For Lutherans, worship stands at the center of our life of faith. Through God’s word, water, bread and prayer we are nurtured in faith and sent out into the world.
Connected with and central to everything we do, worship unites us in celebration, engages us in thoughtful dialogue and helps us grow in faith. It grounds us in our Christian and Lutheran roots, while demonstrating practical relevance for today’s world.
There is also a basic pattern for worship among Lutherans. We gather. We encounter God’s word. We share a meal at the Lord’s table. And we are sent into the world. But we do not think about worship so much in terms of what we do. Worship is fundamentally about what God is doing and our response to God’s action. Worship is an encounter with God, who saves us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Credits: https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Worship
Our traditional worship service is held every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
We also have a more informal family oriented service called the Gathering on the second and fourth Sunday of the month at 9:30 a.m. The Gathering always offers contemporary music that is easy for the children to learn. Both of these services have Holy Communion and are held during the school year.
In the summer months, our traditional worship is held at 9:30 a.m.
While some of the approaches to worship may differ from one ELCA congregation to another, we hold certain things in common. Central to our worship life is the presence of God through word and sacrament. The word proclaimed and the sacraments —both Holy Baptism and Holy Communion — are called the means of grace. We believe that Jesus Christ is present in these means through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we describe worship as a “gathering around the means of grace.”
Children are always welcome!
We have a children’s sermon every Sunday. Crayon and Biblical coloring pages are near the main doors to the sanctuary to help keep children occupied during worship on Sunday mornings. We also have a room where parents may stay with their small children who need a break from the service.
To the right, Pastor Rhonda is teaching the kids about the history and significance of pretzels in Lent in her children’s sermon.
Music has always been central to Lutheran worship and liturgy
Every worshiper at St. Paul is a minister of music. When we raise our voices in song to God during worship, we are minstering to ourselves and others! So, come worship with us and raise your voice in song!
We are always looking to praise God through the special music of individual instrumentalists. Are you proficient at an instrument? Would you like to offer a reflection as a way to give back to God the gift of music? Contact our Music DIrector for information.