No matter which way you enter the church, someone will direct you into the sanctuary where we hold our service. When you enter the sanctuary, there should be an usher to welcome you and hand you the day's bulletin. 

The order of worship is in the bulletin. In fact, everything you need for the service is in the bulletin or in the hymnal in the pew rack.

There are likely to be one or more inserts in the bulletin. Take a moment to see if any of these will be needed as part of the service, such as a hymn or responsive reading.

As you are waiting for things to begin, you can chat with those around you, or you can read through the bulletin. The prelude is the musical piece that is performed while we all settle in.

A single asterisk next to an item in the bulletin means that you should stand up with the congregation if you are able. If you are standing up for a hymn, take your cue from the folks around you. When they stand up, that is when you should stand up.

We start our service by hearing from both a deacon (church leader) and the congregation.   These may be birthday/anniversary announcements, or sharing of concern for friends and family. You are also likely to hear messages from committees and such.

The pastor will start the actual service with the Call to Worship. This is normally a responsive reading, which means the pastor reads part of the text and the congregation reads the bolded text.

The Call to Worship is followed by the first hymn. Remember, if there is an asterisk, you should stand up when the congregation stands. The first hymn is almost always a time when the congregation stands. 

The pastor will lead a group prayer. The group prayer is in the program. Just join in when the pastor starts. 

Children's message

All children are welcome to join us for the first part of the service. When we get to the children's message, the children gather with the pastor and sit on the floor or stairs. The pastor will talk with our children for a few moments, and then invite them to say a prayer. When finished, the children will be dismissed for Sunday school classes. In addition, childcare is provided from 10 to 11 am for children under age 3 in the nursery, which is located on the first floor. On the first Sunday of the month, children remain in worship.

Anthem

Music, as a vital part of worship, has been a longstanding tradition at our church. Music not only enhances our worship, but also shapes our faith. Our music programs strive to offer a variety of opportunities for members to participate in the creative and inspiring expression of their faith, while serving  the congregation as a meaningful part of our worship service. The worship music is accompanied by an historic and recently renovated 1,100-pipe Holbrook organ and a Baldwin-Howard grand piano.

The pastor or the deacon reads the scripture lessons. You can follow the readings in the pew Bible. The page numbers are most often listed in the bulletin. Or, you can just listen.

After the second lesson, the congregation stands and sings. The words are printed in the bulletin.

This hymn typically fits in with the sermon. We almost always stand; look for the asterisk.

Just sit back and listen to the sermon. You may choose to think about how the sermon applies to your life. 

The pastor leads the congregation in prayer. When the prayer is complete, there is often a musical response.

The pastor will announce the offering. While the plates are passed among the entire congregation, no one should feel pressured to give. When the ushers have finished, they will return up the aisles. The congregation stands and sings the Doxology as printed in the bulletin. Remain standing and join in for the Unison Prayer of Dedication, also printed in the bulletin.

We remain standing for the final hymn.

The pastor offers a blessing.

Once the postlude begins, feel free to gather your belongings and join us in Fellowship Hall for conversation and refreshments. Exit through the right door at the front of the sanctuary, and take the next right, or just follow the crowd and the delicious coffee aroma!