Liturgy | lit·ur·gy

  1. the work of the people.

  2. a pattern of worship practices designed to form in a particular direction.

Because Jesus is our king, we live differently. We commit to learning the culture, values, and teachings of Jesus and unlearning the ways of our previous world.  In order to do this, we must be intentional about who we are becoming, and we need a way to train ourselves. 

In almost every area of life, we recognize the importance of repetition. If you want to be proficient at playing piano, you repeat the same songs. If you want to improve your golf swing, you repeat the motion. If you want to form a new habit, you repeat that action. Likewise, to be a disciple of Christ requires repetition of the Jesus story.

Like a trellis that enables plants to climb, the prayer liturgy provides a structure through which our souls may grow. The liturgy is a formation strategy that guides our thoughts and shapes our prayers,  freeing us from the tyranny of our own prayer rut. For we know greedy people pray greedy prayers. Anxious people pray anxious prayers. Sad people pray sad prayers. Optimistic people pray optimistic prayers. We need a structure to guide us away from our own proclivities and into the way of Jesus. 

Through our faithfulness to prayer, the Spirit will do the hard work of transforming our character to resemble that of Christ. This formation is not instantaneous; rather, over the years, we will learn what it means to pray, “not my will, but your will be done.”

When we repeat the Story of Christ, in prayer and scripture, it slowly seeps into our imagination, transforming who we are. Following the liturgy is not a quick fix; it is the slow work of allowing the Spirit to renew our minds and make us into the image of Christ. Sometimes the liturgy feels foreign, sometimes it is awkward, and sometimes it is routine; nevertheless, we can trust that the Spirit is at work in us through prayer & scripture.

  • Each week, we begin our time together with a check in, by answering the questions;

    1. What has been the highlight of your week?

    2. What has been the low of your week?

    Its a simple practice but one that helps us share in the joys and sorrows of one another’s life.

  • The Call to Worship reminds us to take a posture of worship.

    Throughout scripture, we are reminded that “in the Beginning God…” This is the beginning of faith, the recognition of our place in creation and the acknowledgement of a Creator. A Creator that looked over chaotic waters and brought the raw material of the cosmos into an ordered reality. As Christians, we recognize that creation is good and the Creator is worth honoring.

    Every gathering begins with a Call to Worship, a poetic prayer that beckons us to remember ““in the Beginning God…”. The Call to Worship invites us to forget everything that distracts us and to focus our mind, body, and soul on Him. There is no singular call to worship, rather we are invited to worship our Creator God with a new prayer each week.

  • This moment and prayer lead us the way of repentance and the language of confession.

    The Fall, described in Genesis 3, reveals humanity’s attempt to place our will above God’s, resulting in sin—our rebellion against His kingdom and our failure to live as we were created. Scripture teaches that every human, except one, has become enslaved to this wayward nature.

    By confessing our sins together, we acknowledge our rebellious hearts and entrust ourselves again to God’s transforming work. In this practice, we remember that we belong to the forgiven community shaped by Jesus’ kingdom. Though solemn, the Confession of Sin ultimately reminds us of the mercy we have received through Christ.

    Most merciful God,
    we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done,
    and by what we have left undone.

    We have not loved you with our whole heart; We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

    We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will,
    and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.

    Amen.

  • The prayers and poetry found in the Psalms introduce us to the honest prayers of the people of God.

    The Psalter has long been called “the Prayer Book” of the Church. The prayers, poetry, and hymns found in the book of Psalms cover the spectrum of human emotion. When the Church commits itself to working through the Psalter, it commits itself to making space for every human experience.

    It is in praying and hearing the Psalms that we are reminded that “the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever” (Psalm 117:1-2).

  • The Apostles’ Creed offers one of the clearest and most concise summaries of the Christian faith using scriptural language.

    The Apostles’ Creed traces the story of redemption from creation to incarnation, from crucifixion to resurrection, and from Pentecost to everlasting life. Far from being a rote recitation, the Creed functions as a liturgical poem that stirs our hearts and expresses our allegiance to the triune God revealed in Christ. Its trinitarian structure—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—highlights the unique roles of each person while affirming their perfect unity. Each time we speak the Creed, we reaffirm our loyalty to the Triune God. In doing so, we also align ourselves with the historic Church that has confessed these truths throughout the centuries.

    I believe in God, the Father almighty,
    creator of heaven and earth.

    I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
    He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
    and born of the Virgin Mary.
    He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, died, and was buried.
    He descended to the dead.
    On the third day he rose again.
    He ascended into heaven,
    and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit,
    the global Church,
    the communion of saints,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting. 

    Amen. 

  • The Christian faith is built on the belief that God is saving the world through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. That story of God’s work in human history is detailed in a library of works we call the Bible. 

    As disciples, we try to lay aside our preconceptions and approach the bible with curiosity and a desire to obey its instruction. When we do this we will discover that “God is not in our stories, but that our stories are in God’s” (Eugene Peterson). 

  • Each week, as we gather around the biblical text, we practice the Discovery Bible Study method. This is a simple method of interpreting the scriptures with three questions: 

    1. What does this reveal about God or His Kingdom? 

    2. What does this reveal about human nature or yourself? 

    3. How can you live out this passage, or who should you share this story with?

    The first question leads us to think critically about God's character and how He revealed himself in history. The second question holds a mirror up to us and asks where we see ourselves, both collectively and individually, in the story. The third question invites us to respond, to do something, or to tell someone. 

    As we do this, the Spirit guides our intellects and conversations into new discoveries. Whether you’ve followed Jesus for decades, just started, or are still unsure about Jesus, this bible study method is a simple invitation to read the Bible and see where it leads. 

  • The Lord’s Prayer stands as one of the most significant teachings from the lips of Jesus.

    More than a model, it is the prayer followers of Jesus are meant to carry in their hearts, capturing the essence of His teaching to love God and love neighbor. The prayer begins by reorienting our allegiance to the Father and His advancing Kingdom, reminding us that God’s name, character, and reign are to be revealed through His people. It then turns our attention outward as we ask for our daily bread, highlighting both our dependence on God and our responsibility toward our neighbor’s needs. We seek forgiveness and, in turn, extend forgiveness to others, embodying God’s mercy. Finally, we ask for God’s strength and deliverance in the face of spiritual opposition, learning to rely on Him as we live out the way of Christ.

    Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name,
    your kingdom come,
    your will be done,
    on earth as in heaven.

    Give us today our daily bread.
    Forgive us our sins
    as we forgive those who sin against us.

    Lead us not into temptation
    but deliver us from evil.

    For the kingdom, the power,
    and the glory are yours
    now and for ever.
    Amen.

  • The Confession of the Mystery is a simple prayer summarizing the crux of Christian orthodoxy.

    Christianity is not a set of doctrines, propositions, or dogmas– it is a mystery. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) In the most surprising of events God made his home amongst us in the form of Jesus of Nazareth– the Incarnation. Christianity is built on this audacious claim that God came in the flesh and made himself known.

    Then in the most scandalous of events the God-made-flesh was murdered by the very people He came to save. But it was through death he made life possible for all (Romans 6:5-11), through His resurrection the people of God will be resurrected (Colossians 2:12-15), and He is coming once again to bring about a new heaven and new earth. The mystery of Christianity is that through death of one many have new life (1 Corinthians 15:50-58).

    Let us confess the mystery of our faith.

    Christ has died.
    Christ has risen.
    Christ will come again.

  • Each week, the Commissioning prayer reorients us to Jesus’ great commission.

    “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has  been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing  them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  –Matthew 28:18-20

    This text, known as the great commission, has mobilized the Church for centuries. We believe it is our task as Christ’s Church to continue his mission in revealing His Kingdom. Because we have received life in Christ, we offer our lives to give others that opportunity. The followers of Christ bear the weight of telling the World that the Kingdom of Christ has arrived. 

    Living God, draw us deeper into your love; Jesus our Lord, send us to care and serve; Holy Spirit, make us heralds of good news.

    Stir us, strengthen us, teach and inspire us to live your love with generosity and joy, imagination and courage; for the sake of your world and in the name of Jesus,

    Amen