"Worship" Conference

Conference at “Word of Grace” Church
This year, the conference at Word of Grace Church was dedicated to the theme of Worship. These days became a special time of God’s blessing—a time of teaching, shared worship, and deep spiritual renewal for the local church and for guests who arrived from different cities and countries.

From the very first services it was clear: the Lord was gathering His Church to once again direct its gaze toward Him. Through the preaching of the Word, prayer, and singing together, God reminded everyone of what matters most—He is worthy of our entire lives.

Worship Is not only singing, but a way of life.
Throughout all the sermons, one central thought was repeated: true worship begins in the heart. It is not limited to a Sunday service or to the musical part of the gathering. Worship is a state of inward devotion to God, expressed through obedience, faithfulness to His Word, and daily Christian living.

The speakers called us to spiritual maturity, watchfulness, and steadfastness in the truth. A special emphasis was placed on the need for a renewed mind—one that reflects love for God and sincere worship of Him.

A special blessing — the participation of the Getty family.
A great joy of the conference was the participation of well-known Christian hymn writers—Keith and Kristyn Getty, who arrived together with their daughters.

Their ministry served as a reminder that church singing is theology set to music. In their reflections, they emphasized that hymns should shape biblical thinking, establish the church in the truth, and help believers grow in the knowledge of God. The singing of hymns together became a vivid expression of unity and the joy of worshiping the Lord.

Key Themes of the Messages

“God Is the Center of Worship.”
Pastor Aleksey Kolomiytsev spoke about the fact that in worship there can be no other center but God. He reminded everyone that love for God is born in a renewed mind, and that true worship is possible only in Christ. Special attention was given to the significance of the Lord’s Day. A casual attitude toward Sunday worship or a distracted heart during the service are troubling signs of spiritual cooling. The Lord’s Day was given by God as a reminder of salvation: for Israel — deliverance from slavery, and for the Church — remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

“God Is the Foundation of Worship.”
Pastor Alex Kolinsky focused on the Gospel as the foundation of all worship. The Gospel brings us into God’s presence and frees us from feelings of shame, leading us to true satisfaction in God. Praise not only expresses joy but also brings that joy to its fullness. Worship is not merely an action; it is the very essence of a believer—the conscious choice to trust God. It is important to ask ourselves an honest question: are we seeking emotional experiences in worship, or an encounter with the face of the Lord?

“Where Does Worship Live?”
Pastor Evgeny Bakhmutsky spoke about the inseparable connection between the heart and the church. Worship lives both in the personal heart of the believer and in the gathering of the saints. A heart without the church leads to individualism and spiritual decline, while a church without a living heart turns into mere formalism. God’s design is that worship would not be limited to the walls of a building but would continue in everyday life. According to the preacher, gratitude should become the “soundtrack” of a Christian’s life, because Christ has justified us by His grace.

“The Dangers of Worship.”
Pastor Andrey Rezunenko warned the church about a subtle danger—using God’s glory to exalt ourselves. Worship becomes dangerous not because of mistakes in the notes, but when a person tries to take the place of God. “We are only the frame, and the picture is Christ,” he said in his message. Everything in this world is from Him, through Him, and to Him. True joy comes when a person steps down from the pedestal and allows God to be God.

“Sing the Truth.”
Pastor Vitali Rozhko devoted his message to the theme of church singing. Church singing is a continuation of the sermon. It must be filled with truth and align with the teaching of Scripture. Before the church can sing the truth, it must know it. Emotions and powerful sound cannot replace the clear proclamation of the Word. Worship without truth loses its foundation and is not pleasing to God.

The Results of the Conference
These days became a time of deep reflection, repentance, and renewal. In an atmosphere of unity and sincerity, the Lord once again directed hearts toward Himself.

The conference reminded us that God builds His Church through faithful teaching, through worship together, and through lives devoted to Him. And true worship continues not only within the walls of the church, but in every day of our lives.

Reminder: This Sunday morning, please don’t forget to move your clock one hour forward!

Baptism: This Sunday we will be having baptism, and as usual we encourage the church to review the list of all those who are preparing to receive water baptism.
First, we ask you to pray for each of these brothers and sisters. Pray that their step of publicly proclaiming their faith will bring joy and encouragement both to them personally and to the whole church.

Second, we ask you to let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or doubts regarding any of these individuals. This will help us truly go through these events as one family, caring for one another.

Here are those who are planning to be baptized:

Vitalina Aftinesku

Kristian Aftinesku

Matthew Zharovskiy

Alex Mosko

Nastya Shevchik

Zachary Konovalchuk

John Zherebnenkov

Liudmyla Shafar

Tim Berezenko

Emily Sokolov

Sophia Negrulya

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine.

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Romans 6:11