Before the Service

Look for an usher (the smiling person with a little blue badge). Say "hello" and pick up a weekly bulletin. In the weekly bulletin is the worship order for the day's service, church news and other information. The usher can show you to a seat if you're not sure where to go. Before or after the service, be sure to stop by the welcome table and let people know you're new. This is a good place to meet people, get some information about our church, or ask any questions you may have.

Announcements and Call to Worship

Announcements about opportunities to participate or serve in the community are made at the beginning of the service. More news and announcements can be found in the weekly bulletin. A Call to Worship is given by a pastor or worship leader to turn our attention to God with reverence. This may be through a prayer, a reading from Scripture, or a song.

Worship through Songs

Singing is one way for the congregation to express joy, appreciation and gratitude to God. The music team aims to blend contemporary and traditional songs that magnify God's work and character. God is the audience and he listens to our hearts as we praise him.

Why do Christians sing? We sing because God has given us joy. Some people feel like they're not musical or have a bad voice. That's perfectly OK! The point is not how well you sing, but that God has put a joyful song in your heart. Express that song in the ways that work best for you. (For example: Recite the words in your heart... Hum along... Bounce along... Clap... you get the idea.)

We teach that worship is not just for Sundays. Listening to worship music is a way to turn our attention to God in our daily activities. Buy some of these songs, listen to them during your commute or free time. Use them during your personal time with God.

During our service, other forms of worship may be used. Oftentimes a choir sings, a drama is presented or a body worship team performs. All these artistic forms are meant to turn our attention to God. Take time to meditate on the words being sung or the spiritual message being conveyed in the dance or drama.

Greetings

Sunday worship is not just for individuals, but it's the gathering of a spiritual family. The diversity of voices and hearts joined together points to how wide and deep God's love is. By greeting one another, we embrace those who may be different from ourselves as fellow brothers and sisters in God's family.

Prayer and Confession

When Christians come to worship, we aim to see God more clearly. When we see God more clearly, we also see ourselves more clearly. This contrast moves us to confession and prayer, because we see how good and holy God is, and how far we are from his standards of goodness. In prayerful confession, we affirm that God is compassionate and forgives us because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. In prayer, we also affirm God's sovereignty in all things and humbly put the needs of the church and individuals into God's hands. Regular prayer helps Christians experience God's promise that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).

If you have any prayer requests, please to contact a pastor or our prayer team.

Offering

Offering is a privilege for Christians. We freely respond to God's abundant grace by cultivating a heart of generous giving. One way to do that is by giving financially to help support the church and it's ministries, both locally and internationally. We collect offering in specially designated boxes in the back of the sanctuary. If you're new to our church or not a believer, don't feel obligated to give.

Messages from the Bible

Each week a member of our pastoral team will give a 25 to 30 minute message. This message aims to explain the truth of the Bible to the congregation and encourage us to receive God's grace and live a life that is pleasing to God. Sermons preached on Sundays can be heard again or downloaded here.

One-on-One Prayer

After the message, whoever is speaking usually prays for the congregation. If you're interested in being prayed for personally, you'll have the opportunity to receive one-on-one prayer from a pastor or a member of our prayer team. Just come to the front of the sanctuary after the service and speak with a pastor or ask at the Welcome table at the entrance of the sanctuary.

Communion, once a month

On the first Sunday of the month, we take communion together. This is the bread and cup that symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. By taking this together, we remember and identify with his sacrifice (1 Cor 11:26; Gal 2:20) and receive a spiritual nourishment by our participation (John 6:53-57).

If you have put your faith in Jesus as Lord and savior and expressed that faith by being baptized, you're invited to participate with us. If you're not sure about it, don't feel pressured to take the bread and wine. Instead, take a moment of quiet to reflect on who Jesus is, pray for those around you and meditate in prayers.

After the service

A church is not an event or a building, but the people. Getting to know others in the church is the only way to fully experience a church. Some ways to do that are to say "hello" to the people at the Welcome table by the sanctuary entrance. Or just introduce yourself to one of the pastors. Church members love one another and spend time catching up with one another on the patio after the service. Oftentimes, people go to lunch together. Don't be alarmed if you get invited to lunch at a local restaurant by a group of friends. Being part of a church is to be part of a community. More structured fellowship groups or classes are also a great way to get involved, grow and serve in the community.