Sunday Worship
Our Sunday worship incorporates all the elements of a traditional Presbyterian service for the Lord’s Day, and typically follows the structure described below.
Assembling for Worship: As people gather and greet each other in the halls and Sanctuary, prelude music signals the time to begin preparing our hearts and minds for worship through silent prayer or meditiation. After the Chiming of the Hour at 11:00 a.m., the congregation rises as they are able to participate in the Call to Worship. The Chancel Choir and clergy enter during the Processional Hymn.
Confession: We are invited to confess our sins in unison, reading the Corporate Prayer of Confession printed in the Bulletin, and silently in individual prayer. We then are assured that God welcomes our confession and pardons our transgressions. We respond by rising and singing a brief song of praise. We are invited to turn and greet our neighbors (we follow the ancient greeting, "May the peace of Christ be with you," and the response, "And also with you."). Young children have an opportunity to leave the Sanctuary at this time to go an age-appropriate study. The worship leader greets and welcomes everyone and shares brief announcements and concerns of the church.
Hearing the Word: One of the worship leaders, often a lay liturgist, prays for illumination and reads the first scripture text, typically from the Old Testament. The Chancel Choir sings the anthem. The pastor then reads the second lesson, usually from the New Testament, and offers the day’s sermon.
Responding to the Word: We rise and sing a hymn related to the message of the sermon and affirm our faith using one of the statements from the Presbyterian Book of Confessions as printed in the Bulletin. Often we recite the Apostles' Creed. Then, one of the worship leaders offers praise and thanksgiving as well as intercessions for the church universal, the world nearby and far, those in authority, persons in need and other concerns. The congregation joins in the Lord’s Prayer. Afterward the morning offering is collected. We rise and sing the Doxology and the pastor asks God’s blessing on our offerings.
Carrying the Word into the World: The congregation joins in a final hymn, and the pastor renews God’s call to us to minister to our neighbors and offers a benediction. The worship leaders walk down the aisle as the Chancel Choir offers a choral response and amen.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper typically is celebrated the first Sunday of the month. After the invitation to the Lord’s Table, the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving includes a Sanctus sung by the congregation. Ordained elders serve the Communion of the People by passing the bread and juice to congregants sitting in the pews. All are welcomed to partake, and we offer thanks to God after the Communion is served.
The Sacrament of Baptism takes place as mutually arranged by the parents (or those to be baptized) and the pastor. Seating for family members is reserved in the front pews.
If new members have been received by the Session prior to the worship service, they will be asked to come forward and be introduced to the congregation prior to the scripture reading.
