Becoming a prism of God’s light in liturgy and life
We will proclaim the good news of the Lord Jesus Crist with worship that is catholic, celebrative, and participatory, so that the faithful will be nourished and so that the seeker may encounter in worship the living Lord.

Sunday worship is the heartbeat of a vital church. At Church of the Servant we seek to express our faith in worship services that glorify God and build us up for lives of service as God’s people.

Catholic

Church of the Servant liturgies draw upon a wide range of Christian sources and traditions. All of our liturgies follow the same basic structure, a structure inspired by the example of the early church and used today in churches of many different denominations. This structure has two main focal points: Word and Sacrament. In Scripture and sermon we hear God speaking to us; in the sacraments we experience the assurance that the promises of the gospel are “for real,” and we become united more closely to Christ and to one another: The Lord’s Supper, therefore, forms a regular part of our weekly morning worship. When baptism is not administered as part of the service, the baptismal font is often carried forward in procession at an appropriate point in the liturgy as a sign of our redemption and new life in Christ.

Celebrative

Our worship celebrates the mighty acts of God in history and the good news of God’s grace in our lives The various seasons of the church year; such as Advent, Lent, Easter and Pentecost, draw us into active remembrance of decisive events in the life of Christ and the building of God’s kingdom. In the sacraments we receive and respond to Christ’s self-giving with joy and gratitude. Although our liturgies are carefully structured we do not want them to be stiff and formal. There is always room for spontaneity-laughter; tears, clapping, even dancing. Freedom within structure is one of the hallmarks of our worship.

Participatory

At Church of the Servant, worship is not a spectator activity; everyone is invited to become an active participant. Our liturgies include many sections in which we are all are asked to speak or sing.

We share the peace of Christ with our neighbors. We leave our seats to present our offerings. We walk forward, form circles, and minister the body and blood of Christ to each other at communion. Even younger children have their parts to play. They frequently come forward to witness baptism first hand, and they process out for Children’s Worship during a part of the service.

Opportunities for worship leadership abound. Members of the congregation regularly read Scripture, lead in prayer; and offer testimonies. Others provide musical leadership as cantors or instrumentalists. Still others give form to faith by means of liturgical dance and art. For more hands-on involvement in the Church of the Servant worship program, consider joining one of the following committees:

The Worship Committee oversees most aspects of worship planning, including review of morning liturgies and leadership of evening services. This committee meets about once a month and is always eager for new members and new ideas.

The Music Committee has the task of choosing and organizing music for each service. It is always looking for new songs to sing and new ways to use the musical gifts of the congregation, including children and young people. This committee also meets about once a month, and it is not necessary to be a music expert to join. If you simply want to sing or play an instrument- that’s fine. Piano players are especially needed.

The Art Committee works to design and maintain the visual elements of our worship. This includes banners, communion table adornments, vestments for the pastor, art above the memorial table, and (during Epiphany) an art show of work by COS members. These visual elements are designed to enhance the worship for each of the seven liturgical seasons celebrated at COS. At the change of each season a group gets together to change the clothes of the sanctuary. We welcome new helpers both artists and non-artists.

The Liturgical Dance Committee encourages us to use our whole bodies to praise God. Following Hebrew and early church traditions, dancers physically interpret sacred song, binding together the themes of Word and Sacrament. Each season of the church year is marked by its own distinctive liturgical dance(s), and anyone interested-young or old, male or female-is invited to join in.