Worship Service
We are known as a friendly church. Prior to the beginning of our service, parishioners and visitors are welcomed by a greeter/usher. Greetings and conversations are encouraged as people settle into their seats for the start of the service. Our Music Director then begins the prelude which encourages the congregation to focus on a more reflective presence within the sanctuary. Following a traditional Sunday service opening, the Christ candle is lit, prayers are said, and the Scripture lesson is read, followed by the first of two choir anthems. These aspects of the service allow for further reflection and lead us into the prayerful words of the pastor as he delivers the sermon.
Generally speaking, our church is well attended during the Sunday worship service. There are an average of 60 people who are physically present (including the choir), with another 20-30 on-line devices tuning in for the live stream format. This varies however, depending on weather and seasonal changes that affect the proportion of in person and on-line attendees.
Although the health concerns of COVID kept us from meeting in person prior to 2022, we were very excited to be able to enjoy last year’s Christmas season and Easter in our sanctuary. The Christmas Eve service was enjoyed by many, with Lessons in Carols as the service format, supported by anthems from the twenty plus member choir. It was a moving experience for everyone to be in the sanctuary once again. We were also able to bring the Christmas Pageant back to the sanctuary during the Sunday service before Christmas.
We are also mindful of providing the most accommodating environment for spiritual exploration in our sanctuary. For example, we recently added a “prayground” to our small chapel area in order to provide a safe and comfortable space within the sanctuary for young children and parents. It is equipped with a rocking chair, books, and small toys and allows people to participate in the service as a family. We continue to strive to keep a flexible mindset in trying new approaches to the ministry of Christ’s love within and outside our church community.
After the service, the weekly Coffee Hour takes place in the Church Hall which often serves as a gathering place for fellowship. We enjoy coffee, snacks, conversation and getting to know each other. Many attend this time of fellowship, for not only refreshments are sought but it is here where volunteers for events like Rummage Sales and Christmas Fairs are discovered! Periodically, we offer organized conversations, discussions, videos, and meetings in this space after Coffee Hour. We are an open-minded congregation who seeks to explore a variety of options for learning about and understanding scripture.
Livestream Every Sunday
For many years we’ve been recording the Worship Service to be seen later in the week on a local television station for the public and for our members who could no longer attend in person. With the arrival of Covid, we purchased new and advanced equipment to be capable of offering a Livestream worship every week. Our Minister, Music Director, and Media Technician, worked diligently to offer a Livestream service that was both meaningful and spiritual and kept us connected when we weren’t physically together at church. Because of the growing importance and skills required to make this happen, we adapted the Media Technician position to be a part-time member of the staff rather than serving in a volunteer capacity. Livestream is now a vital aspect of our worship experience. With the purchase of large screens for the sanctuary, we have a new option for reading the lyrics to music, seeing videos, and following along with prayers.
