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PURPOSE OF WORSHIP:
...to glorify God
...to honor Jesus Christ as our Lord
...to open our hearts to the inspiring presence of the Holy Spirit
Each week, your pastors and minister of music try to plan a worship
service that has integrity of spirit. Each member of the congregation is
considered to be an active participant in worship. Music, prayer, sermon
and other elements of the service are aids to personal worship.
THE ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP:
GATHERING - JOYS AND CONCERNS: A time to welcome people and share
what is important in our community life, both joys and concerns.
Whenever possible, joys and concerns are incorporated into the pastoral
prayer.
ORGAN PRELUDE AND LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES: A time, through music,
to quiet our hearts and prepare for worship. A cluttered heart has
little room for God, so this time should be used meditatively to focus
upon the majesty and mercy of God. The lighting of the candles
symbolizes the divine light by which we are guided.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Done responsively, this is the formal,
liturgical beginning of worship. Sometimes, a Psalm is chosen to create
our Call to Worship. This way, we simultaneously become more familiar
with our Scriptures which are the foundation of our faith.
HYMNS: All hymns give us the opportunity to share a witness of
faith from the past and to be stirred creatively through music. Music
can speak to our souls in ways mere words cannot. Since we are people
created with both head and heart, hymns often integrate the two. A note
on hymns: Your pastors choose them with sensitivity to the flow of
worship. The first hymn is generally celebratory of God’s greatness or
Jesus’ Lordship. The second hymn is generally a more thoughtful and
personal testimony of faith, often responding directly to the sermon,
slowing down the pace of worship and preparing us for the introspection
of the Pastoral Prayer. The closing hymn is preferably a vibrant hymn
which tries to “tie it all together” and is usually well known to the
congregation.
INVOCATION: Literally to “invoke” God’s presence or invite God’s
presence. While we believe that “where two or more are gathered in
Christ’s name God is present” the invocation does not doubt this promise
but it reminds us not to take God’s presence for granted.
THE LORD’S PRAYER: The only regularly said prayer, handed down to
us through Scripture as a teaching of Jesus. Its familiarity gives a
sense of comfort in worship even as the prayer reminds us that Jesus
came to reveal not himself, but God and our undeniable relationship to
God.
GLORIA PATRI: A prayer set to music which glorifies the
Trinitarian (three-fold) nature of our God as well as God’s eternal
nature. It signifies that we have finished preparing for worship and
have come fully into it.
A TIME WITH THE CHILDREN: To remind us that together, young and
old alike, we are all part of Christ’s church. It is a time to deliver
religious messages in language children can understand. It gives
children some experience in worship yet also allow them some time to
worship in a way that is appropriate for their maturity and interest
level.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC: The purpose is similar to that of hymns. The
choir represents the Congregation. Members feel called to serve God by
witnessing to faith through music. This is not a “performance” but a
part of worship which seeks to glorify God, honor Jesus as Lord and open
us to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Music is chosen with
consideration of the Church Year, the skill and number of choir members
and the sermon message.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Our foundational witness of faith.
PASTORAL PRAYER AND RESPONSE: A time to formally offer God that
which is in our hearts. Prayer can transport us from our world to God’s
world and offer us hope and strength. The musical response reminds us of
the earnestness of our prayer to God.
SERMON: The interpretation and application of God’s word designed
to bring God’s inspiration and instruction into greater understanding in
our own lives and faith experience The sermon is not the presentation of
“a final truth” but is rather meant to stimulate the worshiper’s own
understanding of God and God’s ways. Anyone can present a sermon that is
prepared thoughtfully and prayerfully. A pastor has “freedom of the
pulpit” just as the congregation has freedom to agree or lovingly
disagree with what is preached.
RESPONSIVE OR UNISON READING: A time for the congregation to
affirm faith corporately. Since Congregationalists have no creed which
serves as a community affirmation of faith, it is by the Responsive
Reading, which are based on Scriptures, that together we witness.
OFFERTORY: A time to give back to God a portion of the blessing
which we have first received. Throughout all of religious history,
physical giving (money, livestock, property) in honor of God has been
critical to a sense of “right” worship.
DOXOLOGY: A musical prayer of praise which calls for an earthly
and celestial celebration of God’s existence and acknowledges that God
is the source of all blessing.
COMMUNION HYMN: A time to prepare our hearts, through music, for
the celebration of The Lord’s Supper.
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION: A prayer to prepare ourselves for
entering into communion. Our confession before God opens the way to
better receive the promises of Jesus Christ, also called the “New
Covenant,” represented in communion.
DECLARATION OF PARDON: Reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice on the
cross, which forgives our sins.
THE LORD’S SUPPER: Celebrated once a month, this symbolic
re-creation of the Last Supper invites us to consider the importance of
Jesus to our faith and worship. It is held “in remembrance” of Jesus,
but in the act of participating and remembering our hearts are opened up
to the spiritual reality of God’s presence with us.
OWNING OF THE COVENANT: Congregationalists are a Covenant people,
not creedal. Following Communion, we remind ourselves of the sacred
promises that makes us a Congregational Church, bound one to another in
faith and in honor of God.
BENEDICTION AND RESPONSE: The liturgical close of worship. “Bene”
means good; “diction” means spoken word. Therefore, benediction means
pronouncing the good word. Prior to the Benediction, your minister tries
to sum up the message of worship.
ORGAN POSTLUDE: A musical celebration of our having worshiped
together in God’s sanctuary.
ABOUT OUR SANCTUARY
Built in 1964, the current sanctuary is a contemporary design
incorporating the ancient art of telling the Gospel story through
stained glass windows. The table in the chancel area is not considered
an altar but is the “Remembrance Table” or Communion Table. The chancel
is considered “split” because of the presence of a pulpit and a lectern
on either side. Both the American flag and the Christian flag stand as
symbols to our national heritage and our spiritual heritage,
respectively. This Sanctuary embraces the ancient sense of that word: a
place of physical and spiritual safety and refuge to all who enter.
CHILDREN IN WORSHIP
We welcome children in worship but also provide child care for families’
convenience. The nursery is staffed by the same care givers as often as
possible so children may have a sense of security in establishing their
first relationships at church.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Every Sunday, worshipers receive a bulletin containing the order of
worship for the day as well as announcements, schedules and other
information important to the church. If you have announcements you would
like included in the bulletin, call them in to the Office Manager no
later than Thursday morning before the Sunday in which you want the
announcement listed.
Our great joy is in the Lord.
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Worship