In the spirit of the Reformed tradition, our worship service centers on the expectation of God's word coming to us both individually and as one body.

God's word doesn't mean "the words in the Bible." God's word can't be nailed down so easily. Hearing God's word through our worship means we believe that God is present to help convict us in our spirit of who we are in Jesus Christ, of what we can do and what we can become for God's sake.

Rev. Phelps' passionate proclamation of the gospel is at the heart of our service, as a spark kindles a fire. But the participation and response of the whole body is what is central. We are learning how to worship so that women and men and children take part not separately, or only in songs and unison readings, but by sharing their spiritual gifts through music, witnessing, prayer, and other living symbols of God's action in our lives.

In a word, worship at Central is the "service before the service"--the central way in which we come before God to be sent by God into the world as it is, sent as the presence and power and love of Jesus Christ for all things great and small.

The Sunday service begins at 11:00 am in the sanctuary at First Church in Buffalo. Other regular worship services fall on Wednesday evenings during Advent and Lent, on Christmas Eve,
Ash Wednesday, and the night before Good Friday, which is traditionally called Maundy Thursday.

Sermon Reprints