The Word

The lessons and psalms for each Sunday are taken from the The Revised Common Lectionary.

The First Lesson

This reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. It reminds us of God's love for his people Israel, and of the promises that were made to them - promises fulfilled in Jesus.

The Psalm

The book of Psalms is the songbook of the Bible. The Psalms help us receive God's word in an attitude of prayer and praise.

The Second Lesson

This lesson usually comes from one of the New Testament letters. This reading will often tell us how to live as disciples of Jesus and how to share the hope of his coming.

Gospel Verse and Acclamations

Before the reading of the Gospel, we stand and recall the words of Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life". Christ himself speaks to us in the Gospel. We honor Him by standing and acclaiming, "Glory to You O Lord", and "Praise to You, O Christ".

The Gospel

The word, "Gospel", means "Good News". This reading tells us what Jesus said and did when He lived on earth. It is the pinnacle of this part of the service.

Sermon

Like other parts of the service, the sermon is an act of worship. In it, God's Word is proclaimed, both "Law" (which shows us our sin) and "Gospel" (which shows us our Savior). This proclamation draws us to faith, and helps us understand how to live out our faith.

Hymn of the Day

This hymn is sung as a response to God's Word, which we have heard in the readings and the sermon. It usually recaps and reflects the theme of the day and the current season of the Church Year.

The Creed

The word "creed" comes from the Latin for "I believe". In our worship we respond to God's Word by confessing our faith in the words of one of the ancient creeds of the Church. The Apostle's Creed is associated with Baptism and witnesses to the personal faith held by each believer. Therefore, we say, "I believe". The Nicene Creed is the great statement of faith of the whole Church throughout the centuries, and so this creed begins with the words, "We believe". (The Creeds)

Prayers of the Church

We pray for the needs of the world, the Church, the community of faith, and others that have requested prayer.