How We Worship Here at Faith
Worship (sermon, Communion and music) begins at 10:00 am every Sunday.
The children are led for Children's Church before the sermon and return at Communion
Sunday school begins at 9 am every Sunday.
Visitors familiar with Catholic or Episcopal worship will feel immediately comfortable with our order of worship here at Faith. Methodists and Presbyterians will find our worship similar to their Communion services.
Our music varies from week to week to allow the wide variety of our members’ musical gifts to be expressed in worship. If you don't feel entirely comfortable with one visit here, try another Sunday or two. You may find our worship meets your needs more fully than anywhere else.
If you are not familiar with a "liturgical" order or style of worship, the section below may be helpful to you. Also, see the "About Us" page of this website.
The Preparation
Faith Lutheran Church, prelude -traditional or contemporary -- begins the worship. This is not just to establish a "mood,'' but is itself an offering---a creation of artistic talent for God's glory. The music is often related to the biblical/liturgical theme of the day or season. During this time, worshippers may listen, offer personal prayers in silence, or meditate on appropriate literature, including the biblical lessons for the day.
Confession and Forgiveness
A brief order of spiritual preparation frequently precedes the Service proper so that with "clean hands and a pure heart'' we may "stand in the holy place'' of the Lord (Psalm 24). In response to a scriptural invitation, we confess our sin and ask for pardon. The presiding minister reminds us of divine mercy and declares us forgiveness in the name of God who made us children in Holy Baptism.
The Ministry of the Word
The Entrance Rite
We begin the service with a "gathering" or "grounding" hymn or song. Then the presiding minister greets the assembled congregation in words similar to those used by the apostles in addressing early Christian churches (see Romans 1:7). Because worship is not a solo performance by the minister, but an activity of the people, here and elsewhere in the liturgy, the congregation responds to the greeting.
Sometimes we sing the Kyrie. We greet our Lord as people of old greeted a king when he came to their city. In a series of petitions, a minister asks for peace and salvation for ourselves and the world, the people joining in the response, "Lord, have mercy'' (in Greek, Kyrie eleison).
A "praise hymn" - contemporary or traditional - follows, expressing our joy for the gifts which our Lord brings.
The Prayer of the Day marks the conclusion of the opening rite. It is brief, focusing on a central theme for a particular Sunday. We make this prayer our own by responding "Amen.''
The Scripture Readings
The Word of God in Holy Scripture has always been a major element of Christian worship. Several Christian bodies, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians among them, use a three-year lectionary cycle. Two or three Scripture lessons are usually read at each service interspersed with other biblical passages. The Lesson (or Lessons) is usually a selection from the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures and/or the Epistles. Usually a Psalm, one of the hymns of the Old Testament, is spoken or chanted responsively or sung.
The climax of the readings is the Gospel, a section of the books that record the words and deeds of Jesus. Each of the first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) is primarily associated with one year of the three-year cycle of lessons, while the Fourth Gospel (John) is found among the readings during all three years. We stand to hear the Gospel, for our Lord's own words are spoken. An acclamation of praise to Christ precedes and follows it.
Sermon (or "Homily"), Hymn, Creed
Before the Sermon, the young children are usually invited to come forward for a short sermon worded especially for them. Afterwards, they are invited to leave the sanctuary with the adult leader for "Children's Church." They will return in time for Communion.
The Church's response to and interpretation of the Word of God follows the Scripture readings. The Sermon or "Homily," to use an ancient expression, is usually based on one or more of the lessons. The Homily is a living witness of the Gospel, expounding the Word and applying it to our own times and conditions.
The Hymn of the Day, which may be sung before or after the Sermon, fits the theme of the lessons and sermon. It is taken from the Church's rich treasury of poetry and music by which many generations of believers have offered praise to God and witness to their faith.
The Creed embodies the Church's ancient and universal confession of faith in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Nicene Creed or the Apostles' Creed may be used, depending upon the season of the church year.
The Prayers
Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession for the needs of the Church, of society, and a wide variety of individuals form a fitting conclusion to the Ministry of the Word. These prayers vary from service to service according to circumstances of time and place. The people enter into the petitions through frequent reponses such as: "Hear our prayer.''
The Ministry of the Sacrament
Peace, Offertory, Offering
In an upper room in Jerusalem, Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples and instituted the Lord's Supper, saying "Do this for the remembrance of me.'' (1 Corinthians 11:24) After Easter, the risen Christ "was known to them in the breaking of bread'' (Luke 24:35). We are brought together by our obedience to Christ's command and our need for Christ's continuing presence in the Sacrament. As we begin the communion rite, ministers and people share the Peace with one another through words and gestures. The Offering of the people is gathered as the altar table is made ready for the Lord's Supper. Offerings of money are given as an expression of love and gratitude for God's blessings. A brief Offertory canticle is sung by the congregation. Ministers and people often join in a brief prayer of offering.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Great Thanksgiving begins with a Preface in which the presiding minister bids us to lift our hearts to God and give thanks. Then a proper Preface states the particular reason for thanksgiving appropriate to the day or season. This leads to a climax in which we join in the canticle "Holy, holy, holy." Here we unite with the heavenly hosts (Isaiah 6:3) and with the Church on earth (Matthew 21:9) to adore God and to welcome the Savior who came for our redemption and who now comes to us in the Sacrament. The Great Thanksgiving may continue with the Eucharistic Prayer in which the history of God's salvation is recounted. The scriptural words which tell of Jesus' institution of the Sacrament are recited in order to consecrate the Bread and the Cup. We pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit that we might be prepared rightly to receive the Body and Blood of Christ which, according to his promise, are now truly present in Holy Communion. Then we say our distinctive prayer of fellowship in Christ, the Lord's Prayer, which is also our table prayer.
The Communion
All is now ready for Holy Communion. The congregation, including persons baptized in other denominations, is welcomed to the Communion railing, which surrounds the altar at Faith. The congregation comes to the altar from the middle aisle and returns by the side aisle. Most communicants kneel, but some stand. The pastor offers communion bread to each person. Communion assistants offer three different choices for receiving the Cup. One choice is to drink from the chalice of wine; second choice is to dip one's bread into the wine in the chalice (called "intinction"); and the third choice is to take a small individual cup of either wine (red color) or grape juice (clear). The little cups are returned to holder in the side aisles. "The Body of Christ, given for you; the Blood of Christ, shed for you," or similar expressions the ministers say as they give the Sacrament to the people. Hymns may mark our communion devotion.
The Post Communion
After the distribution of Communion, we offer a brief prayer of thanks and sometimes sing a canticle. The presiding minister pronounces a Blessing using either a formula similar to the one that began the Service or the Aaronic benediction from the Old Testament (Numbers 6:24-26).
We conclude the service with a hymn and then a minister speaks words of Dismissal, telling us to "Go in peace. Serve the Lord" in daily life, which is also a worship of God. We respond with a shout: "Thanks be to God" or another response.
Fed and nourished we are sent out to serve in Christ's name!
This, very briefly, is how we Lutherans here at Faith worship. Worship points us consistently to the saving work and resurrection presence of Jesus Christ. In it God speaks and gives to us; we respond with thanks and praise. Such worship links us in the fellowship of the saints through the centuries. Word and Sacrament prepares and equips us for ministry in the world. From the Christ's Table we are sent out to embody Christ's love in our daily lives, in service to this broken world and to give witness to the loving saving grace of Christ Jesus.