The order of worship is called the "Liturgy for Divine Worship." Liturgy is a word that means "the work of the people." That reminds us we are not a passive audience here to be entertained. We are instead performers for an audience of one: God. In all that we do, we are working together to offer up the best we have to honor the one who gave his life for us (this is why it's called a "service").  Everyone has a role to play in that worship.

Whether you call it the Bible (a word that means "book") or the Scriptures (a word that means "writings"), it is the Word of God written because it reveals to us the Word of God who came in human flesh, Jesus Christ. We turn to the Scriptures because through them, the Holy Spirit still reveals the Good News ("Gospel") of Jesus and invites us to respond with lives that glorify God. As such, you will read/hear several readings from the Bible, which we strive to faithfully interpret and proclaim within the service. But if you listen and look closely, you will also find passages from the Scriptures show up in music, in prayer, and in the Sacraments, all of which help us encounter the Triune God.

Sacraments are physical, tangible representations ("signs") of the invisible, but very real, grace of God working in our hearts and lives. They are gifts Jesus gave the church to seal God's Word in our lives. We celebrate the two sacraments Jesus instituted and commanded:  Baptism and the Lord's Supper (aka Holy Communion or the Eucharist).  Baptism is the rite of entrance into the community of faith, and forms the center of our identity as the people of God.  The Lord's Supper is our celebration of communion with the Risen Lord and with one another, as with bread and the cup, we remember and celebrate Christ's death and resurrection until he comes again.  The Eucharist is celebrated on the first, third and (when it occurs) fifth Sundays of each month, and on special days in the life of the church.  

We follow a historic pattern of worship which is grounded in both the Reformed/Presbyterian tradition and the ancient traditions of the universal Church.  But we do this using the language of those gathered in worship. We may use traditional imagery while we also use modern forms of media and technology. We use a piano and an organ for live accompaniment, but also use guitar and drums via recordings. We sing hymns and songs from ancient times, modern day, and everywhere in-between.   We are less concerned with matters of style; what matters is faithful proclamation of the Word, faithful celebration of the Sacraments, and shaping faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

Visitors often wonder what to wear. The answer is to wear whatever you feel led to wear. We are a church that doesn't get hung up on that. Some folks like to "dress up," others worship in everyday clothes (jeans and t-shirts). The pastor usually likes to wear traditional robes and vestments.  But the truth is that, underneath it all, God views and welcomes us all the same.

As Jesus welcomed children when his disciples tried to keep them away, so we welcome and encourage children in our worship. In fact, God brings some of the best praise from the mouths and minds of children (Psalm 8:2). God put the wiggle in children for God's glory, and we don't need to suppress that. However, we know it can sometimes be hard for parents and caregivers with kids in the worship setting. If kids (and parents) need to take a break, there is a child care room with video feed of the service is available for parents and young children in our nursery through the double doors to the left of the sanctuary. There are also childrens bulletins with coloring pages and activities on the back table of the sanctuary, along with crayons. But don't be afraid to encourage your children to try participating with you: singing songs, reading the Bible readings, prayers, etc.

Everyone is welcome at worship (and we mean EVERYONE). If you are seeking to know God through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, no matter of worldly or spiritual circumstances, you are invited and encouraged to join us.  We are a "Hopsital for Sinners" and a "Gathering of Saints".  We are not a Private Cub or a Museum for the Righteous.  You will be met with love, acceptance and understanding.

We being by sharing special announcements and prayer requests. It's how we lift up the common life of our community of faith as together we prepare to experience Jesus Christ, the Word of God in human flesh, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  After that, our accompanist offers music as we prepare ourselves to worship God. We enter into Christ's presence with words and songs which invite us to worship the Triune God and know his presence in our midst.  In sensing God's presence, we then like the Prophet Isaiah know our unworthiness to be in God's mist, and so in confessing all that separates us from God, we hear the Good News that in Jesus Christ, we are both forgiven and at peace with God.  It is upon hearing that Good News that we share signs of God's peace and reconciliation with one another.   

We prayerfully approach God's Word written, and typically hear or sing up to four readings from the Scriptures:  the Old Testament (or Acts at Easter time), the Psalms, the New Testament Epistles (Letters), and the Gospels.  The Word is proclaimed typically in a "Sermon," a time intended to explain the meaning of the texts in their original and current contexts.  Additionally, we connect the texts to concrete ways we can grow in our faith and in our Christian life.   

We confess the faith that has been proclaimed in God's Word using one of the creeds or confessions of the church.  When a baptism is celebrated, it is connected with these affirmations of our faith.  We respond with a hymn or song that reflects the Word we have seen and heard.  We then offer prayers for the Church, the world and all in need.  We take up an offering, both as an act of worship, and as an act of devotion to Christ and the ministry of his church.  

When we celebrate the Lord's Supper, the message of the Gospel is proclaimed through the breaking of bread and the sharing of a cup.  Proclaiming the saving death of our risen Lord, we consecrate these elements with the ancient prayer of thanksgiving, as well as the words Jesus himself spoke at the last supper, the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, and the sharing of this holy meal.  Truly, Jesus is present in our midst and we have communion with him, and the whole Church.  Because of this, we are encouraged in our faith and invited to grow in our love for him and one another.  

We are charged and sent forth with God's blessing to proclaim the Good News to all people, and to live out the Christian faith in our words and our deeds.  Worship, therefore, doesn't end with the close of the service, but extends into our entire lives as a call to serve the Lord, one another and the world.  We go forth in song, in the peace of Christ, with thanks to God.