Welcome! We are so glad you are interested in visiting our church. Walking into a new church for the first time can be a little intimidating, so we wanted to give you an idea of what to expect when you join us for worship. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible.

Our Worship: A Gift from God

In our church, we call the worship service the Divine Service. This name is special to us because it reminds us of the most important thing happening on a Sunday morning: God is serving us. While we certainly respond with our prayers and praises, the main focus is on God giving us His incredible gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation through His Word and Sacraments.

Our service is liturgical, which means it follows an order that has been a part of the Christian Church for nearly two thousand years. This structure isn’t meant to be rigid or stuffy; rather, it’s designed to be rich in Scripture and to keep our focus squarely on Jesus Christ.

Don’t worry about knowing what to do! Everything you need to follow along—the readings, prayers, and hymn numbers—will be printed in the bulletin you receive from an usher.

What Should I Wear?

There is no “official” dress code. On any given Sunday, you will see a wide range of attire, from suits and dresses to jeans and polo shirts. The best advice is to wear what is comfortable for you. What matters to us is that you are here, not what you are wearing.

What About My Kids?

We love having children in our service! It is a joy to hear their voices, and we believe it is important for them to be present for worship. We understand that kids can get restless, and that’s perfectly okay. If you need to step out for a moment, please feel free to do so.

Following Along in the Hymnal

Most of what you need will be in the bulletin, which will point you to the hymnal in the pew, the Lutheran Service Book. It can seem like a lot of page-turning at first, but it gets easier! We usually keep a ribbon on the page for the main service outline and use the bulletin to find the hymn numbers.

If you ever feel lost, please don’t hesitate to ask someone sitting near you. They will be more than happy to help you find the right page.

A Note on Holy Communion

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) in our service. We believe that in this meal, we receive not only bread and wine but also the true body and blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

Because participating in Communion is a public confession of unity in faith, we ask that only members of our congregation or other Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) churches receive the sacrament.

If you are visiting with us, you are warmly invited to come forward for a blessing. Simply cross your arms over your chest when you approach the pastor, and he will know that you would like to receive a blessing. It is also perfectly fine to remain in your seat during this time to pray or reflect.

After the Service

We would love to meet you! Please stick around for a few minutes after the service so we can introduce ourselves. We look forward to welcoming you in person.