We believe that worship is an essential part of being Christian. As Martin Luther put it, “To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.” (link to reference at bottom of page) Worship gathers around God, and together we experience the Good News, the Gospel, that God loves us unconditionally and calls us to lives of radical love.
We offer regular Sunday worship in English (11am) and German (9:30am), as well as special worship opportunities during Christmas, Lent, Easter, and some lesser festivals.
Our worship is grounded in the tradition of the church from its earliest time. This means that our worship service has structure – it contains the key components of gathering, word, meal, and sending. Each component is expressed through a variety of means: old and new church music, readings, drama, prayer, sermons, dance, audiovisuals, and other art.
Our worship is also liturgical. This simply means that it is based on the participation of all present. All sing, all speak certain responses, all pray, all listen, all forgive and are forgiven, all come to share the Lord’s table.
We strive to make our worship intergenerational. We want all ages to participate, and to be edified by their participation. We do this through our liturgical (participatory) format. For young children we offer a children’s chapel where they can see and hear the worship service while being able to move around more freely. On the fourth Sunday of each month, we have a special intergenerational (and somewhat experimental) English service, called Partners in Faith.
Basic Structure of Lutheran Worship:
- Gathering / Invocation / Confession
- Word
- “Word” is the Word of God, God speaking to us. This part of worship focuses on listening to God. One way God speaks to us is through the Bible – and so each Sunday we listen to Bible readings (link to lectionary, as well as devotional aids).
- Another way God speaks to us is through people. Pastors have undergone special training in proclaiming God’s Word. In our worship services, we listen to a pastor’s sermon, which proclaims God’s love, grace, purpose and will at this time. That is, the sermon proclaims the Gospel.
- Finally, God speaks to us through our senses. Each Sunday, we experience God’s Word in a variety of art forms, such as drama, music, lyrics, images, movement.
- Prayer
- Meal
- Sending
Our Services
Sundays @ 9:30 AM – German Worship – Holy Communion is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of every month.
Sundays @ 11:00 AM – English Worship – A liturgical Lutheran worship service using the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal. Services include special music. From September to May families are encouraged to start worship together in the church; a Kids’ Talk early in the service invites the children forward for a special message before they go to their Sunday School classes. Holy Communion is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of every month.
You can find out more about when we worship here.
