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Our church begins each service with a call to worship (read responsively), followed by a Psalm reading. Occasionally, the Psalm is the call to worship (e.g., Psalm 95, the Venite, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord”).
Advent
First Sunday of Advent: Hope
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered to worship our great God and Savior, and to join the saints of all ages in looking for the glorious appearing of his only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ is coming.
Today, on this first Sunday of Advent, we put ourselves in the place of ancient Israel, awaiting the first advent of Christ at Christmas, while looking also for our blessed hope, his second coming to judge the living and the dead.
Christ is coming.
Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.
Christ is coming.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.
Christ is coming.
The first candle of advent symbolizes hope—the dawning hope of our coming King, and a happy anticipation of his heavenly reign.
Christ is coming.
The call to worship is immediately followed by the lighting of the first candle.
Second Sunday of Advent: Peace
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered on this second Sunday of Advent to worship the God who always keeps his promises. The ancient cry of God’s people, “Maranatha—Come, Lord!” will soon be answered.
Maranatha!
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under our feet.
Maranatha!
Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Maranatha!
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Maranatha!
The second candle of advent symbolizes peace—the promised reign of peace on earth and peace with God through Christ’s atoning blood.
Maranatha!
The call to worship is immediately followed by the lighting of the first and second candles.
Third Sunday of Advent: Love
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The call to worship is immediately followed by the lighting of the first, second, and third candles.
Fourth Sunday of Advent: Joy
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The call to worship is immediately followed by the lighting of the first, second, third, and fourth candles.
Easter
Worship the Risen Lord
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered on the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, because that is when Christ rose from the dead.
This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair. Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
We are persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
If Christ is risen, then we will rise with him.
If we will rise, then all things will be made new.
Worship the risen Lord; sing praises to his name; publish the glad tidings of salvation!
We will worship him!
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Trinity & Ordinary Time
Worship the Triune Redeemer
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered to worship the Triune God.
We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.
Glory be to the Father, who planned our redemption before the foundation of the world.
Glory be to the Son, who redeemed us with his precious blood.
Glory be to the Spirit, who sealed us for the day of redemption.
(ALL) Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Worship in Dialogue With God
Brothers and sisters, we have gathered to worship the Triune God.
We have gathered to praise the Father who loves us.
We have gathered to exalt the Son who redeemed us by his blood.
We have gathered to magnify the Spirit who unites us as one body in Christ.
We gather because Christian worship is not a matter between “me” and God alone.
Worship is a conversation between God and his people.
God speaks to us—through the reading of his Word, the preaching of his Word, and the words of institution at the Lord’s Supper.
The church speaks back—by lifting our voices as one in prayer, praise, and confession of faith.
This morning, don’t be an observer; be a participant.
We will join in the conversation with our whole hearts.
Listen as we let God’s Word be the first Word. Hear the Word of the Lord in ______.
