Worship & Events

Lutheran worship begins with confession of sins and prayer. We chant Psalm verses. Our three Sunday Scripture readings follow the church lectionary. We confess the Nicene Creed and hear the Word preached to us in a sermon. Following prayers, our service continues with Holy Communion and concludes with the benediction.

In the service, you’ll sing or speak the ‘ordinaries’, which are worship texts given to us by the early church. They include the Kyrie (“Lord, have mercy”), Gloria (“Glory to God in the Highest”), Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”), Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”), and others.

If you’re not familiar with these texts, don’t worry! We print them out in easy-to-follow worship bulletins. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you figure out the liturgy. And how meaningful and Gospel-rich our worship is!

Sunday Morning Worship
8:00 & 10:30 AM with Sunday School at 9:15 AM

Advent & Lent Wednesday Evening Services
7:00 PM (with Lenten suppers starting at 6:00 PM)

Lutheran worship follows the seasons of the church year. Here, you’ll find Word and Sacrament; reverence and beauty. The liturgy, which we call Divine Service, includes Holy Communion every Sunday morning in both the early and late services. Both the 8:30 and 10:30 services are identical.

The liturgy evolves through the church year. Advent is a penitential time of expectation, awaiting Christmas. We have additional Wednesday evening services at this time in December. The Christmas season is a great celebration and quickly gives way to the revealed wisdom and rich Gospel readings of Epiphany. Lent is another penitential season; we worship on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings during these 40 days. The joy of Easter brings new forms to the liturgy that extend into the season of Pentecost which runs through the late summer.

If you learn one thing about Lutherans, it’s that we love to sing. Especially hymns that are rich in Christian doctrine and inspired by Scripture. They shape our faith and its joyful response to the Lord. At Hope, our singing and other parts of the service are accompanied by organ. And you’ll often hear our choir making a joyful noise from up in the balcony. Sometimes you’ll hear other instruments like piano or brass on special occasions.

Lutheran music points us to God, not ourselves. It’s a powerful tool for learning, praising, returning thanks, and sharing the Gospel.

Yes! You can expect us to greet you before or after the service, introduce ourselves, and make you feel warmly welcomed. We are excited to meet you, and you’ll find our church an inviting and friendly place. You won’t have to stand up, announce yourself, or fill out a card. We don’t do that.

What to wear? It’s up to you. You’ll find people at Hope dressed for church in a variety of ways from very casual to more formal. What you wear to church isn’t the point. Joining in fellowship and service, receiving Word and Sacrament; this is what matters.

St. Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians that “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

With Scripture and the confessions of our church, we believe the Sacrament of the Altar is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, imparting forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Before joining in communion, examine your faith in these words and your heart for anything unforgiven. All who have been baptized and instructed in the Christian faith, and who confess with us the pure Gospel and Sacraments of Christ Jesus are invited to the Lord’s Table.

If you’re visiting Hope from a different faith background or if you’re learning about the Lutheran confessions in preparation to join Communion, you are welcome to come forward during Communion for a blessing from Pastor Joel. You may also find it comfortable to remain at your seat during Communion. Both are okay. When you visit, introduce yourself to Pastor Joel before or after the service. We’re eager to talk with you.