THE SANCTUARY OF REPC

We have sought to create “a setting for reformed worship” in our renovated sanctuary which was completed in 1991. It has been designed to reflect the Guidelines of Theology and Architecture--which the congregation of Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church adopted July 2, 1978, and reaffirmed March 13, 1988:

"The church of Jesus Christ, reformed according to the Word of God, believes Christ communicates himself to his church by his Spirit ordinarily through his Word (the Bible read and preached) and Sacraments (Baptism and The Lord's Supper). The congregation is gathered by Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and built around the Word and Sacraments. Christ's commands concerning the Word and Sacraments inevitably involve a pulpit, a baptismal font, and the Lord's Table, which become symbols of these functions. Because the Word and Sacraments point to the cross of Jesus Christ, a symbolic cross may be appropriate. Pulpit, font, and table (and often the cross) are thus the basic symbols of the Christian Faith. To set forth the God-ordained means by which Christ comes to His people, the reformed/Presbyterian congregation should give proper visual expression to both the Word and the Sacraments.”

Thus, all the congregation, including the choir which is a part of the congregation, gathers around the pulpit, font and table in this setting. These are the three things--pulpit, font and table--that the congregation needs to see well.

“Because the Word of God is absolutely indispensable and the primary means of grace, the primacy of the Pulpit, as the manifestation of the Word, should be made architecturally clear.”

Therefore, our pulpit, on which rests the Holy Bible, predominates, but is not remote from the congregation. It is a “double decker” pulpit from the Church of Scotland tradition. The reading and preaching of the Word of God is usually done from the higher level of the pulpit. To have this special place where only the reading and preaching of the Word of God is done highlights the Word's singular importance. A sounding board over the pulpit gives even more architectural weight to the pulpit and also helps with acoustics and lighting. The service is normally led, announcements made, etc., from the lower level of the pulpit. That we are a congregation gathered under the authority of the Word of God is deliberately made very clear in this design. This arrangement also allows the choir, as a part of the congregation, to see the pastors' faces as the pastors lead in worship and read and preach the word.

“Baptism is the sign and seal of participation in the atoning work of Christ and his resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is performed in the face of the congregation where they, the Body of Christ, may both see and hear. Therefore, the font should stand emphatically before the congregation as a continuing reminder that Christians have died with Christ and are raised to newness of life in Him.”

The placement of the font in this plan means the congregation can see and hear well when baptism is administered.

“The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper bears powerful witness to our continued union with Christ, and thus our continued union with one another in his body, the Church. The Lord’s Table should be clearly visible and accessible to the congregation, not separated from it by rails, chairs, or large spaces. The Table should look like a table, not an altar, and only those articles commensurate with the Lord’s Supper should be placed on the Table.”

This guideline has been carried out by raising the Lord’s Table two steps for good visibility, yet keeping it close to the congregation. The symbol of the Lord’s people gathered as one family around his table is also strengthened by having the choir on the floor level of the Table, and placing the choir around one side of the Table.

The primary function of the choir is to support congregational singing. As the choir fulfills this supportive role, it is necessary that the congregation be able to hear the choir well. But the choir is not on visual display as if it were performing for the congregation. When the choir does sing anthems, it sings not to the congregation, but to God on behalf of the congregation.

The ultimate purpose of the Word and Sacraments is to set forth “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2; 1:23-25): “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18). This is symbolized by the cross set high on the front wall. The cross is framed by one row of the pipes of the organ. The pipes suggest praise. We are reminded that our worship here in this world is a foretaste of the eternal worship in heaven where we shall sing with the angels and with all of the redeemed: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12) “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13b)

Because of different needs for different types of services the arrangement is very flexible. The pulpit, the cross and the organ pipes are the only things not moveable. This flexibility reminds us a church reformed according to the Word of God is in constant need of reforming, and God can rightly be worshipped by means of a variety of styles.