairs and eat in the sanctuary. If you forgot to bring something, or if you are a visitor...Don't worry! We want your fellowship, not your food!
Singspiration
On Sundays with a fifth month, we break our quarterly church-wide fast with lunch and then an extended time of singing and worship.
