While we often use special services for occasions like Christmas and Reformation in general our services follow five different service settings found in the Lutheran Service Book. The divine service, which is used when Holy Communion is served, is an ancient order of service where several of the elements date all the way back to the time of the apostles.
Our 8 am service is an abbreviated form of the 10:30 am service. It does not contain the traditional canticles throughout the service and features only two readings from God's Word.
Readings from God's Word are based on the three year lectionary. Using three different sets of readings from God's Word allows us to hear God speak to us from more of the Bible. We use the English Standard Version (ESV) during worship services.
We encourage you to bring your own Bible and use it throughout the service. There are Bibles beneath the chairs in the Sanctuary for your use. We also provide Bibles in the back of the church that you can keep.
We love having children participating in our services! But we understand that it can be a challenge to manage children and listen. We have several options that may help.
We encourage you to wear comfortable clothing. There will be people wearing suits and dresses while other people will wear a polo shirt and chinos. Revealing clothing or clothing with vulgar words or images are never appropriate.
Lutherans have always thought of themselves as a singing church. Martin Luther regarded music as one of the most important vehicles to use in teaching God's Word. Therefore, music plays a prominent role in our services. We normally print the music in the bulletin but it is also found in the hymnals.
While the majority of our music would be classified as traditional we seek to use the best of all genres in our worship of the Lord. We are always looking for people with musical gifts who could help us make a new sound to the Lord!
Each church defines a sacrament a little differently. In our church they include Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Sacraments are very special because in them God comes to His people through ordinary water (Holy Baptism) or plain bread and wine (Lord's Supper) to forgive their sins and give (Holy Baptism) or strengthen (Lord's Supper) their faith. Holy Baptism is the means by which a person becomes a part of the church and that is why the baptismal font is located near the entrance of the sanctuary. The Lord's Supper is the family meal where our God comes to His family to forgive them and strengthen for their walk with Him.
There is nothing more important than God coming down to touch His broken children with His healing hand and so we rejoice to celebrate these sacraments as often as possible! The Lord's Supper is celebrated every week at the 8 am service and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of the month at the 10:30 am service. If this is your first time visiting with us please read the page entitled "Should I Commune?" before the service.
Our readings, music, order of service and banners all follow the church year. It begins in December with Advent (Blue) followed by Christmas (White), Epiphany (White), Lent (Violet), Easter (White), and Pentecost (Red).