Worship
Gathering to offer our praise and receive God’s gift in Word and Sacrament are the heart of community life at Immanuel. In worship we use the ELCA’s new liturgy and music resource Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW). We value liveliness and variety in worship, active participation of the congregation, leadership by pastors and laity and the rhythm of the historic liturgy. Holy Communion is celebrated each Sunday. We welcome all at our communion table.
Our regular Sunday morning worship service is at 9:30 AM and is followed by a variety of learning and fellowship opportunities. We encourage members and visitors to think of worship, learning and fellowship as one Sunday morning experience and to spend time in the hour following worship in learning or community. Recently we combined our two Sunday morning services to better experience the fullness of a community gathered in worship.
We value children’s presence in worship and understand their occasional disruptions. We would rather be together as the whole people of God.
Our Senior Choir generally rehearses on Thursday evenings through out the school year and at other times.
We value the participation of our members in worship leadership as assisting ministers, communion assistants, choir members, readers, ushers, greeters and acolytes.
Healing Service
Four times each year during our worship we offer laying on of hands, anointing, and prayer for healing.
Anointing, laying on of hands and prayer for healing are ancient practices of the church. We all have brokenness in our lives, broken bodies, minds and spirits, broken relationships with God and others. We bring our brokenness to God for healing. We understand that healing means being drawn closer to God and can include cure, comfort, insight, strength, support from others and a growing sense of God’s presence in our distress.
If you are interested in becoming an elder speak to the pastor or the parish nurse, Alison Martin.
“Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14