What to Expect on
Sunday Morning
Invitation
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Jesus Christ, Matthew 11:28–30)
I am very glad that you are considering worshipping with us. I pray that you’d come and encounter God in significant ways and that you’d be encouraged through the service and the fellowship of the church.
We are a young and still-forming congregation, but we are excited about what God is already doing at The Church of the Good Shepherd—the future is bright! There is plenty of work to do, but the Lord has equipped this church with wonderful people and He is with us.
We believe that God uniquely meets us in His Word, at His Table, and through His people. Come and worship with us, and “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”
I look forward to meeting you,
Pastor Tom
Arriving on Sunday Morning
Arriving on Sunday Morning
We gather together for worship every Sunday morning at 11am at Christ the King Lutheran Church. The parking lot is located behind the church. Once you've parked, signs and greeters will guide you to the sanctuary area. As you enter, a greeter will hand you a service program—think of that as your roadmap for the morning.
You may notice some Lutheran signage or symbols around the building — that's because we're guests here! Church of the Good Shepherd rents this space for our Sunday gatherings, and we're thankful for the partnership.
All children are very welcome in service. Nursery for children 0–3 is available. You can drop your children off at any point during the service. Children pick-up takes place after “The Peace” and before Communion. Activity bags can be found for young children whose hands desire something to keep them occupied during service.
Service generally runs for one hour and ten minutes.
A Word About Our Sanctuary
You'll notice the foyer has a happy conversational hum to it before and after service—that's exactly what it's for. Please, catch up with a friend or greet someone new. We love the noise of people glad to see each other.
The sanctuary, though, is a different kind of space. As you walk through the sanctuary doors, you'll notice things get quieter. This isn't about shushing conversation—it's an invitation to something good. We keep the sanctuary hushed so that the moments before the service begin can be unhurried ones. Consider this your chance to breathe, pray, and be still before God. That said, a warm smile and quiet ‘good morning’ is always welcome—you’re invited to be friendly while still being mindful of the space.
After the Service
Coffee, refreshments, and on-going conversation can be found in the Fellowship Hall. There's also a great playground just outside, where children will find active company.
Throughout the year, we also have after service meals, teaching, or other activities. But we do always first provide time and space for fellowship.
The Liturgy
Our worship service follows a historic liturgy that dates back to the early church and is a journey through the gospel story. Anglican worship invites full participation. As C.S. Lewis said, "[Anglicans] don't go to church to be entertained. They go to use the service, or, if you prefer, to enact it.”
We sing songs ancient and new. We sit, we stand, we move, and we even kneel. We read the Scriptures. We hear God’s Word preached over us. We confess the faith of great Christian tradition in the Nicene Creed. We feast together on Christ at His table.
We recognized that for many people, the various actions, words, and movements of our service will be unfamiliar. We are very sympathetic to that reality. But know this, these movements and words are not random. Each aspect of our service is intended to be an invitation to encounter the living God. The liturgy shapes and forms us little by little each week. What feels strange week one, may feel most natural by week four.
Worship is not so much about what we give to God but what He gives to us—gracious fellowship with Himself through Jesus and by the Spirit. But even there, what we receive, we are called to give for the life of the world. May God fill us, so that we might bless the nations.