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In the service of God on Sundays and in everyday life

Reformists take the view that all life is the service of God (soli Deo gloria /the priesthood of all believers). For this lifelong service of God to be successful every day, it requires Sunday services, regular reading of the Bible and prayer.

Although attendance at Sunday services has weakened, many Reformists surrender themselves to the word of God on Sunday, the first day of the week. Listening to God’s word brightens up life’s path and is preparation for the daily service of God in the week that has commenced. Infants, children and young people celebrate in ways suited to their age. Some of these celebrations take place during the week.

The core of the religious service is the sermon, which is usually based on a Biblical text. The liturgy, i.e. the entire divine service including prayer, song, gestures and blessings is oriented towards listening to the word of God. The Reformed Church has no set liturgy and so the procedure of church services can vary from community to community.

The Swiss Reformed Church recognizes two sacraments; baptism and communion. The celebration of a baptism is usually integrated into a community church service. Baptisms usually involve children who are less than one year old. Communion is celebrated at specific religious festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Whitsun, however many communities celebrate it more frequently.

In recent decades, many church communities have developed diverse forms of church services. In addition to the traditional service with a sermon, you may come across family services, a Gospel church, celebrations with performances and liturgical dancing etc. Breaking new ground can also be reported in the area of church music – even as far as popular music. In some cases folk music motifs are incorporated (e.g. Toggenburg psalms), others have band elements and electronic keyboards in addition to the organ.

To try out
Visit a Reformed Church service. What did you enjoy? What did you think of the sermon? What appealed to you? What did you miss? What other forms of service are there in this community as well as the traditional service with a sermon?

Links
Find a Reformed Church service in your area (N.B.: currently only in Canton Graubunden!)
Find the nearest Reformed Church community in your area

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