What To Expect
You’ll find it easy to join us. Here’s how you’ll find your seat with us on Sunday morning! As you drive north on Dry Gulch Road you’ll see the church building on your left. You’ll turn left immediately after the church sign onto Ptarmigan Trail. Proceed along the back of the building until you come to the parking lot entrance on the left.
Watch out for our visitors who wander through from time-to-time. They make Estes Park a great place to live! elk-in-estes-park
The two wooden doors in front mark the main entrance to the building. On windy days one door remains locked for safety reasons.
Our greeters are the first to welcome you and answer any questions, such as the location of the rest rooms.
Coffee fellowship follows the worship service, but if you come early enough, you can help yourself to a cup at the coffee bar.
Our ushers are at the entrance to the sanctuary with service bulletins for the worship and can assist you in finding a seat.
Then, prior to the start of worship our organist, Derrick Lusch, begins playing prelude music. The sound of a bell three times indicates the start of worship.
Holy Communion: Shape of the Rite*
Sunday is the primary day on which the Church assembles; the first day of creation when God transformed darkness into light and the day on which Christ rose from death and revealed himself to the disciples in the scriptures and the breaking of the bread. The baptized gather to hear the word, to pray for those in need, to offer thanks to God for the gift of salvation, to receive the bread of life and the cup of blessing, and to be renewed for the daily witness of faith, hope and love. To guests, strangers, and all in need, the Church offers these good things of God’s grace.
GATHERING
- Entrance Hymn
- Greeting
- Kyrie
- Hymn of Praise
- Prayer of the Day
God calls and gathers believers through the Holy Spirit, and in response the community acclaims this gracious God in song and prayer. The gathering of the congregation may begin with a confession of sin and/or an entrance hymn. God’s welcome is extended to the congregation by the presider. When appropriate, a litany or hymn of praise may be sung immediately before the prayer of the day. Through these actions, the congregation prepares to hear the Word of God
WORD
- First Reading
- Psalm
- Second Reading
- Gospel Acclamation
- Gospel
- Sermon
- Hymn of the Day
- Creed
- The Prayers
In the rich treasure of Scripture proclaimed by readers and preachers, the Church hears the good news of God acting in this and every time and place. The three-year cycle of readings provides portions of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament letters, and the Gospel books for each week.
During Advent/Christmas, the lectionary reveals the mystery of the Word made flesh. In Lent/Easter, the paschal mystery of the Lord’s death and resurrection is proclaimed. Throughout the Season after Pentecost, the New Testament texts are read in a continuous order. During the last Sundays of the year, the readings present the final vision of a new heaven and a new earth.
This encounter with the living Word, Jesus Christ, is marked by proclamation and silence, psalm and hymn, singing and speaking, movement and gesture. Silence after the readings allows time for the word to be pondered. The sermon announces good news for the community and the world; the hymn of the day both proclaims and responds to the word; a creed is a further response to it. God’s Word, read and preached and acclaimed, leads the community to pray for the Church, the people of the world, and those who suffer or are in need.
MEAL
- Greeting of Peace*
- Presentations of the Gifts
- Great Thanksgiving
- Lord’s Prayer
- Holy Communion
- Canticle
- Prayer
In thanksgiving, the congregation praises God for the gracious gifts of creation and the saving deeds of Jesus Christ. To the table of the Lord are brought bread and wine, simple signs of God’s love, humble signs of human labor. In word and gesture, prayer and song, the people lift up their hearts in praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation, hearing Jesus’ words spoken at this supper, remembering his death and resurrection.
The presider asks that the Holy Spirit unite the community in the Lord’s bread and cup so that, as one body in Christ, they too might proclaim God’s salvation in the world. To this grateful proclamation, the community joins its “Amen” before praying the Lord’s Prayer with one voice. Welcomed to the table, each one is united with God in Christ, with each other, and with the Church’s mission in the world.
During the communion, hymns, songs and psalms may be sung. As the table is cleared, the congregation may sing a canticle. A brief prayer concludes the liturgy of the meal.
SENDING
- Blessing
- *Sharing of Peace Often Occurs Here
- Dismissal
Worship on the Lord’s Day ends with simplicity. The community receives the blessing of God. All are invited to leave in peace, sent out to serve in word and deed; to speak the words of good news they have heard, to care for those in need, and to share what they have received with the poor and the hungry.
*Description taken from WITH ONE VOICE, A Lutheran Resource for Worship. Augsburg Fortress,pages. 8-9.