Liturgical Forms and Resources

The liturgy of the Christian Reformed Church has been substantially revised since the Synod of 1964 appointed a Liturgical Committee "to review all our liturgical literature in the light of its history, its theological content, and the contemporary needs of the churches; and to recommend such revisions or substitutions as the results of the review might recommend" ("Acts of Synod," 1964, p. 60). This committee developed new liturgical forms (sacramental and nonsacramental), services of the Word and sacraments, responsive readings of the law, and prayers. After provisional approval by synod, these liturgical materials were referred to the church for several years of trial use, study, and reactions before they were officially approved. The Synods of 1984 and 1986 selected from among these traditional, revised, and newly developed liturgical materials, the forms, services, and responsive readings that are now being included in this 1987 edition of the "Psalter Hymnal" ("Acts of Synod," 1984, p. 631; 1986, pp. 722-723). The Synod of 1979 appointed a contemporary testimony committee "to move in the direction of formulating a contemporary testimony in view of the secularization of modern life and culture" ("Acts of Synod," 1979, pp. 75-76). A draft of this testimony was provisionally approved by Synod 1983 and referred to the churches for discussion and response. The Synod of 1986 approved a final version of the testimony and authorized its inclusion in the liturgical section of the 1987 edition of the "Psalter Hymnal" ("Acts of Synod," pp. 679-80). To buy the forms and confessions on CD from the 1987 Psalter Hymnal, click here.

Click below to go to liturgical forms and resources:

Service for Baptism (1981)
This service was approved by the Synod of 1981 as a model order of worship that may be adapted to local needs. The "Confessio...

Service for Baptism (1976)
This form for the baptism of children is one of the oldest in our liturgy. The earliest Dutch version of 1566 is an abbreviat...

Service for Baptism (1976)

Service for Baptism (1991)
Approved in 1994

Form for the Profession of Faith (1932)
This form was prepared between 1924 and 1932. Prior to this, churches used a generally agreed upon series of questions that a...

Form for the Profession of Faith (1976)

Form of Profession of Faith (1989, modified 1995)

Form for the Baptism of Adults (1978)
The Synod of Dort (1618-19) drew from two earlier adult baptism forms to produce this form. An earlier English translation wa...

Form for the Baptism of Adults (1976)

Service for Word and Sacrament (1981)
This service, approved by the Synod of 1981, contains portions of a synodically approved Lord's Supper form. These components...

Preparatory Exhortation for the Lord's Supper (1981)
The Synod of 1981 approved this material as an option to the preparatory sections of the forms for the celebration of the Lor...

Form for the Celebration of the Lord's Supper (1964)
Prepared in response to a mandate from the Synod of 1957, this form was finally adopted in 1964. While retaining the basic se...

Form for the Celebration of the Lord's Supper (1964)
Prepared in response to a mandate from the Synod of 1957, this form was finally adopted in 1964. It is in part a translation ...

The Lord's Supper (1994)

Form for Excommunication (1982)
This form, adopted for use by Synod of 1982, includes the three announcements that the Church Order requires before excommuni...

Excommunication (1991)
Revision adopted by Synod 1991.

Form for Readmission (1982)

Readmission (1991)
Revision adopted by Synod 1991.

Form for the Ordination/Installation of Ministers (1971)

Form for the Ordination/Installation of Ministers (1986)

Form for the Ordination of Evangelists (1982)

Form for the Ordination of Elders and Deacons (1982)

Form of Subscription
To be signed by professors, ministers, evangelists, elders, and deacons when ordained and/or installed in office. The origina...

Form for the Solemnization of Marriage (1912)
This form first appeared in Dutch in 1566 as a translation from earlier Reformed sources. An English translation was adopted ...

Form for the Solemnization of Marriage (1979)
This form, adopted by the Synod of 1979, includes an (optional) concluding prayer adopted in 1981. The vows were revised by t...

Responsive Readings of the Law (1981)

______
The dates appended indicate the year synod adopted each form. The forms adopted in 1912 were revised in 1934. Synod of 1986 approved editorial revisions of all the above forms for the purpose of stylistic consistency.