Messiah’s Sunday morning worship service is at 10 am.  Messiah’s worship services are liturgical in nature and include:

• Readings from the Bible (both Old and New Testament)
• A sermon that explores the readings, providing encouragement and support for living in today’s world
• Hymns and songs that support the readings and theme of the day
• Sacrament of Holy Communion

The order of the service is printed in a worship booklet and varies depending upon the season of the year and the occasion.  We use the Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal as the source for most of our songs.

Preaching:  We follow the Revised Common Lectionary, which takes us through the Bible in a three-year cycle.  Our pastor draws on the Bible readings for the core of his message.

Children:  The pastor provides a children’s message each week.  Following the message, children may remain in the worship service or may attend Sunday School (returning to the worship service prior to communion).  Busy bags and a nursery are available.

Communion:  All are invited to receive communion.  If you do not wish to receive communion, you are invited to the altar to receive a blessing from the pastor.  Grape juice and gluten-free wafers are available.  You may stand or knee at the altar rail.  Children are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing.

Offering:  During the service we pass a basket for contributions to support the ministry of the church.  No one is required to make a contribution.  Other opportunities to support various local and national agencies are listed each week in the bulletin.

Time for Fellowship:  Following the worship service there is a time of fellowship in the lounge, to which all are invited.  Light snacks are provided.

As a sacramental community, we take very seriously our Lord’s example – God’s love is not meant just for some, it is for everyone.  During Jesus’ earthly ministry, he welcomed all, including those who were excluded and who others turned their back on.  We are called to do the same and to look beyond exclusion to inclusion.  It does not matter your background, including your faith background.  All are welcome.

We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.  Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person — questions, complexities and all.  Join us as we do God’s work in Christ’s name for the life of the world.

Messiah Lutheran Church is a dynamic, sacramental community dedicated to living out the implications of Jesus’ love ethic.  But what does this mean?

Dynamic – As Christians, we recognize our called to live and love intentionally in the world.  Because God first loved us, we have an obligation to each other and to the world at large to share God’s love.  This means we work for social justice, peace, human rights, and the dignity of all people, and this sometimes means exploring positions that make us reach beyond the commonplace, to look for new ways to help Christ’s light to the world.

Sacramental – We see God in the world and Jesus Christ, our Messiah, is fully human and fully God.  We believe and share in that oneness of spirit and world most strongly in the weekly Eucharist (communion) and in our baptism.

Community – We believe that we cannot be a Christian alone, for it is being part of a community of faith that sustains us.  We are part of the Church Universal, which makes us all a part of the Body of Christ.  We look to each other – our brothers and sisters in Christ – to support us in times of trial and to celebrate with us in moments of joy.  Each individual is part of a network of relationships all joined around the altar.  Each individual is part of the network that reaches out to the world.

We try to follow our Lord’s example.  Jesus opened his arms to those who society excluded.  God’s love is meant for everyone. We work to extend our community to those in need, the homeless, the unemployed and those who are suffering.

We recognize that there are no simple answers in life.  Our 21st century faith calls us to reject simple clichés and stereotypes while seeking a meaningful role for all people of God in today’s world.

We invite you to join us!