Worship Notes
All of our worship is intended to give praise to God. Therefore, we have acknowledged that all of the styles of worship that we share together may achieve that goal.
Our Traditional Service utilizes the ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) book of worship liturgies and hymns. Worship liturgies are the forms of
worship that have been handed down through history. Some portions of this liturgy are sung to different melodies. The music is usually accompanied
by organ or piano.
The mid-week (Wednesday) worship is a modified Traditional Service in that we do not sing the liturgy, but we do sing hymns. Normally
the Wednesday Bible lessons are the same as the following Sunday.
During the Seasons of Lent and Advent the mid-week service format may change and the Worship Team and Pastor may develop a theme to prepare
us for what is to come in Easter or Christmas.
Our Praise Service follows a similar “liturgical” pattern as the Traditional Service without the sung liturgy and with more contemporary
songs. The songs are accompanied by a praise band (piano, drums, trumpet, flute, and guitar) and several lead singers.
Our Traditional Service utilizes the ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) book of worship liturgies and hymns. Worship liturgies are the forms of
worship that have been handed down through history. Some portions of this liturgy are sung to different melodies. The music is usually accompanied
by organ or piano.
The mid-week (Wednesday) worship is a modified Traditional Service in that we do not sing the liturgy, but we do sing hymns. Normally
the Wednesday Bible lessons are the same as the following Sunday.
During the Seasons of Lent and Advent the mid-week service format may change and the Worship Team and Pastor may develop a theme to prepare
us for what is to come in Easter or Christmas.
Our Praise Service follows a similar “liturgical” pattern as the Traditional Service without the sung liturgy and with more contemporary
songs. The songs are accompanied by a praise band (piano, drums, trumpet, flute, and guitar) and several lead singers.
Sacraments
Sacraments are ways that we believe that God is made real or present to us. In the Lutheran church, we believe that there are two sacraments:
baptism and communion.
Baptism is a powerful connection to God. Through God’s love that we do not deserve, God claims us as a child of God and adopts us into
the family of God. Often infants are baptized because this is a radical understanding of God’s grace in that there is nothing that an infant, or any of us, can bring to deserve or earn our relationship with God. At the same time, if a person has not been baptized, then we can also baptize an older youth
or adult. Normally, baptism precedes receiving communion.
Holy Communion is received in the bread and wine of this sacrament. This commitment on Christ’s part is done so that we may be strengthened
and nourished for our daily faith journey. Since the Holy Spirit can be at work in the life of all people, all are welcome, even if they are not members of
the church, to come forward and receive the gift of communion. Communion is celebrated at most worship services. On Sundays, we provide gluten free bread for those who require it as well as usually offering both wine and grape juice for any who prefer or need those elements.
First Communion follows a course of study in the Fourth or Fifth Grade (parent’s choice). All children who have not participated in this course of study may come forward to receive a blessing and the assurance of God’s love for them.
baptism and communion.
Baptism is a powerful connection to God. Through God’s love that we do not deserve, God claims us as a child of God and adopts us into
the family of God. Often infants are baptized because this is a radical understanding of God’s grace in that there is nothing that an infant, or any of us, can bring to deserve or earn our relationship with God. At the same time, if a person has not been baptized, then we can also baptize an older youth
or adult. Normally, baptism precedes receiving communion.
Holy Communion is received in the bread and wine of this sacrament. This commitment on Christ’s part is done so that we may be strengthened
and nourished for our daily faith journey. Since the Holy Spirit can be at work in the life of all people, all are welcome, even if they are not members of
the church, to come forward and receive the gift of communion. Communion is celebrated at most worship services. On Sundays, we provide gluten free bread for those who require it as well as usually offering both wine and grape juice for any who prefer or need those elements.
First Communion follows a course of study in the Fourth or Fifth Grade (parent’s choice). All children who have not participated in this course of study may come forward to receive a blessing and the assurance of God’s love for them.
Worship VolunteersThe Altar Guild is the group of people who prepare for and clean up from communion and change the "paraments" (differnt color of cloth hanging on the altar and lectern) according to the seasons.
Worship volunteers include the greeters, ushers acolytes, offering counters, opening and closing the church on Sudnay mornings, readers of the Bible lessons, communion assistants in serving communion and presenters of Children's Messages. Flowers may be given on any Sunday of the year as anothe way of showing glory to God. Three times a year there are special plants and flowers arrangements donated (Easter, Pentecost and Christmas) to the church. A group of volunteers arranges the potted flowers around the Altar. |
ChoirsChoirs provide a blessing in special music during worship. Currently there are three choirs.
The Sunday School Rock Stars include children in preschool to Grade 5. FiSH is an intergenerational choir of Families in Singing Harmony. The Congregational Choir is our adult choir. There are also“song leaders” at our Traditional Service. The Praise Band and Singers take that leadership role at the Praise Service. Contact the church office for information on who the choir leaders are or how to volunteer to sing in the choir. Special ServicesBrochures on special worship information are available for Baptism, Wedding or Funeral Services at Mt. Calvary. Simply contact the church office and the staff will send you a copy or stop by for a brochure.
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Worship Planning
The Worship Team coordinates the worship experiences of the congregation for all worship services.
The Traditional Worship Planning Team (TWPT’s) selects the hymns for the coming Sundays. The Praise Planning Team (PPT) selects the songs for the Praise Worship Service. Both teams do this following an outline of the themes for each Sunday developed by Pastor Rich Block.
The Traditional Worship Planning Team (TWPT’s) selects the hymns for the coming Sundays. The Praise Planning Team (PPT) selects the songs for the Praise Worship Service. Both teams do this following an outline of the themes for each Sunday developed by Pastor Rich Block.
