WORSHIP FOCUS

"Father-Son Outing Gone Wrong"

On a weekend when we celebrate all father figures, we focus on Father Abraham, who amongst Christianity, Islam, and Judaism is considered to be the father of faith. Much of his reputation comes from his obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. This weekend, we explore an incredibly difficult passage that causes more questions than answers. However, by dwelling in such a passage, it allows us to name, question, and grieve the challenging traumas and tragedies we experience in our world today. In a world full of violence and death, we recognize that this is not a passage that condemns religious violence. Instead, it's a passage that assures us God will provide. That God will be present in the worst of situations. And, most importantly, that God's promises will prevail. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Men’s Vocal Ensemble

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Living in the Light"

The story of Christ asking the Samaritan woman for a drink of water at the well is very familiar, but there is so much that is not explained. There is much for us to wonder about. It is Gay Pride Sunday, and there is still so much we need to learn about the gifts of being LGBTQIA+. Yet we do know that we are one in Christ. Thanks be to God that all are welcome!

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Marnie Rourke

SPECIAL MUSIC

Kerry Griswold, Katie Ulrich, Joey Pokryfke, David Simpson - vocal quartet

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

This Sunday we celebrated he Day of Pentecost. We started the service outdoors at a firepit, so you will not see the congregation at the opening of worship, but you will hear what is spoken. The congregation is lighting candles as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and then processing into the sanctuary, singing the ancient Latin words for "Come, Holy Spirit" (Veni Sancte Spirtus). If you are worshiping with us remotely, we invite you to light a candle along with the congregation and extinguish it when the service moves to the Prayer of Congession. 

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Spirit of Universality"

“What? We're supposed to testify to all the ends of the earth?" Can you imagine the disciples reacting like this when Jesus told them that would be their mission. They had no formal training, no strategic plan, and little to no resources. 

But Jesus promised an advocate from on high. And that's exactly what happened: Violent, disorienting wind. Tongues of Fire. Uneducated disciples speaking fluent foreign languages. This is the scene when the Holy Spirit descends on the disciples. On that astounding day, the disciples bear witness, and 3,000 people become believers.

The Holy Spirit makes us united, but not uniform. The Holy Spirit affirms our differences and bends us to serve and care for all our neighbors—neighbors like us, neighbors on the margins, and neighbors vastly different form us. This Pentecost, we reclaim the power of our original call story. Rooted in the Holy Spirit, we are gathered in God's love and sent to share God's love. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

 Courtney Eberly and Kristin Young, vocalists

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Radical Incarnation"

This weekend, we read the “Christ Hymn,” which is the oldest expression of who Christ is within scripture. During Christ’s time, the Roman Empire celebrated idols, power, opinions, domination, conquerors, and exploitation. These "patriotic" values sound oddly familiar, don’t they?

The good news is that Christ is vastly different from these values. The Christ Hymn reveals how Christ lives out divine power. Though equal to God, he self-demotes, self-gives, and self-empties by becoming human. He makes the ultimate sacrifice of laying down his life in order to build a bridge between humanity and the divine. That's the radicalness of the incarnation. How willing are we to follow Christ's example and lay down our opinions, our self-interests, our idols in order for others to experience life?

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Sue Hilderbrand and Kristin Young, vocalists; 

Vocal Ensemble

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"The Power of Partnership"

Power. What comes to mind? Someone with influence? Strength? Money? So many of us have a jaded view of power and have experienced power as coercive, as one-way. But the apostle Paul presents a different view of power in his letter to the people of Philipi: partnership power. Not God having coercive power over us. Not a transactional relationship between us and God. Horizontal power. Mutual partnership power where the Holy Spirit equips us and empowers us. Freeing partnership power in our relationship with Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

This weekend we honor and thank our musicians for a beautiful year of music! 

Lion's Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Kurt Muth: violin

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Intersections of the Gospel"

Today, more and more people are done with Church. More and more people claim to be spiritual and not religious. But if we look to the Book of Acts, we see a model of what the Church is called to be and who we are called to be as followers of Christ. Paul and the disciples faced persecution and criticism, but they rose to the challenge. They faced rejection, but they were open to opportunity. Paul leaned into difference and related Jesus in a way that was relevant and spoke into everyday life. We are called to the same, to be the Church of Acts. To be faithful. To follow Jesus. To meet people at the intersections and proclaim the good news. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Roar Teen and Adult Bell Quartet

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Between the Lines"

In this week’s scripture reading, the author of the Book of Acts uses a slave girl as a prop. The oppressive, male masters who profited at the expense of her toss her away. Even the disciple Paul falls short. He treats the young woman as an annoying object rather than a human being. Sometimes we need to read between the lines. What is the story of this unnamed, objectified, commodified slave girl? The good news is that God sees her and cares about her story. Just as God sees each of us and cares about our story.

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion's Voice Choir

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Seeing a New Light"

One of Easter’s protagonists, Saul, enters center stage this week. Saul is an arch-persecutor of Jesus-loving people of “The Way.” Saul is struck down and blinded. He hears the voice of Jesus saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Come and hear about the man who opens his eyes and sees a new light and a new way of living! 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Rhonda Kral

SPECIAL MUSIC

FDL and Sunday School Singers

Laura Chen and Kristin Young, piano duet

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

"Daring Thomas"

Join us for an Easter celebration like no other! We begin with a procession of the Lion’s Voice Choir singing “Alleluia,” and we celebrate the Risen Lord Jesus has risen. He has risen indeed, Alleluia. After appearing to Mary and telling her to share with the disciples that she has seen the Lord, we'd expect the disciples to be celebrating and partying. Instead, they are locked away, lamenting they didn't get to experience the risen Christ for themselves. Fearing they will face the same demise from the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers. In their grief and trepidation, Jesus enters to show them his wounded body, to commission them and bestow upon them the Holy Spirit so they can become the living body. Jesus provides this meaningful, moving experience for all the disciples—including Thomas. As we dwell in this powerful post-resurrection story, we discover how Jesus continues to bust open doors so we, too, experience the wounded, living Christ. 

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion’s Voice Choir

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion:

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

Join us for an Easter celebration like no other! We begin with a procession of the Lion’s Voice Choir singing “Alleluia,” and we celebrate the Risen Lord throughout the service through bells, brass instrumentalists, and vocalists. We are resurrection people. Come, experience the story that changed everything!

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion’s Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Brass Quartet (Andrew Gerbitz, Nick Childs, Katie Ulrich, Cara Davenport)

COMMUNION

If you are watching remotely, we invite you to gather elements to participate in Communion: 

bread or crackers, plus wine or juice.

WORSHIP FOCUS

We observe the solemnity of Good Friday through the ancient service of "Tenebrae," which comes from the Latin word for candles. We dwell at the cross with seven readings from Luke’s story of the Passion, each followed by music for reflection. We gradually extinguish the candles until we are left in darkness. The “tomb” is slammed shut, and the bell tolls 33 times, once for each year of our Lord’s life on earth. We depart in silence.

PLEASE NOTE: As the sanctuary grows darker during this service, so, too, will your screen get darker. We invite you to live into this experience by gradually turning off your own lights as well. We also invite you to gather Communion elements—bread or crackers, wine or juice—so you can participate in Communion wherever you are.

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion’s Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Andrea Lafranzo, cello

Kristin Young, vocalist

Sue Hilderbrand, vocalist

WORSHIP FOCUS

Maundy Thursday begins the Easter Triduum, the three days from Thursday night through the sunset on Easter. On this night, we remember Jesus' Last Supper and his act of washing the disciples' feet, and we participate in a similar ritual with hand-washing. The service closes in darkness and stripping of the altar, and we depart in silence.

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion’s Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Handbell Choir

Kristin Young, piano

WORSHIP FOCUS

On Palm Sunday weekend, we focus on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and its significance for our lives. We begin worship outside with a procession of everyone waving palms, accompanied by rhythm instruments. As we move into the sanctuary, the procession and movement help us enter into the drama and story of Holy Week.

Download the Order of Worship here.

SERMON

Pastor Patrick Fish

SPECIAL MUSIC

Lion’s Voice Choir

Glory Ringers Bell Choir

Low Bass Bell Ensemble