We will sincerely appreciate your being with us. We pray
that the worship will bless and encourage you. We also hope that you will want
to return. Perhaps you are not familiar with the worship in a congregation of
the Church of Christ. We know that the unfamiliar can be distracting and
confusing. As we praise God and honor Jesus Christ, we do not want you to be
distracted or confused.
A Cappella Singing
One of the unique features of the churches of Christ is our a cappella singing. This is simply
singing without the accompaniment of musical instruments in our worship
assemblies. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the singing as we praise
God and Christ. As we sing, we want our spirits to commune with God through His
Spirit. We pray that you will find the music both beautiful and meaningful.
The Lord’s Supper
Another uniqueness is that each Sunday we remember Jesus'
sacrifice and celebrate our resulting freedom from sin by participating
together in the Lord's Supper, or Communion. During this memorial, plates
containing unleavened bread pass
throughout the congregation. This bread represents the "body of
Christ" which the Apostle Paul teaches corresponds to the church.
Participants will break off a piece of bread, eat it, and meditate upon their
relationship with the church for which Jesus sacrifice Himself. Next, trays
filled with individual cups are distributed. These cups contain grape juice
that represent "the new convenant in Jesus' blood." Each participant
drinks the contents of one cup, replaces the cup in the tray, and remembers the
promise they made with God during their immersion for their sins' forgiveness.
The Lord's Supper is offered to baptized believers each Sunday as Jesus
commanded.
Prayer and Scripture Reading
Through prayer and reading the Bible, we talk to and listen
to God. During worship, selected men will lead us in these activities. Most
worshipers participate by simply bowing their heads during the prayer, however,
you are welcome to assume whatever submissive posture you are comfortable with
in prayer. You are encouraged to follow the Bible readings in your own Bible or
one of the Bibles provided in the pews.
Weekly Contribution
Each Sunday, plates are passed to collect the weekly tithe
of our members, which support the many ministries here at our church. We do not
expect our guests to contribute. If they choose to contribute, we gratefully
accept their gift. However, the work of this congregation is the responsibility
of its members.
Sermon
We have an exhortation that helps to focus on building a
stronger spiritual life. Most Sundays our minister, Dale Parker, delivers the
sermon.
Song of Meditation and Commitment
At the conclusion of the sermon, we sing a song to allow for
each of us to think about our relationship with God and the many ways He
enriches our lives. People are invited to respond by coming to the front of the
Auditorium for immersion for the forgiveness of their sins, prayer, or to
indicate a desire to become a member of our church family. We understand that
Christ's invitation is open every day, every hour. Any time is the appropriate
time for prayer or baptism.
If you wish further explanation about our worship or any
aspect of Christian life, we would welcome an opportunity to study the Bible and
share Christ with you. Ask any member to introduce you to the minister or
congregational leaders.
