{"id":1120,"date":"2020-05-05T19:07:17","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T23:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/firstlutheranchurch.ca\/?page_id=1120"},"modified":"2026-10-25T16:26:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T20:26:31","slug":"worship-at-our-church-what-you-can-expect","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.firstlutheranchurch.ca\/index.php\/worship-at-our-church-what-you-can-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"Worship at Our Church \u2013 What You Can Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Class<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study of Scripture on the adult level has a long history in our church family.  We gather each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. (in the church proper) for this class, which generally involves 30-40 participants.  You need not pre-register to attend.  Just come at that time, find a place to sit, and join us!  Nobody will \u201cput you on the spot\u201d or ask you to respond to questions.  Study notes are distributed so you can take them home and reflect on topics being discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10:30 a.m. Morning Service<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the chief worship gathering of our people each Sunday.  It is drawn from the Lutheran Service Book<\/em> (LSB), our hymnal since 2006.  Services are rooted in the historic worship of the Christian church, and alternate between Holy Communion services on the 1st<\/sup>, 3rd<\/sup> and 5th<\/sup> Sundays of each month; and preaching services on other Sundays.  They follow a structured \u201cliturgy\u201d including prayers and praising spoken or sung by the whole congregation, readings from the Bible fitting the day or season, numerous hymns (songs), and preaching (sermon) by our pastors.  The preaching is usually based on one of the Bible readings for that day (often called the \u201csermon text\u201d).  The pastor unpacks its meaning and seeks to show how this truth from God fits the life of listeners today.  Above all, our preaching seeks to proclaim Christ the Saviour and the gracious things He has done \u2026 and still does!  In addition to musical leadership from our very able organist, Eric Swiatoschik, the Church Choir under the direction of Suzanne Eberhard sings on most Sundays from September through to late May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When You Arrive on a Sunday\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An usher often greets you on your way into the church and provides a \u201cbulletin\u201d published for that week.  (If ushers don\u2019t offer you a bulletin, just ask!)  The bulletin includes announcements about activities and concerns in our church family.  The cover page of the bulletin has a little outline of the service for the day.  It will tell you on what page of the Lutheran Service Book<\/em> the day\u2019s service begins.  It lists the hymns the congregation will sing in the course of the service, as well as the day\u2019s appointed Bible readings, and details of the pastor\u2019s preaching theme and sermon text.  The bulletin also makes clear whether it is a Holy Communion service, or a preaching service without a Communion celebration.  As you follow the order of worship for that day in the Lutheran Service Book<\/em>, that hymnal indicates the parts where worshipers speak or sing certain parts aloud.  It explains when you sit, and for what parts of the liturgy you stand.  If it\u2019s a little confusing in the beginning, don\u2019t worry!  You won\u2019t be offending anyone if you miss out on some detail \u2026 we\u2019re just glad you\u2019re here! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Practices Regarding the Holy Communion<\/em><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cWord\u201d portion of our service \u2013 centered around Bible readings and preaching \u2013 is open to anyone wishing to join us.  Even if people are not confessing Christians, are not sure about what they believe, or are just curious to see how we do things, the door is open and everyone is welcome to come and listen respectfully to the Gospel of Christ we\u2019re here to share. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cSacrament\u201d portion of the service \u2013 focusing on the liturgy and distribution of Holy Communion \u2013 is given to those instructed in the Christian faith, and who have confessed publicly the teachings of our church publicly (usually in the Rite of Confirmation or an adult Baptism).  As a result, we invite those who are from our church family (or who are visiting from one of our sister churches) to receive the Lord\u2019s body and blood at the altar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the early Christians, participation in the Holy Communion was an expression of their oneness in faith and teaching.  We still affirm this practice.  Thus, we ask visitors from outside our fellowship to refrain from communing until they have consulted with one of our pastors.  Baptized Christians from outside the fellowship of our churches are welcome to approach the altar, kneel beside the communicants, and cross their arms over the chest as a signal that they wish to receive a baptismal blessing.  If people have no church home in the area and wish to be instructed in the faith of our church, the pastors will be happy to arrange this with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Little Cards in the Pew Racks<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inserted in pew racks in front of you are small cards that serve two purposes.  On one side (where it reads \u201cDear Visitors\u201d) you\u2019re encouraged to fill it out, and also to indicate whether you might be interested in having one of our pastors contact you, or if you are considering becoming a member of our church family and have questions.  You can place this card in one of the offering plates; these are on a stand at the front of the church or on a table in the narthex (vestibule) entryway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other side, there\u2019s a \u201cRegistration for Holy Communion,\u201d intended for use by our members, or for visitors who have spoken with a pastor before coming forward for communion.  If you\u2019re using the card to register for attendance at communion, you can hand it to an usher at the point where you go forward for the actual distribution of Holy Communion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Making Offerings (In Case You Wondered)\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We want our visitors to know that you should feel no obligation to make financial offerings to our work.   While we\u2019re quite happy to have guests contribute to the Lord\u2019s work here, we consider the ongoing support of our ministry to be a primary responsibility of members.  And, truth is, now many of our members are using electronic means to transfer financial gifts to our church, so there\u2019s no need to feel pressured or nervous if you aren\u2019t submitting an offering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Share the Air<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We encourage those in attendance at services to refrain from using colognes, perfumes or skin-care products that carry a strong scent.  There are people who are sensitive to such things, and we try to avoid making them feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Washroom Facilities<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need a washroom while you\u2019re here, proceed out the door to your right (as you sit in the main part of the church).  Continue down the hallway, and there\u2019s a small corridor on your right leading to women\u2019s and men\u2019s washrooms.  Don\u2019t feel awkward about going out of the main church that way if you need to; people have been in the habit of doing it for years! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guestbook<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you exit the church by the main door (facing Victoria Avenue), in the vestibule there\u2019s a little nook off to your right where our guestbook is found.  We\u2019re very happy if you provide a remembrance of your visit by signing that guest-register, though you\u2019re under no obligation to do it.  We\u2019ve just found it encouraging over the years to see some of the names of people who came to see us, and where they\u2019re from.  It\u2019s up to you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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