What to Expect Sunday Morning

Family Friendly – We believe that it is important for families to participate in the Divine Service together, so children are most welcome.  On Sundays where there is no communion we offer children’s messages.  We also have activity bulletins available for young children.  During the service if you need a quiet spot our adjoining prayer chapel is wired so you can still hear the service and there is a window so you can still see what is going on.  We also have a beautiful nursery if so desired.

Preaching – Our primary goal in preaching is the same that it has been for the prophets of old: to call the sinful to repentance and to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection. While we largely follow the liturgical calendar, we also take time to do series on various important topics. Even though we provide bibles in the pew, we encourage people to bring their own bible so they can follow along with us and have a chance to write down any insights on a particular passage.

Worship Etiquette – During the Divine Service we strive to be mindful of everybody’s experience.  Once the service has started please try to wait for one of the songs to enter or leave the sanctuary.  It is okay to lift up your hands or clap during various songs, particularly during the New Song service.  If you are visiting on a Communion Sunday please read our section on Communion.  If you do not have the chance to speak with the pastors before service, please feel free to come to the altar and receive a pastoral blessing, make sure to cross your arms across your chest so that we know you just desire a blessing.  It is also okay to stay in the pew, you do not need to feel obligated to come forward to communion.

Communion –  As part of the Divine Service we gather around the Lord’s Table every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday to receive His body and blood in, with and under the bread and the wine for the express purpose of the forgiveness of sins.  This is an incredible encounter with God that He gives us.  We have a chance to be brought into an intimate relationship with Him through this gift, so it should not be approached lightly.  As it is written,

• “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

•  Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?
•  Do you acknowledge that you have not lived according to God’s will as revealed in His ten commandments?
•  Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died and rose again?
•  Do you believe that Jesus offers you His Body and Blood in with and under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of your sins?
• We ask that all visitors please speak with the pastor before joining us in this sacred event.
  

Attendance Cards – Cards for registering your attendance are found in the pew racks. There is a side for members and a side for guests. These cards provide us with the information that we need to welcome visitors properly. There is also a place on the card where you may record special prayer concerns for us to keep in our prayers.

Pastor’s Attire – The Pastors dress in robes because they are symbolic of what we believe.  The white robe is a representation of Christ’s righteousness covering us and overcoming all our sin.  The colored strips of cloth or stoles mark us out as God’s shepherds in this congregation.  The stoles also help identify the time of year.  We follow what is called a liturgical calendar and in this calendar there are various seasons and celebration some of which may sound familiar such as Easter and Christmas and others that are not so familiar such as Epiphany.  They also tend to match the drapes on the altar and so allow us to blend in, this is a subtle reminder that we pastors are not the central fixture rather Christ Himself is the center of our faith.  Occasionally, you may see one of the pastors wear something that resembles a poncho.  This poncho like garment is called a chasuble, in a congregation with more than one pastor it is a traditional way of marking which pastor is leading us in Holy Communion.