THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE & ALL ARE WELCOME.

We have regular worship services on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings during Advent and Lent. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas and Lent is the 6 weeks before the Easter celebration.

Sunday Worship Schedule:
Summer                  8:30 & 10:00 am
After Labor Day       8:15, 9:45, and 11:00 am
Sunday School students start in the 9:45 service and then move into their individual classes.

We like variety in our worship experience, but the parts of the service usually follow a pattern. Often all of the music is projected up front. Hymnals are also provided.

Prelude: Music is played. This should be a time of quiet reflection to put the cares of everyday life behind you as you prepare for worship.

Welcome: All are welcomed and the pastor says a few words about the theme for the service.

Gathering Song:

Invocation:

Prayer of the Day: This is a short prayer read by all.

Kyrie or Jesus Prayer: The Kyrie may be spoken or sung with the assisting minister leading and the congregation responding.

Hymn of Praise: This is usually a short song, perhaps one verse of one of the hymns.

Passing of the Peace: We take a few moments to greet others in the room, expressing the peace offered by Christ.

Bible Readings: There are usually three readings from the Bible, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and then a reading from one of the four gospel books of the Bible - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Usually the pastor reads the gospel.

Imagine! The Word: This is an interesting time in the service. The pastor has creative ways of helping us understand the meaning of the word using everyday images. It is never dull!

Hymn of the Day: We sing a song which highlights the message of the day.

Sermon: 

Creed: This is a statement of what we believe, often in the form of the Apostle’s Creed.

Prayers of the People: This is a time of talking with God about the concerns of the congregation.

Offering & Hymn of Thanks: The offering is not an intermission—it is the part of the worship service when we respond to God’s amazing generosity (amazing grace) through our own generosity. Our offering goes to the ministries of Amazing Grace itself, and to other ministries globally and locally. An appropriate use of this time might be to consider ways in which we can serve others (i.e., you need not put cash in the basket).

Thanksgiving or Communion: We share the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ through bread and wine (and grape juice). This is God’s table. All are welcome. We gather in a circle around the altar for the Meal. Generally the front half of the church gathers for the first table and the back half gathers for the second table, depending upon the number of people in the service. The bread is offered first with the words “The body of Christ given for you.” You may respond with “Amen”. The common cup, symbolizing how we live in community with one another, contains wine. The individual cups have wine (red) and grape juice (white).  The wine is offered with the words “The blood of Christ, shed for you.” To receive a blessing rather than the elements simply cross your arms over your chest. When everyone in the circle has received communion, we join hands for a parting blessing.

Mission Opportunities: This is a time to share in the upcoming events in the life of the church and community. Birthday and anniversary blessings are given during this time.

Benediction and Sending Song:

The banners and other items in the sanctuary highlight the season of the church year or the current theme of worship. The decorations could be cloths clebrating the colors of the season, props used in Vacation Bible School, beautiful quilts illustrating the message, or perhaps butterflies symbolizing the change taking place at Easter. Images are also projected to help visualize the color of the season and the message. 

 Lutheran expression follows the liturgical church year and this helps us tell the story of God's action in the world beginning with the birth of Jesus. The explanation of the symbolic colors for each season are taken from the ELCA website (www.ELCA.org)