Worship

Our great desire at St. Paul’s is to see the triune God of the Bible exalted from the depths of our hearts to the ends of the earth. We long to see all things “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Nothing is more important to us than this. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

Worship Services

• Sunday Morning 10:30 AM
• Evensong Service 6:00 PM (3^rd Sunday of every month, excluding summer months)

Core Values

When St. Paul’s was planted in 1991, the founding members of our congregation longed to recapture a historically rich form of liturgy that would help people worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness “with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). This deep commitment continues to inform and inflame the heart of worship at St. Paul’s, which is characterized by:

1. God-centered and historically rich liturgy.
2. An emphasis on the ordinary means of grace (that is, God’s word, the sacraments, prayer).
3. Wholehearted devotion, expressed corporately and individually.
4. Reverence and gladness that reflects God’s greatness and grace.

The Shape of Worship

Our Sunday morning liturgy unfolds in three major movements:

Entering God’s Presence. We gather in response to God’s calls to worship, joyfully offering praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. With reverence and awe, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness, which is declared in Jesus’ name.

Renewing Our Faith. Worship continues with a focus on God’s word. Our faith is renewed as we publicly confess the truth of God, join our hearts and voices in prayers and hymns of praise, and hear the good news proclaimed. Our pastors are committed to Christ-centered, expository preaching so that the main point of the text becomes the main point of the sermon.

Responding in Thanks. As hearing becomes doing, we respond to the good news. Songs of praise continue to be raised and the gifts and offerings of God’s people are collected. On the first Sunday of every month, we participate in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. With God’s blessing upon us, we are sent into the world to love and serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ!

Participation

There are many ways to be involved in worship at St. Paul’s. In addition to regular attendance, congregational singing, corporate confession, prayers of the people, careful listening to God’s word as it is read and preached, the celebration of the sacraments, and generous giving, there are opportunities for those with musical gifts to join our choir and instrumentalist ensemble. If you are interested in participating in the music ministry at St. Paul’s, please don’t hesitate to contact Ron Owen, our director of music.

Other members of our congregation support our worship ministry by working in our nursery, sound booth, or serving as greeters and ushers to help make our visitors feel welcome. If you are interested in participating in these support roles, please contact Rick Madsen, our director of ministries. Our senior pastor, Justin Borger, who serves as the chair of St. Paul’s Worship Committee, would also be happy to answer any other questions that you have about our worship ministry.

Questions and Answers

How can I prepare for worship?

One very practical way to prepare for worship is to sign up to receive St. Paul’s weekly “Liturgy for Worship” email, which is sent every Friday afternoon. This email includes the order of worship for the upcoming Sunday, the sermon outline, and the preaching schedule. It also serves as a reminder for us to examine ourselves as we prepare to come to the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of every month.

What is “liturgy”?

The word “liturgy” refers to a set of routine practices that gives shape to religious services. There is a sense in which all of life is liturgical because it is unavoidably shaped by various habits and routines. Here at St. Paul’s we make every effort to have a biblically based and historically rich liturgy. We are not trying to recreate some “golden age” of the past, but we do want to steward the past, in the present, for the future.

Are children welcome in worship?

Yes! We welcome children for the entire worship service. Nursery (for children aged three and under) and children’s church (for children aged four through first grade) is also available.

Why do you baptize babies?

For this and similar questions, please read “A Pastoral Letter on Children and the Sacraments.”

What kind of attire should I wear for worship?

There is no dress code at St. Paul’s. Many wear their “Sunday best” while others dress more casually. Regardless of what we wear to worship, we should never forget “the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7; cf. 1 Peter 3:3-4).

Why do the pastors wear robes?

The pastors wear robes to deemphasize their personality and personal choice of clothing in the pulpit while emphasizing the role they serve as ministers. The pastors fill an important role under Christ’s authority and their robes set them apart for this official capacity much as police officers who wear recognizable uniforms. Ultimately, however, the pastors wear robes to decrease and avoid distraction so that Christ might increase.

Why are we asked to kneel at various times in worship?

Body language is powerful, and God’s word often commands us to use our bodies to communicate the disposition of our hearts in worship. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6; see also Psalm 63:4; 150:5; Romans 12:1; 1 Timothy 2:8).

What are the colored hangings on the pulpit and why do they change?

These hangings are called “paraments” and they change as we celebrate the five great “evangelical feasts” of the church year: Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. These liturgical colors have an instructive purpose, helping us to mark time and pointing us to key events in the life of Christ and the great work of redemption that he has accomplished.

St. Paul’s Worship Committee

• Erin Beute
• Justin Borger (chair)
• Ron Johnson
  
• Ron Owen
• Bud Leonard
• Elise Maynard
• Hannah Pacchioli
• Dayle Seneff
• Michael Shuman