Worship services at Oakville Church follow a traditional Presbyterian order of worship. This includes a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary praise songs, responsive readings, corporate prayers, sharing our tithes and offerings, children's sermon, scripture readings, and sermon.

The service typically lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

There is childcare provided during the entire service for newborn-3 year olds.

Children 4-8 years old are dismissed after the Children's Sermon (about halfway through the service) to "Children's Church," which has activities geared to their age level.

Our Approach to Worship

We live in a society that is built around consumerism and entertainment, and we often carry that mindset with us when we come to worship. We may critique the pastor, choir, worship leaders or song leaders, as we would entertainers. We often judge the success or value of a worship service according to what we get out of it.

Soren Kierkegaard (1813 - 1855), a Danish Theologian, has given some correction to this mentality. He uses the metaphor of worship as a play. Most would think of the pastor, choir, worship leaders, etc., as the actors on the stage and the congregation as the audience. However, true worship is better described as the congregation as the actors, the pastor/worship leaders as the prompters, and God as the audience.

When we leave a worship service, our question should not be "How did the pastor do?" or "What did I get out of it?" but "How did I do in worshipping God?

This is not to say we shouldn't get anything out of worship services. It is just that our focus should be on God and giving Him glory and not focusing on ourselves and our preferences in music, styles, and "felt needs." When we worship God properly, we cannot leave without having been blessed in some way. Hopefully we leave with a better understanding of God's word and perhaps having our "spiritual batteries" recharged. At times we may feel better equipped to live out our faith throughout the rest of the week. At times we may not feel much different at all. However, the importance of worship is not primarily about how we feel, but how we give glory to God.