Worship at Messiah Church
Weekly worship services are at 10am every Sunday morning in the Sanctuary at Messiah. All are welcome as we connect to worship, learn, and grow together in community.
Our Sunday services spring from a rich tradition of word and sacrament. Our worship practices echo the ancient rhythms of songs and prayers connecting us with God and each other—and all who walk, and have walked, this journey of faith with us.
Furthermore, we delight in the creativity, artistry, and presence of our still speaking God. Our faith is no less contemporary than it is ancient, and we believe in a God who is both timeless, and “in time.” And so we shape our liturgy (our work of worship) in a way that celebrates where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.
If you pop into one of our Sunday services, you won’t necessarily see this all at once. But, if you take some time, and take things in over some weeks or so, you’ll begin to see it: ancient prayers, modern poems, brand new songs and traditional hymns, organ and guitars, historical creeds and new expressions of faith and longing. All of these things and more find their place in our expression of worship at Messiah Church.
In the the midst of all of this we usually have a message or sermon, which is an opportunity to explore our faith together, considering what the words and stories of our faith have to say to us right now. We aren’t big fans of idle words or just preaching for the sake of preaching. So don’t be surprised if you feel challenged or even little disrupted. And don’t be surprised if you hear something that’s just what your heart needed to hear.
Here’s a little excerpt from one of Pastor Mandy’s sermons…
In our gospel passage today, I don’t know that Jesus is telling us not to worry, exactly. In fact, what I know of Jesus is that he really, really wants us to be concerned about the things we care about, the things God cares about - like justice, mercy, grace, and love. I think the focus of this passage really comes to life a couple of verses later. In Matthew 6:34 we get this bit of advice: ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’
I think that’s the crux of the message for today. We have worries about ourselves, our homes, our church, our world. And the truth is, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t know if the laundry is ever going to get done at my house. I don’t know if democracy will withstand the current pressures. I don’t know if Messiah Church is going to be here 100 years from today, or 20 years, or 5 years.
But you know what I do know? We’re here now. We are here now, worrying about today’s troubles together. Pledging our support to this community today, working to create a safe and bold space where people of every race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic position, or family status feel welcome and loved by God…
We also celebrate the sacrament of communion together in most of our services. This ancient ritual of bread and wine has always been at the heart of Christian worship, a powerful expression of Christ’s presence with us and in us. And, a powerful reminder of our shared connection with one another.
All are welcome at our communion table, and all means all. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome to the table.
Here’s an example of a communion prayer from one of our services…
Nourishing God, sometimes we tell ourselves that too much has taken place to begin again. We think the world is too far gone. We think we have made too many mistakes. But then we come to this table and we get a glimpse of your kin-dom,* where all are welcomed, all are seen, all are fed.
Thank you for planting hope deep in our bones. Thank you for meeting us in ordinary bread and wine to remind us that it’s never too late to begin again.
Amen.
*This is not a typo. Kin-dom language is used to evoke the kind of community Jesus envisions: one rooted in relationship, equity and liberation, not hierarchy. Learn more here.
We’re a growing community with worship practices that have been shaped by a rich tradition of faith and are being shaped by our present community, calling, and mission. Everyone at Messiah Lutheran Church is part of that shaping, and you will be too as you join us and we move and grow together on this lifelong journey of faith and discovery!
