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Worship is the heart of Grace. Here we meet God for though God is
always with us Jesus promises that God is more directly present for
our awareness, for where two or three are gathered in His name, He
is there. It is the participation of many people that also makes
worship very alive at Grace. Along with three Sunday worship
services, Grace also has many special and festival times of worship.
Services
| Candles
| Festivals
| Ministries
SERVICES
5:00 pm Saturday - begins our Sunday worship. Holy Communion
is offered and the same readings and message are used as on Sunday.
This service has traditional hymns each week.
8:30 am - is when most people gather for worship at Grace. A
“contemporary choir” leads the music on the second and fourth
Sundays.
10:45 am - has the same hymns and readings as the Saturday
evening worship.
Outdoor Worship - from Memorial Day to
Labor Day outdoor services are held at Schaefer's Wharf on Hwy L on
the beautiful Lake Nokomis. If the weather is bad, the service
meets under the shelter at Nokomis Park just up the road from
Schaefer's.
Contemporary Worship - our musical members
share their talents as they lead our music during these services on
the 2nd and 4th Sundays from Labor Day to Memorial Day.
CANDLES
This may be the best way to understand Lutheran worship and worship
at Grace.
Center candle on the altar reminds us of our relationship
with
Lekubu Lutheran Parish in South Africa. This candle was made by
one of the members at Lekubu and brought back to Grace so that on
the first Sunday of each month Grace along with all three churches
that make up the Lekubu Parish light our candles to remember the
church is larger than our own congregation.
Paschal or Easter candle – next to the altar during the
Easter Season and other times next to the Baptism Font – is lit
throughout the Easter Season and at each baptism and funeral. This
candle reminds us that Jesus dying and rising for us is the center
of our church. Easter, the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, is
our major festival and we worship on Sundays as a weekly reminder of
that reality. In baptism all that Jesus won in dying and rising is
personally given to us, so that at our funeral the light and hope of
Jesus remains lit.
The two altar candles are lit whenever we gather for worship,
reminding us that Jesus is present wherever two or more are
gathered. When these candles are extinguished at the end of worship,
the acolyte lights their candle lighter from these candles and walks
out with the candle lighter still lit as a reminder that worship is
never over, but rather worship is to renew our faith and life so
that we are sent out to be Christ’s presence in the world.
FESTIVALS
MINISTRIES
Altar Guild - sets up for Communion and Baptism. Those who
serve on Altar Guild serve one month of the year with another
person.
Acolytes - light the candles and assist with the actions of
worship – offering, Communion, Baptism.
Greeters - welcome and greet people as they enter. It is
important that the first act of worship is recognizing God in the
people around us. We dare not worship or form God in our own image
but we need to be both welcomed and challenged by a worshipping
community.
Nursery - attend to children during
services.
Readers - read the assigned readings for that day used in our
worship.
Assistant Ministers - lead the congregation in greeting one
another, in confessing our faith, and in the prayers. This role
serves to emphasize that it is the calling and responsibility of all
who are baptized to greet one another, to confess our faith, and to
pray.
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Projection Team - plans and support one another
in putting together the projection on the screen. They find
the theme picture based upon the readings and message for
that day and put together the slides for the songs and
responses as used in worship and the announcements for the
offering and events at Grace. They meet quarterly to clarify
their procedure and to assign worship services for preparing
the projection. |
Booth operation - this involves the projection on the
screen at every worship service and also includes the sound system
and camera at 8:30 and at special services.
Communion Assistants - distribute Holy Communion at 8:30
worship, festivals, and at the Friday nursing home worship.
Decorating Committee - decorates the altar and sanctuary for
Pentecost, All Saints, Thanksgiving, and Valentines.
Video Team -
Counters -
Coffee Hosts -
Sound Team -
Puppetry -
Drama -
Music -
A vital part of worship, there are many ways for
musical gifts to be used in worship at Grace.
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Organists lead and accompany congregational singing.
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Contemporary Choir leads congregational singing and provides
special music at 8:30 worship on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each
month.
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A Chancel Choir provides special music at festivals and special
occasions.
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A Brass Choir assists with congregational music at Easter and
festivals.
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A Bell Choir can be started at Grace as soon as there is interest.
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Instrumental and vocal solos, duets,
trios, quartets and special arrangements are welcome to provide special music at any or all
worship.
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A Special Music Coordination Team or person invites and schedules
special music whenever possible.
Ushers - greet at the door to the sanctuary. They not
only distribute bulletins and collect the offering but are visible
in order to be the people to go to for questions. Grace has hearing
assistance devices, a nursery, restrooms, elevator and many
activities – all of to which the ushers can direct you as needed.
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