Worship & Music

Sunday Morning Schedule

8:30 A.M. Chapel Service
9:15 A.M. Sunday School Hour
10:30 A.M. Sanctuary Service

Every Sunday, we hold two worship services. The first service starts at 8:30 AM in the chapel and is smaller and more intimate. The second service starts at 10:30 AM in the sanctuary and is larger and features the worship leadership of the chancel choir. While these services are slightly different, by attending either one, you can expect to find some elements in common:

First, we follow a traditional order of worship, meaning that we follow the same liturgical pattern for our services each week. While the order is fairly regular, the words of the prayers are always fresh and inspired. The pastors, music staff, and liturgists lead the service and the congregation participates through responsive prayers, confessions, and hymn singing.

Second, we are blessed by an excellent music ministry. We place a special emphasis on congregational singing, offering a variety of genres, from Bach hymns to African-American Spirituals, global music to folk songs. Additionally, during the 10:30 AM service, the Chancel Choir (an ensemble of 30 singers) serves as worship leaders, enlivening our congregational songs and inspiring us with beautiful anthems. Then, every service features magnificent organ preludes and postludes.

Finally, following our Presbyterian and Reformed tradition, we believe that the most essential elements of our worship are Word and Sacrament.

• By ‘Word,’ we mean that we read various passages of Scripture, that our prayers are saturated and informed by those Scriptures, and that Jesus is proclaimed and made known through the Word proclaimed (that is the sermon) based upon the Scriptures of the day. In our tradition, we uphold two Sacraments: baptism and communion.
• For those families who are already a part of our church and who welcome a new child into their lives, we do baptize children. We understand baptism is a sign of God’s grace and a sealing of the Holy Spirit, signifying that before we even have a choice in the matter, God has chosen us and that we are welcomed into the covenantal community of faith. For new families or new members of the congregation, we baptize them and welcome them into our community upon a profession of faith.
• Then, at least monthly, we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection by celebrating communion together. This holy act brings us closer to God in Christ Jesus and serves as a visible reminder of God’s grace and love for us.

As we seek to make discipleship a way of life, we provide several opportunities for everyone to take steps on their journeys of faith. During the 9:15 AM Sunday School hour, there are classes for kids and youth, with several different adult class options. Children are treasured as a vital part of our worshipping community. Our 10:30 AM service includes a children’s sermon, after which those in kindergarten and younger, are led out for Kid’s Church, a time of fellowship, Bible stories, and play. Older children remain in worship and we offer materials and activities to help them stay engaged.

There is also a nursery staffed by church volunteers for children birth through two years old, beginning at 9:15 AM.

For more information about Sunday School and the Children and Youth ministries, please visit our Learn & Grow section.