Three Worship Services are held each Sunday

At First Christian Church there are several opportunities to experience “corporate” worship; worship services that celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness which is made most fully known in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.  Our 8:30 service is rather casual, intimate, and warm. We gather in the “glassed-ceiling” room called the “Atrium.”  Holy  Communion at this service, as in the other two services, is the central element.  Our 10:30 service is considered more “traditional” and is conducted in the church’s sanctuary.  The church’s beautiful Austin pipe organ, with over 1500 pipes, is the main musical instrument and the chancel choir offers an anthem.  The 10:30 service is available on video tape by contacting the church office.  Many of these  10:30 service are available online and can be seen by clicking on the title on the home page.  On Sunday evenings, at 5:00 , the Elders of the church conduct an abbreviated service of word and communion.

There are some “church” words that we use in our services of worship that may need definition.

First, however, it might be well to briefly explain who we are in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

We have sometimes understood ourselves as “An Experiment in Liberty,” part of the “Restoration Movement,” or an “American Religious Movement.”  But our roots are in the Presbyterian and Baptist traditions and our founders (Alexander and Thomas Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott) sought to restore the Church as they understood it from the New Testament.  One of our tradition’s favorite assertions is “No Creed, But Christ; No Book, But the Bible.”  And working for “Christian Unity” is one of our denomination’s passions as we seek to bridge the many divisions in the body of Christ today.

We have two sacraments that we call “ordinances.”  They are baptism and communion.

Baptism is a practice of the church whereby those who profess faith in Christ experience “newness of life.”  The act of baptism assures us of the grace of God as divine love touches us personally, cleanses us of sin, relieves the burden of guilt, claims us for a new life, and sends us out into the world to serve in Christ’s name.[1]  Scriptures that support such an understanding as well as our mode of baptism (immersion) may be found in: Mark 1:9-11; Romans 6:3-6; Matthew 29:19; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1Peter 3:21.

Communion or Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus just before his death.  It is open to all who confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And it has a broad range in meaning.  It is in communion that we meet and receive the living Christ.  It includes an act of thanksgiving for the renewal of our lives through the forgiveness of God.  It is an expression of unity with other believers.  Communion also offers an opportunity for self-examination, personal confession of sin, and receiving God’s forgiveness.    Scriptures that support such an understanding of communion may be found in Mark 14:22-25, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Acts 20:7, and Acts 2:42, 46.

There are other words you may find in our worship bulletin that sound a little unfamiliar. 

The Gloria Patri is a sung affirmation of faith that goes: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end.  Amen.  Amen.”

An Invocation is a prayer that calls upon God for God to be present in the service..

The Doxology is a sung praise for who God is and for the blessings that come from God.  The words are, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him all creature here below.  Praise Him above the heavenly host.  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.”

The benediction is the final prayer/blessing offered by the pastor for the gathered community.

^[1] “A Handbook for today’s Disciples: Revised Edition”, D. Duane Cummins, Chalice Press, St. Louis, 1991, p.26.