Introduction to Christ Church in Lufkin, Texas!

PHIL NOORDMANS, WESTERN REGIONAL PASTOR

Travel with me toward the eastern border of Texas to a growing city of 35,000+ named Lufkin. We drive to the southwestern side of the city and into the parking lot of one of the newer congregations in the CCCC family, Christ Congregational Church of Lufkin, Texas. In the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, we treasure, among other things, Reformed theology and congregational polity. Within these broad categories are found a variety of worship styles from casual to liturgical. Christ Congregational Church is warmly and decidedly liturgical.

I’m scheduled to preach on the Sunday we visit. Prior to the service, Pastor Randall Green,Lector Todd Stracener, organist David Lawson, and I meet in Pastor Randall’s office. We talk through the 4-page order-of-worship that the congregation will follow. Although Christ Church has been in existence for only 12 years – it was established in 2010 and joined the CCCC in 2019 – its new campus incorporates classical congregation styling. It is so well done that people in the community often use it for wedding venues.

The opening page of the church’s website, christchurchlufkin.com, is an apt introduction to this warm and wonderful congregation. Welcome! Christ Church is a liturgical, evangelical, congregational body dedicated to the ongoing relevance of “traditional worship for contemporary people.” Founded in 2010, we are grateful for our heritage that reaches all the way back to the original Mayflower pilgrims. We invite you to join us on a new walk down an ancient path. Christ Congregational Church is a proud member of the CONSERVATIVE CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE, a theologically conservative denomination believing strongly in
the autonomy of each local church under the headship of Christ, and working to advance the kingdom of our Lord through cooperative evangelism, church planting and missions.

And warmly liturgical this church is. The service begins with the ringing of the bells in the church’s steeple and a Call to Worship spoken from the back of the sanctuary. The acolyte, choir, Cantor, and Pastor – all in robes – process in singing the opening hymn with great heart and loud voice. The service includes litanies, a choir anthem, a sermon, the Gloria Patri, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Doxology. Most Pastors preach from a platform raised two or three steps above the congregations. At CCC, the pulpit is an17th century antique – designed and built in 1676 by Sir Christopher Wren, the famed architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London – that is raised five steps above the platform. The speaker climbs these steps – thereby elevating the Word – and preaches. This particular service concludes with the Lord’s Supper.

After a lengthy introduction that includes confession of sins and assurance of pardon, the congregation is dismissed row-by-row to come to the front, keel at the railing, and receive the bread and wine from the hand of the Pastor as from Christ. The service concludes with the worship leaders recessing. By the conclusion of the service, I felt enriched spiritually. The unseen hand of our Savior had- ministered deeply by His Spirit to my mind, soul, and spirit.