Normally, except for special occasions, we have an 8AM service and a 10:30AM service. The 8AM service lasts just under an hour. It is Rite 1, which is in more traditional language with no music.
Our 10:30 Sunday service lasts around an hour and fifteen minutes. You will enjoy both contemporary songs and hymns with an organist. We celebrate Holy Communion every week. Childcare is available for children under 5. Kids 5-12 leave for part of the service for Children’s Chapel time. Check out our Children’s Ministry page for more information about what kids can expect at Good Shepherd.
Here is what a 10:30 service on Sunday is like:
Welcome
When you enter the church you will be welcomed by our greeters and other members of the congregation. People will be dressed in many different styles: suit and tie, ethnic dress, business casual or jeans and a polo. You will be given a bulletin that has the whole service mapped out for you (order of service, words to songs, when to stand/sit/kneel, etc.).
Praise & Bible Reading
The priest and others serving will enter from the back of the church during the opening hymn. After some opening words and prayers, the congregation listens to Bible passages from both the Old and New Testaments.
Children’s Message & Adult Sermon
Kids 5-12 may leave with the teacher during the hymn before the Gospel reading for a fun activity and more discussion. Children under 5 return to the childcare room. All the kids return to the service at the time of the Peace, before Holy Communion.
Fr. Skorburg shares a sermon with the adults. Come ready to be challenged and encouraged! Check out our Sermons Page to listen to messages from previous weeks.
Prayers and more
After the sermon, the congregation has their bulletin handy as it is time to do more than just listen! Here are some things to expect:
- We stand and recite the Nicene Creed (found on our What we believe page).
- We kneel for responsive prayers – the prayer leader prays and the congregation agrees by saying the words written in the bulletin.
- We recite a confession of sin.
- We stand and greet each other, usually saying the traditional words “Peace be with you.” (We don’t just shake hands with the person on our right and left, we like to get out of our seats and greet folks all around the sanctuary!)
- We then hear announcements, the children come up for a children’s message, and we celebrate the upcoming week’s birthdays by coming forward and receiving a blessing by Fr. Skorburg.
Offering & Communion
After giving our tithes and offerings, we participate in Holy Communion. The liturgy is all typed out in the bulletin so you can follow along. Instructions for Holy Communion are in the bulletin.
If you are seeking God and would like to understand more about Holy Communion, please come talk with us before or after the service! We would love to share with you more about Jesus and why Holy Communion is such an important part of our spiritual journey. There are brochures in the pew rack which explain more about how we celebrate Holy Communion.
Closing
We finish the Holy Communion service by giving thanks to God, reading a prayer together. The priest says a closing blessing over the congregation and dismisses us. The service closes with a final hymn. The priest and others serving at the altar will walk to the back of church during this hymn.
As you leave the sanctuary, you will have an opportunity to greet the priest. Then we hope you’ll join us for coffee, snacks, and fellowship in the library!