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Worship at Mount Olive
In gathering, we enter the sanctuary in quietness, pausing to pray or meditate on the presence of God in our lives, and our presence in the midst of this worshiping community. You may see people preparing the altar and chancel for worship, lighting candles, and arranging the communion vessels. The prelude is played as the people prepare for worship. When the opening hymn begins, we stand and turn toward the entrance of the church, facing the cross as it is carried through the sanctuary in procession. In hearing the word of God, we sing hymns and psalms, listen to the scripture readings and learn more about their meaning through the sermon. We confess our faith by saying the creed together, and we pray for all of God's people in every place and need.
Following the blessing, the sending is short and sweet: "Go in Peace! Serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!" We are not meant to stay in this peaceful place, but we are to go out to love and serve one another in the world. This is our commission as disciples of Christ. In giving of ourselves, we receiveThroughout the service, you may observe us worshiping with our bodies, as we are able. We sing, our great human gift, offering praise and thanksgiving to our creator. We stand, to show respect or to help us participate more actively. We bow to show reverence. We sit when we are listening to God's word. We kneel to show humility in prayer. We make the sign of the cross upon our bodies, remembering that in our baptisms, we were marked with the cross of Christ forever. For those who have worshiped in this way since their youngest days, our practices and rituals bind us to God and to one another. For those to whom these practices are new, there's much to see and hear and do that is beautiful and awe-inspiring. Worship is something that is renewing and healing, reminding us of God's love and grace. |
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More about Worship at Mount OliveSunday Schedule
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If
you have worshiped in a Lutheran, Episcopal, or Catholic church,
our liturgy will probably seem quite familiar to you. The service
follows "the Ordo," the foundation for worship that has
existed since the earliest times of the Christian church. There
are four parts to the Ordo: gathering, word, meal and sending.
By reconciling with each other in the sharing of the peace, we
prepare to receive the meal, the Eucharist. We celebrate this holy
gift through the words and song of the Eucharistic liturgy. Then
together we come forward to receive the bread and wine, in remembrance
of Christ's gift of everlasting life.
