The most important aspect of a worship service is to know that our Lord and God is present with us according to His promise. We stand before the Almighty Creator of the Universe, Who has come, not in judgment, but to show us favor even though we do not deserve it. Worship is about receiving from God that favor and mercy.
Worship based in God’s Word and Sacrament
Because of that, we sing about His work, His love, His care, and His teaching for us. We sing in joy; we sing to remind ourselves of what He taught us; and we sing to encourage and teach one another. Our ears are open to hear His Word spoken and sung and from that our mouths open to thank and praise Him as well as to join in by repeating back what He has said.
This means, when you come to worship, you should expect to hear God’s Word spoken and taught. His Word will shape the back and forth between pastor and people as well as what we speak and sing to one another and to God. You will also see a celebration meal that Jesus Himself instituted. This meal declares Jesus’ teaching and the faith of the congregation and so anyone who partakes of it professes and acknowledges that teaching and faith as true and right. Thus, not everyone partakes of it until they can, in good conscience, make that confession. Still all are welcome to come to God’s altar to receive a blessing.
How do I know what to do in a service?
We make use of bulletins which have the whole service printed out and bulletins designed to use a hymnal to follow along. (On Sundays we regularly use the Lutheran Service Book while our Wednesday night worship services are printed out in full in both the larger and smaller bulletins because the liturgy and music we use is not found in the hymnal). While some people may choose to bring their own hymnal, we have several in the pew to use. If you come on Sunday and would prefer to have a copy of the whole service printed, just ask for the larger print bulletin from the usher or pick one up at the usher stand as you enter the nave (the worship space).
You can expect to sit and stand at various parts of the worship service. At many services, there is an opportunity for visitors to come forward and receive a blessing, should they want to do so.
How long do services usually last?
The Sunday worship service usually lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes and the Wednesday night service is around 50 minutes. The service length will sometimes be a little longer or shorter than this.
How should I dress?
You are free in Christ to come in a t-shirt and jeans or to wear a suit. There is no dress code and we are not here to impress people with our clothes. Yet, the impulse to dress in nicer clothes or to “clean-up for church” reflects the recognition that we are standing in God’s presence. We want to show honor and respect toward our Lord. We do this in our attitude (how we approach worship). For this reason, dressing up can help teach us and our children to respect our Lord and God as well as respecting who He made us to be.
Do children and adults worship separately?
Since Jesus taught us to welcome the little children and that we are to receive His kingdom like little children, we do not divide up the people of God but rather worship all together as one church who have One Lord and God, one faith, one baptism, one home, and one bond of peace. God has brought His Church together to unite us in Him and we try as much as possible to reflect that unity in our worship rather than dividing people up. We can and do have Bible Studies where we divide into smaller groups to have more intentional instruction and encouragement but we seek to preserve and grow in the unity that Christ has given us as we worship together. For more on the importance of having children in worship and some practical tips, see our page on Children in Worship.
Is there a way to preview a service before I attend?
You can check out our previous services page to get a glimpse of our services or to hear the Word spoken and preached. You can also read about the place of ritual and tradition in worship or specifically look at the structure of worship (often referred to as “the liturgy”).
Are there explanations for why you worship the way you do?
Yes, there is purpose behind why the service is designed a certain way and knowing that purpose can deepen your understanding of what our Lord is doing for you in worship. In short, we recognize both that God is “Spirit” and that we have bodies. Because God is Spirit, we interact primarily with Him through hearing His Word and speaking and talking to Him. Because we are have bodies, we want to worship in a way that makes use of our bodies and senses, of space, and of time that helps us focus our thoughts on God, on hearing His teaching, and on walking according to His Will for us. For more on this, see our page on Incarnational Worship as well as our page on Ritual and Tradition in Christianity and the page on The Church Year.
Why should I go to church?
Rev. Will Weddon of the radio program The Word of the Lord Endures Forever answers this question
What is the difference between in-person worship and watching a service on-line?
Think of the difference between watching a baseball game on TV versus being at the game, or the difference between attending your child’s concert or recital and watching a video of it. Certainly, watching it is better than not being able to see it at all but much is lost for you and whomever you are watching. Your very presence provides encouragement (think of the home-field advantage!) and physically being with others is foundational for community. Most people would rather be able to attend a family reunion in-person than watch a recording or a live stream of the same. It is important for us as physical beings to gather together. Jesus set the precedent for us in this regard by coming to live among us in our human flesh (“the incarnation”) and thus is the basis for “Incarnational Worship”.