Why We Worship
People who are aware of their relationship with God have always felt the need to respond to God’s love and mercy, whether through prayer, or song or some other act of devotion. When we speak of worship, we mean the assembly of the people of God in communal prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, guided by God’s Holy Word and Sacraments, which is why Holy Communion is offered weekly at each worship time.
Sunday Worship Times & Styles
8:00am Classic Lutheran Worship
Classic Lutheran worship liturgy from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book with hymns led predominantly by a pipe organ.
9:30am Classic Lutheran Worship
Classic Lutheran worship liturgy like the 8:00 worship with the addition of choir anthems by the Adult Choir each week and one of the other six choirs most weeks from September through May. Children aged 4 to Grade 6 attend Sunday school classes before joining families in sanctuary worship for the Meal and Sending portion of worship. Blessing services for children are held during this worship time that celebrates various milestones in a child’s faith formation (see Faith Stepping Stones in the Grow section for more details on this ministry).
Worship Assistants
Worship and Music Committee
oversees the coordination of worship activities. The Worship and Music subcommittees include Acolytes, Altar Guild, Music, Ushers, and Sunday School when there are special events. The committee meets monthly to ensure that everyone is informed of upcoming events and any changes to the routine services. The main goal of the meeting is to coordinate everyone’s responsibilities to ensure the worship experience is meaningful for the congregation.
The Worship and Music Committee meets on the first Sunday of every month immediately following the 9:30 Worship Service September-June. If you are interested in learning more or want to get involved let us know by calling the Parish Administrator at 856-429-5122 or by email.
Communion Assistants
aid the Pastor in distributing communion.
Instructions:
- During the offering please get a white robe from the robe area outside of the choir room. You may sit in the back pew behind the choir or you may wait at the door to the Altar area.
- After the Lord’s Prayer please use the hand sanitizer behind Pastor’s chair on the Altar before proceeding to the Altar.
- Pastor will commune you and you in turn will commune him by saying, “the body and blood of Christ given and shed for you”, unless it is communion at the rail and one assistant will give pastor the bread and one the wine. If you give the bread you would say, “the body of Christ given for you” and, if you give the wine, “the blood of Christ shed for you.”
- Pastor will direct you to which side to proceed to for intinction. The words “the body and blood of Christ given and shed for you” are said while giving out the wafers. If there are children in your line, please wait for Pastor to bless them. You may need to go out into the congregation to commune those who can’t come forward. Pastor will instruct you. When everyone has received Communion return to the altar.
- For the first Sunday of the month, same procedure as above but you will be pouring the wine from the chalice. Pastor will give you the chalice with a cloth to catch any drips. You will follow him and say, “the blood of Christ shed for you”. If someone takes the pre-filled grape juice make sure you stop and say, “the blood of Christ shed for you”. You will most likely need to refill the chalice from the decanter on the Altar and when you replace the decanter please make sure it is back where you took it from since there is a plastic sheet underneath to prevent stains to the fair linen. The choir will be the last to commune if you are doing 10:30 service. After Communion return to the Altar.
- You may return to the Altar with pastor, exit and return your robe.
Lay Reader
reads the First and Second Lessons during the worship service.
Holy Days
Three worship times are available to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord. All worship times include Holy Communion and candlelight singing of “Silent Night” and the incorporation of many carols sung in lieu of portions of the traditional liturgy.
3:00pm & 5:00pm Family Worship
This worship time features anthems by the Cherub and Children’s Choirs as well as all children in attendance welcomed to the front for a special Children’s Message.
9:00pm Classic “Midnight” Worship
The Adult Choir and Bell Choir are the featured choirs at this service with the Christmas Message preached from the pulpit or aisle. While it does not begin at midnight it is often referred to as the Midnight Mass or Midnight Service by many.
Maundy Thursday
Focuses on Jesus’ new command (mandate) to love one another and institution of the Lord’s Supper on the night of his betrayal. Absolution by laying on of hands and stripping of the altar at the end of worship are also highlights of this worship.
Worship time:
- 7:00 PM: Worship music is led by organ or piano with Holy Communion being received while kneeling at the communion rail. The Adult Choir provides the anthem.
Good Friday Tenebrae
This 7:00 PM “service of shadows” places extreme emphasis on the cross of Christ and is marked by a somber tone. Lights are dimmed as the candles representing Christ’s last words are extinguished and the congregation again leaves the worship in silent and meditative reflection.
The Resurrection of Our Lord (8:00, 9:30, & 11:00)
All three worship offerings are identical with Holy Communion offered at all three. The alleluia of song returns to the liturgy and hymnody after a long absence during Lent. Those attending the 8:00 worship also participate in a brief component of the Vigil of Easter worship where the light of Christ symbolized as the Christ Candle enters our lives at the beginning of this worship.