The RCA has a fixed Liturgy, especially in the matter of the sacraments, but also provides flexibility for local consistories to guide the worship of their congregations using orders of worship that have been generated for occasional or local use.
So, there is a distinction between the Liturgy and liturgies. In the RCA, the Liturgy is our “common prayer”: it declares what the church has agreed to say in the same way as it gathers for worship.
The Liturgy consists of the rites (and the words used to perform those rites) that have been approved by the whole church. They have been proposed to the General Synod, approved by the General Synod, sent to the classes for approval, received the support of at least 2/3 of the classes, and declared constitutional by another General Synod. The Liturgy and the Directory for Worship are part of the Constitution of the RCA. (What else is in the RCA Constitution?)
The Liturgy is noted with an * in the list below.
In addition, the RCA has a number of liturgies (as opposed to "the Liturgy") that are not part of our Constitution, but are recommended for use throughout the RCA.
Liturgy and Confessions
Part I: Lord's Day/Lord's Supper/Communion
- Preparatory Services before the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper *
- The Lord's Supper in Home and Hospital (1990): RTF; PDF
- Preparatory Exhortation before the Celebration of the Lord's Supper (1987): RTF; PDF
- Order of Worship for the Lord's Day (1987): RTF; PDF *
- An Alternate Order for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (1792): RTF; PDF *
- The Preparatory Service (1968): RTF; PDF *
- The Order of Worship (1968): RTF; PDF *
- An Alternate Order of Worship (1968): RTF; PDF *
- The Order for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (1968): RTF; PDF *
- Order for the Second Table (1968): RTF; PDF
- An Alternate Order for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (1906): RTF; PDF *
Part II: Baptism
- Orders for Celebrating Baptism, and Professing and Reaffirming Faith (2014) *
- Celebrating the Baptismal Covenant: A Combined Order for Baptism, Profession of Faith, and Reaffirmation of Faith: PDF, RTF
- Celebrating the Baptismal Covenant: The Order for Profession of Faith and Baptism of Youth and Adults: PDF, RTF
- Celebrating the Baptismal Covenant: The Order for Baptism of Children: PDF, RTF
- Order for the Profession of Faith (2001): RTF; PDF *
(also for reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership) - The Order for the Sacrament of Baptism (1994): RTF; PDF *
- The Sacrament of Baptism (1987): RTF; PDF *
- The Order for the Sacrament of Infant Baptism (1968): RTF; PDF *
- An Alternate Order for the Administration of Baptism (1968): RTF; PDF *
- An Alternate Order for the Administration of Baptism, Abridged (1968): RTF; PDF *
- The Order for the Baptism of Adults and Their Admission to the Lord's Table (1968): RTF; PDF *
Part III: Wedding
- Order for Christian Marriage (2002): RTF; PDF
- Order of Worship for Christian Marriage (1987): RTF; PDF
- Order for the Solemnization of Marriage (1968): RTF; PDF
Part IV: Funeral
- Order for Christian Burial: A Service of Witness to the Resurrection (2002): RTF; PDF
- Funeral for a Stillborn Child (1992): RTF; PDF
- Order of Worship for Christian Burial (1987): RTF; PDF
- Order of Service for the Burial of the Dead (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for Committal Service for an Adult (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order of Service for Burial of a Child (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for Committal Service for a Child (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order of Service for Burial for One Who Has Lived Apart from the Church (1968): RTF; PDF
- Committal Service for One Who Has Lived Apart from the Church (1968): RTF; PDF
Part V: Occasional Services
- Order for Commissioning Christians to the Ministries of the Church (2001): RTF; PDF
- Order for Recognition of Ministries in the Church (2001): RTF; PDF
- The Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons (2000): RTF; PDF *
- Praying Together (1997): RTF; PDF
- Celebration for the Home (1994): RTF; PDF
- Service of Farewell and Godspeed for Pastor and Congregation (1994): RTF; PDF
- Blessing-Prayer for Godspeed: A Service of Farewell (1993): RTF; PDF
- Commissioning of Christians to Ministries of the Church (1990): RTF; PDF
- Reception into Communicant Membership (1987): RTF; PDF
- Orders for Christian Healing (1987): RTF; PDF
- The Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons (1987): RTF; PDF
- Service of Christian Healing in Home or Hospital (1984): RTF; PDF
- Order for Christian Healing in the Context of the Order of Worship (1984): RTF; PDF
- Order for the Visitation of the Sick (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for the Visitation of the Dying (1968): RTF; PDF
- The Order for Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons (1968): RTF; PDF
- The Order for Admission to the Lord's Table of Those Baptized in Infancy (1968): RTF; PDF
- The Order for Admission from Other Churches (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for Installation of Church Workers (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for the Dedication of a Church (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for Laying the Cornerstone of a Church Building (1968): RTF; PDF
- Order for the Receiving and Dedication of Memorials, Gifts, and Furnishings (1968): RTF; PDF
- The Order for Church Discipline (1792): RTF; PDF *
- Order for Commissioning a Commissioned Pastor (2011): Intro; RTF; PDF
- Order for Commissioning a Minister of Word and Sacrament into a Specialized Ministry (2001): RTF; PDF
- Order for Ordination to the Office of Minister of Word and Sacrament (2000): RTF; PDF *
- Order for Reception into the Classis and Installation of a Minister of Word and Sacrament (2000): RTF; PDF *
- Worship at the Closing of a Church (1994): RTF; PDF
- Reception into the Classis and Installation of a Minister of the Word (1987): RTF; PDF
- The Ordination and Installation of a Minister of the Word (1987): RTF; PDF *
- Directory for Reception into Classis and Installation into a Specialized Ministry (1987): RTF; PDF
- The Order for Installation of a Minister (1968): RTF; PDF *
- The Order for the Ordination and Installation of a Minister or Missionary (1968): RTF; PDF *
- Order for the Organization of a New Congregation in the Church of Jesus Christ (1968): RTF; PDF
Part VI: Confessions
- Belhar Confession (written: 1986, adopted by RCA: 2010)
- Belgic Confession (written: 1561, most recent translation adopted by RCA: 2011)
- Canons of Dort (written: 1618-1619, most recent translation adopted by RCA: 2011)
- Heidelberg Catechism (written: 1563, most recent translation adopted by RCA: 2011)
- Our Song of Hope (approved in 1978 as a contemporary statement of faith)
Part VII: The Directory for Worship *
* Indicates Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America.
Download the liturgy and confessions here.
Worship the Lord is a compilation that contains the full Liturgy, other liturgies, and a treasury of prayers.