SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES

A service of worship begins each Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. During the summer months, a “Come-As-You-Are” early service is also held at 8:45 a.m. Guests are always welcome at all our services of worship! The following is an explanation of our Sunday worship service. While there are variations in our order of worship from time to time, this is a basic overview of what you can expect.

WE GATHER TOGETHER

Ushers distribute copies of the weekly Sunday bulletin to worshippers as they enter the sanctuary. The bulletin provides the primary outline and content for our worship service. Much of the worship liturgy is printed in the bulletin. Page numbers are referenced in the bulletin for other parts of the service that can be found in our hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, pictured at left. Titles for our hymns or worship songs are listed in the bulletin, followed by the abbreviated hymnbook name "ELW," and the hymn number.  Hymnbooks are located in the pew racks. 

Quiet meditation and an organ prelude precede the service. The Pastor begins the service with the seasonal order of Confession and Forgiveness, which includes a reminder of the grace we have received in Holy Baptism.  Having received the Good News of God’s forgiveness in Jesus, we begin our worship with the Opening Hymn and the traditional Kyrie or Hymn of Praise.  We uplift the day’s worship theme by praying together the Prayer of the Day.

WE HEAR THE WORD 

The sharing of God’s Word continues with the reading of the First Lesson (usually from the Old Testament), the Psalm, and the Second Lesson (from the New Testament). The First and Second Lessons are read by the Assisting Minister, who is a member of the congregation. The day’s Psalm is either sung or read responsively by the congregation.  After the Second Lesson, the Sunday Gospel (from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) is shared by the Pastor.  We always stand for the reading of the Gospel, to show respect and thanksgiving for the life-giving “Good News” of Jesus Christ. 

The Gospel reading is followed by a Children’s Sermon for children of all ages. The children come forward to sit with the Pastor at the chancel stairs (Parents of toddlers are welcome to join their children). After the Children’s Sermon, children ages two through eight may leave the sanctuary for an age-appropriate message and worship activities in Children’s Church.  Children’s Church meets in the fellowship hall and is led/supervised by adult volunteers.

The Pastor then delivers his sermon, centered on a theme that is appropriate for the day’s Lessons/Gospel and the calendar emphasis in the Church year. After the sermon, we echo the day’s theme, as everyone joins in singing the Hymn of the Day. Together, we make public profession of our faith, using the words of the Apostles’ Creed or Nicene Creed. The Assisting Minister and Pastor then lead the congregation in intercessory prayers for the church and for those in need in our community and world.

Following the prayers, the Peace of Christ is shared using the words that the Risen Jesus used to greet the disciples on Easter evening.  During this time, members of the congregation greet one another with a handshake, saying, “Peace be with you.”  Following the sharing of the Peace, the offerings are received.  During the collection of the offering, the Choir makes its own offering of praise to the Lord, with an anthem of special music. 

HOLY COMMUNION

Each Sunday, we celebrate Holy Communion as a central part of our identity as God’s forgiven, grace-fed people.  This pattern of sharing the Lord’s Supper on each Lord’s Day follows the practice of earliest Christians as recorded in the New Testament.  All baptized Christians of any denomination or tradition are welcome at the Lord’s Table! As Lutheran Christians, we profess the presence of Christ in, with, and under the elements.

The celebration of Communion begins with presentation of the offerings and the Communion elements of bread and wine. We stand and sing the offertory, and then join in the offertory prayer. The Pastor leads the congregation in the Great Thanksgiving, which includes a special Eucharistic Prayer and the Words of Institution spoken by Jesus in the upper room on night before his crucifixion.  We pray together the Lord’s Prayer and join in singing the Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”). 

On the First Sunday of each month (and special Festival Sundays), Communion is administered at the rail that encircles our altar – with worshippers kneeling (as able) and receiving the traditional Communion wafers and individual cups of wine.  On other Sundays, Communion is administered by “intinction” at the foot of the chancel stairs, as worshippers come forward and stand before the cross that adorns our chancel.  On these Sundays, we receive the wafer from the Pastor, and then dip the wafer into the chalice of wine as offered by the Assisting Minister.  The method of intinction reminds us that our Lord’s body was covered in His blood, shed for us and for our forgiveness on the cross.

In either method, as the bread is given, the Pastor says, “The body of Christ, given for you.” The communicant extends his/her hands in an overlapping cross-shape and responds by saying, “Amen.” As the wine is then offered, the Assisting Minister says, “The blood of Christ shed for you.”  The communicant receives the individual cup (or dips the wafer into the chalice), again saying, “Amen.”   

Those not able to partake of either the bread or the wine may be assured of the Lord’s full presence in each element. Children not yet receiving First Communion are invited to come forward to receive a special blessing from the Pastor.  On any Sunday, the front pew is reserved for those not able to walk to the front of the sanctuary – the Pastor and Assisting Minister bring Communion to those in the front pew. They will also bring Communion to those in other areas of the sanctuary who are unable to come forward if it is desired. A Post-Communion blessing and prayer follow the sharing of our Lord's Supper.

GO IN PEACE! SERVE THE LORD!

The Pastor then greets the congregation, sharing prayer concerns and announcements and reminds us of opportunities to serve the Lord during the week. After the Pastor pronounces the Benediction, the congregation joins in singing a closing or “sending” hymn.   The Assisting Minister sends us forth with the dismissal "Go in peace. Share the Good News." To which we respond: "Thanks be to God."  Having been strengthened and fed by the Living Word, we go out in peace to serve the world in our Lord’s name!