Worship at GOOD SHEPHERD

 

  AT ITS CORE, worship is an opportunity to come before God as part of a community.
  AS WE GATHER, all are invited to experience the presence of God through ritual and song. 
 

IN GOD'S PRESENCE, time is blessed and the human heart is made open to new possibilities and directions.

 

DURING OUR GATHERING THREE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES UNFOLD:

We remember and celebrate baptism – a water bath.  In our baptism, we remember the work of God in our lives, freeing us from the power of sin and reconciling us to God

and one another.

 

We hear a story.  Out of scripture and through the art of preaching, the story of God’s promise to mend the brokenness of all creation is told.  

We share a meal together.  In Holy Communion, we eat and drink bread and wine, Christ’s body and blood given for our re-creation.  

 

As our weekly gathering comes to a close, we are sent into the world to be the bearers of good news and instruments of God’s peace.  All are empowered to live out new lives in service to others and for the care of all creation.

  

All three of our worship services incorporate

the above insights on worship, though they do so

with differing styles of song and instrumentation. 

 

No matter what service of worship you attend,

there will be a familiar pattern: gather together,

hear the story, share the meal,

and be sent into the world.

 

The early service follows a setting for Holy Communion found in our hymnbook, Evangelical Lutheran Worship.  The instrumentation for the service is pipe organ and piano.  Hymns sung come from a broad range of sources and time periods.  A traditional church choir enhances and provides leadership for the service.

  

Late morning worship follows a more informal and relaxed pattern.  The Celebration Team provides vocal and instrumental leadership for the worship experience.  Instrumentation includes keyboard, piano, bass, guitar, and drums.  Contemporary Christian music is the primary source for songs of prayer and praise.

  

At the evening worship, the mood is quiet, candlelight dances about the altar, and all are invited to rejoice in the promise of Christ’s presence. In the summer join us for Holden evening service. The remainder of the year, worship follows a setting of Holy Communion, entitled Unfailing Light.  A service was written specifically for communities of worship gathering at the close of the day.