A Quick Guide to Our Worship Quirks
Every congregation worships in a slightly different way, but the most important thing to remember is that Jesus Christ is present with us and for us when we gather. Christ Jesus is the host who welcomes you into fellowship and worship where you can experience a deeper and closer relationship with him. God's Word and the Sacraments are central to our worship and the means through which we receive God's grace: gifts of forgiveness, new life and the promise of salvation.
Here's a guide to the quirky way we worship as Lutheran Christians and as the St. Paul's community.
Here's a guide to the quirky way we worship as Lutheran Christians and as the St. Paul's community.
Our worship book
Our worship book, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, is where we find both the hymns and the prayers and songs that make up our liturgy.
The bulletin is your guide to the order of worship. It gives you the page numbers and the hymn numbers so that you can fully participate in the service. The pages numbers refer to "small" numbers in the front (printed on the bottom of the page) of the worship book. Hymn numbers refer to the "large" numbers printed on the top of the page. The first 150 hymns in our worship book are the 150 Psalms found in the Bible.
Inside your bulletin you will find an insert, Celebrate. On this insert, you will find the Prayer of the Day, three readings from the Bible and a psalm for the day. You will also find the Prayers of Intercession so that you can silently pray along with the worship assistant.
The bulletin is your guide to the order of worship. It gives you the page numbers and the hymn numbers so that you can fully participate in the service. The pages numbers refer to "small" numbers in the front (printed on the bottom of the page) of the worship book. Hymn numbers refer to the "large" numbers printed on the top of the page. The first 150 hymns in our worship book are the 150 Psalms found in the Bible.
Inside your bulletin you will find an insert, Celebrate. On this insert, you will find the Prayer of the Day, three readings from the Bible and a psalm for the day. You will also find the Prayers of Intercession so that you can silently pray along with the worship assistant.
Holy Communion
We celebrate Holy Communion on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month. (On the second and fourth Sundays we worship using a Service of the Word, liturgy). All the baptized are welcome to receive the sacrament, including children who have received communion instruction. All children are encouraged to come forward with their families to receive a blessing and as a way of learning about the sacrament.
We commune by kneeling at the railing at the front of the sanctuary. Please, take an empty glass (to receive the wine, poured from the chalice) from the usher, or you may take a glass that has been already filled with grape juice.
We commune by kneeling at the railing at the front of the sanctuary. Please, take an empty glass (to receive the wine, poured from the chalice) from the usher, or you may take a glass that has been already filled with grape juice.
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. But first ...
We pray that God blesses and strengthens you through worship as part of Christ's family and the St. Paul's community. Together, we bear God's gifts of life and salvation into our daily lives to take part in God's mission of love and redemption. But before you run off into the mission and ministry God has in store for you, stay for coffee, tea, cake and all kinds of other refreshments. This is a great time to get to know the people of St. Paul's, to share your story and enjoy the grace of God that comes to us through being part of God's family.
