Seasonal Worship Services
In our celebration of the liturgical seasons, our worship services thematically reflect where we are in the church year. During Advent, our services are joyful, watchful, and full of wonder, as we await the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. During Lent, we follow Christ to the cross, and finally on Easter, we celebrate the grace of Christ’s resurrection. Our worship services are designed to deepen our experience of these most holy seasons of the year.
› Sunday Morning Worship
December 3–December 24, 2017, 10:15 am
During Advent, our Sunday worship services begin with the lighting of the candles representing the themes of the four Sundays in Advent: Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. We invite the newest members of our congregation to light the candles and lead us in our invitation to worship.
› Longest Night Worship
Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 7:00 pm
We know that the holidays are a difficult time for some. For those who need extra support, we offer our Longest Night service. Led by our Stephen Ministers, this is a service of prayer, music, scripture, reflection, and candle lighting, based on the form of a psalm of lament. Older children and youth, as well as adults, find the experience deeply meaningful.
› Christmas Eve Worship Services
Sunday, December 24, 2017
- Pageant of the Nativity, 10:15 am (as part of our Sunday worship service)
Who doesn’t love a children’s nativity pageant? On Christmas Eve, children age 3 through 4th grade create a lively stable of shepherds and sheep, cherubs and townsfolk, and angels that herald the good news. Our middle schoolers portray King Herod, the innkeeper, Mary and Joseph, and the Magi and serve as ushers and liturgists. Visiting family and friends are always welcome, and their children are invited to be a part of the pageant, provided they can make it to rehearsal. - Traditional Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols, 8:00 pm
Our 8:00 pm service on Christmas Eve brings us carols, scripture readings, and candlelight. Youth liturgists lead us through the entire Christmas story. Between readings, we sing hymns and carols, and music is offered by young singers and instrumentalists.
- Traditional Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols, 11:00 pm
At our 11:00 pm service, our musical prelude begins at 10:40 pm. Once again, we hear the entire Christmas story, with hymns and carols throughout. Our music is led by the chancel choir. At midnight, the church is aglow in candlelight as we welcome the birth of the baby Jesus.
Lent/Easter
› Palm/Passion Sunday
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Palm Sunday Procession, 10:00 am; Worship in the Sanctuary, 10:15 am
Holy Week at SPC begins the way it did for Jesus—with a parade. All are invited to join the procession into the Sanctuary, waving palms and singing hosannas. Those who might find the walk too long are invited to join the procession in the narthex. As always, friends and out-of-town guests are welcome.
› Holy Week Communion Services
Monday, March 26 through Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 7:30 pm
During Holy Week, we offer services of Word and Sacrament in the Taizé style. Modeled after the Taizé community in southern France, these worship services are a meditative experience created through music, scripture, and prayer, with an extended time of silence for personal reflection, creating a calm and welcoming space for the “still, small voice” of God. These evening services will be offered in Loeffler Chapel each weekday evening leading up to Maundy Thursday.
› Maundy Thursday
Thursday, March 29, 2018
- Potluck supper in Fellowship Hall, 6:30 pm
We begin our evening with a potluck supper. All are invited—family, friends, and neighbors—where we gather like Jesus did with his disciples for a shared meal. - Table Communion in Fellowship Hall, 7:30 pm
Following our own church dinner, we celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, remembering Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. - Tenebrae Service in the Sanctuary, 7:45 pm
After communion is served, we process in silence to the Sanctuary for a service of Tenebrae, where we re-create the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of the Passion story, illustrated through scripture readings and the extinguishing of candlelight.
› Good Friday Service
Friday, March 30, 2018, 7:30 pm
Special Music & Meditations
Our chancel choir welcomes guest instrumentalists and singers for a special presentation of a major choral work. Here we are invited to dwell in the sounds that give voice to a soulful expression of eternal rest and consolation.
› Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 1, 2018
- Sunrise Garden Service, 7:00am
This is a joyful early morning celebration of the Resurrection that is held in our Memorial Garden, among the trees and early morning birds. Following this 45-minute service, breakfast fare is offered for a bit of early morning Easter fellowship. - Traditional Worship, 9:00 and 11:00 am
Join us for a joyful celebration of the Resurrection! Our musical traditions include the sounds of a brass quartet and the singing of Händel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Bring a flower to adorn our Easter cross, which is made from the trunk of our Chrismon tree. We invite those who have lost a close friend or family member this year to take home one of the potted lilies that adorn the Sanctuary this morning. In between our two services, all are invited to join us for festive fellowship.
