ABOUT LUTHERAN WORSHIP
Lutheran worship is liturgical, that is, the "work of the people" in which no one is a mere spectator. God's children of all ages participate actively in praise, with heart, mind, voice, body language (standing, kneeling, eating, drinking), and our gifts of talents and treasure.
The words of our Lutheran liturgy derive directly from Holy Scripture. Our readings from God's Word each Sunday guide us purposefully through all the books of the Bible and all the great truths of the faith in a dependable, inspiring 3-year cycle that shapes our lives and enriches our spirits. Music and art enhance our understanding of God's ever-creative Word.
THE SEASONS OF THE CHURCH YEAR
The Advent / Christmas Season - The liturgical color of the Advent Season (from November 27th to sunset on December 24th) is blue, representing hope as we look forward both to the coming of Christ at the end of days, and to his coming into our world as the Babe of Bethlehem. We gather for Evening Prayer every Wednesday in Advent at 7:30 p.m. The Twelve Days of Christmas extend from the birth of the Christ on December 25th through the Day of the Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Wise Men on January 6th. The color of the season is white, representing joy in Christ.
The Epiphany Season - On the Sundays in January and February, the church follows Jesus through the steps of his emerging ministry, as he discovered his mission, called men and women to follow him as disciples, preached the Good News, taught God's Word, and performed mighty works of healing. "Light" and "revealing" are two main themes of this season. The church's color for these weeks is green, symbolizing growth in the Word.
The Season of Lent - Extending through a season of 40 days, the church observes a penitential time as we reflect on the opposition and struggles Jesus faced during his ministry as he walked the way of the Cross. The seasonal color is purple. Ash Wednesday begins the season with an evening service of Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes, one of the most solemn and liberating days in the church's calendar, as our sense of guilt is washed clean as we recall Christ's freeing gift of forgiveness. We gather for Evening Prayer every Wednesday in Lent at 7:30 p.m.
Holy Week - During this climatic week in the church's year, the core drama of our faith unfolds, as Jesus bequeaths daughterhood and sonship with God by extending himself totally for us. We focus on the central symbol of Christ's love for all humanity: the Way of the Cross. Palm/Passion Sunday ushers in Holy Week with the Blessing of Palms, a congregational procession and the reading of the Passion Story. Maundy Thursday is the day of the Last Supper, observed with Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Altar at 7:30 p.m. Good Friday is the day for observance of Jesus' death on the cross. Our Service of Tenebrae (darkness) is at 7:30 p.m.
Easter/The Resurrection of Our Lord - is a season of 50 days that celebrates Christ's risen life among us as our Good Shepherd, who creates and keeps the church alive in the midst of a world of crisis and chaos. The seasonal color is white and gold. The season ends on Pentecost Sunday as we recall the day when the Holy Spirit in a burst of flaming energy gave birth to the Christian Church.
The "Season After Pentecost" - The half-year from June through November is a time when the church reads through one of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, or Luke) and follows the unfolding ministry of Jesus. The color of the season is green, representing growth in faith. We observe two special Sundays: Reformation Day recalls the founding of the Lutheran Church on the last Sunday in October; and All Saints Day on the first Sunday in November allows us to remember with gratitude the lives of believers who have gone before us into God's Kingdom.
