Welcome
to Worship
Answers to frequently asked questions about our church and its services.
It can be
hard to go to a church for the first time. There are so many
questions that aren't answered in the mailings and newspaper ads.
For
example, "Will I know how to get into the building for the
service, or will I pick the wrong door?" "What do I
do with my children?" "What should I wear?"
"What will the service be like?" Unknown factors
like these can make going to a new church intimidating.
With this
booklet we hope we can answer some of the questions you might have
about our church before
you visit. We'd like to make your visit with us relaxed and enriching.
Our
deepest wish is that when you visit our church, you will hear about
your Savior, Jesus, and come to know even better the grace and love
of God.
Sincerely,
Pastor John Roebke
Every
church has its own style of worship. We think you'll enjoy the
services at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, but as in any church you
should expect it to take a couple of Sundays to become accustomed to
our way of praising God together.
Each week
the service is printed in the worship folder. All the readings
and prayers are printed there for you. You will also find
personal prayers to use before and after the service. You are
welcome to bring along your own Bible and follow along there if you choose.
Our
services focus on readings from the Bible where we hear God talk to
us. Music and singing are an important part of our services
too. Loud or soft, in monotone or rich harmony, all our praises
are music to God as we respond to hearing His Word. You might
even remember a favorite hymn or song to ask our pastor to use in an
upcoming service.
I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Psalm 122:1
The services usually include the following parts in a variety of forms:
-
The Invocation - We call on the name of our Savior God as we praise him.
-
Admitting sins and finding forgiveness - We acknowledge that we have not always done what God asks. Then we are assured of forgiveness because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
-
Bible Readings - We hear selections from God's Old Testament prophets, Jesus' apostles, and from Jesus himself in the Gospels. The pastor also gives a brief explanation of each reading.
-
Childrens Object Lesson - Sometimes the pastor will invite the children to come to the front of the church for a short special lesson using a common object based on the theme for the day. (sample)
-
Sermon - Our pastor offers instruction and encouragement in a Bible-based sermon. We hear how we can expect God's guidance and grace for dealing with problems, as well as the promise of eternal life in heaven through Jesus. (samples)
-
Response to the Word - We respond with offerings and prayers for the things God has promised to us and for strength to do what he has asked.
-
Parting blessing - We hear one last assurance of God's care.
Mixed
throughout these different parts of our service are hymns and short
songs to praise God.
Our
worship uses traditional forms and modern language and application.
The traditional brings us the best from God's Church throughout the
ages and the contemporary brings God's promises and his will into our
daily lives. We hope you enjoy both.
Dress
Sometimes
people wonder how they are expected to dress at a church they've
never visited before.
Since the
Bible presents no dress code, aside from simple decency and Christian
humility, Lamb of God Lutheran Church doesn't make any rules either.
Like most
people, our members try to make their worship time at church a
special time. This is often reflected in the way they dress.
But dress
is a personal matter of worship before God. One may dress
casually and rejoice that we have a God who accepts us as we
are. Another may dress to reflect the awe and reverence we have
for our Savior King.
On
any Sunday at our church you may see running shoes and high heels,
jeans and suits, open collars and ties. When a person dresses
out of love for God, the choice of dress casual or more formal
is acceptable to God . . . and us.
Offerings
"When
will they take the offering?" "How will it be
collected?" "How much am I expected to
give?" "Do they want visitors to contribute
too?" These are typical worries about church offerings.
You may wish at first to learn more about our ministry before bringing your offerings to God through our church.
The Bible
teaches that our offerings to God should reflect our belief that all
we have is his gift to us. It teaches us that with our
offerings we worship and honor God.
Like most
Christians, our members bring offerings to God through their
church. Since offerings are gifts of love for God, no one
dictates what each person is to give.
We pass an
offering plate during the service so that our worship may include
bringing gifts to God. Offering envelopes are available and
keep our gifts a private matter known only to God .
We look to
Christ and his love to motivate us in our giving- whether it is a
child putting in coins or an adult writing out a check.
You may wish at first to learn more about our ministry before bringing your offerings to God through our church. But you are welcome to participate as your heart leads you to give.
The
worst that can happen . . .
Attending
church somewhere for the first time can be intimidating. Here
are some common worries:
"I
would just die if they made me stand up and say something."
We assure
you, we won't embarrass you in this or any other way. We want
you to feel comfortable and at home with us. Church should be
an enjoyable and uplifting experience. We promise to do all we
can so you can relax and learn about your Savior.
"I
know my child is going to be too noisy."We
encourage parents of young children to attend worship service with
their children. This begins the good habits of attending worship
services at an early age. The back rows are reserved for parents with
young children. If required, a nursery room is available at the back
of the sanctuary.
"I
know I will feel out of place." We
hope that this booklet will ease your mind, but if you have a
question, please ask someone for help. Don't hesitate to say,
"I am new. What is this about?" Our
congregation is just starting out here in Madison. Some of our
members are also new and are just getting used to each other also.
"I
am afraid I will say or do something wrong." All
of us have felt this way when in a new situation. But we hope
you see the people of our congregation to be ordinary people like
yourself. We want to accept you as you are and help you become
what Christ wants you to be. We do not want to throw cold water
on that by being critical.
"I
just want to watch at first and I know that they will try to involve
me or sign me up."
It is
unpleasant to be pressured or to be part of a "membership
drive" as though we were heads of cattle, isn't it? We
believe that church membership should be a voluntary thing, and that
the most important thing is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for
forgiveness of sins and salvation. It takes time for this to be
cultivated. People need time to evaluate and decide if they
wish further involvement. We believe we should respect that need.
"I don't know that much about the Bible." Church and Bible Study are opportunities to grow in our knowledge of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You won't have to read or answer any questions you don't want to answer. And remember, sometimes the wisest words we say are, "I don't know."
Lamb of God Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The WELS is a world-wide church with congregations in all 50 states as well as Canada. The WELS also serves over 25 countries through world mission work.
Our
congregation and church body are solidly based on the foundation of
the Bible. We believe that Jesus is our Savior and the only way
to heaven. Through faith in Jesus we are united to him and each other.
The
name "Lutheran" comes from the great reformer Martin
Luther. In a period in history when the Church had lost sight
of its Savior and the truth of his Word, Martin Luther boldly
challenged these errors and preached Jesus Christ as Savior. We
are proud to remember his work in bringing to light the truth of
God's Word by using his name to identify ourselves.