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"Be imitators of God, therefore, as
dearly loved children and live
a life of love, just as Christ loved
us and gave himself up for us"
Ephesians 5:1-2
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When visiting a
church for the first time, most people have lots of
questions: "What should
I wear?" or "Do you have nursery care during
worship?" or "What will the service be like?"
Going to a new church for the first time can be very
intimidating with these unknown factors. It is our
hope that this visitor's guide will help you get
better acquainted with our church, its facilities,
and worship style.
Sunday Worship:
Often times we are asked
if our style of worship is a "traditional" Lutheran
worship service or if it is more "contemporary."
Our services are a bit of both. Generally we follow
a traditional Lutheran order of worship where
special prayers, readings, and liturgies (or
responsive readings) are used. Our worship
bulletin contains the entire liturgy and explains
all aspects of the service for the day. Our hymns are taken
from several sources and are always printed out in
full in the worship bulletin; no familiarity with
hymnals or hymn books is necessary. At times,
we use contemporary and folk hymns to enhance the
worship experience.
Holy Communion is offered at most
services. We invite all baptized Christians
who trust in Christ's forgiving presence in the
Sacrament to join us at the Altar for Holy
Communion. For more about our beliefs regarding Holy
Communion, please feel free to contact Pastor Dan
Eddy at the church office (781) 545-5271 or email
him at
Dan.Eddy@Verizon.net
Our worship service begins at
9:30 am and usually lasts until approximately 10:35
am. Christian Education Hour takes place at
10:45 am with Adult & Youth Bible study
classes and Sunday School for preschool through 6th
grade. Fellowship time is immediately following the
service, between the worship service and the
Christian Education Hour. Additional details
on our
Sundays page.
Nursery/child-care is available at all Sunday services. More details
below. When you arrive, just let an usher know that you'd like to tour our
nursery and child-care area. We call it the "Rainbow Room" - a specially
designed room just for kids.
Dress:
The Bible instructs us to
come as we are before God; So we invite
you to do the same. The Bible offers no dress code
for worship aside from decency and humility. We
simply ask that you come in something that is
comfortable for you and honoring to God.
Offering:
An offering to God is
usually taken during each worship service. God's
holy Word teaches us:
"Each man should give what he has decided in his
heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
NIV. Since our
offerings are gifts of love for God, we believe that
no one should dictate what each person is to give.
While we pass an offering plate at nearly every
service, no one is obligated to give. Gifts of love
to the Lord are a private matter known only to Him.
Prayer:
Prayer requests are
also taken during the worship service. Please feel
free to ask for prayer for anyone -- including
yourself. Contact Pastor Eddy if you have a special
continuing prayer request.
The "What
If's"
What
if they make me stand up and say something?
Please be assured
that we will never put you in an awkward or
uncomfortable position. We want your visit to
Christ Lutheran to be an uplifting and enjoyable
experience. We promise to do all that we can to
help make you comfortable with us.
What
if my child is going to be noisy?
We believe that
children's noises are signs of a growing
congregation! For those who would be more
comfortable, we offer supervised nursery/play care
for children during our worship service on Sunday
mornings. For those who want to keep their
young children with them during the service (and
many of our members do just that), we provide "activity bags" with crayons, books, and
other children's activities. A very special part of
our worship service is the Children's Sermon where
all children are invited to come to the front of the
sanctuary for a special message just for them.
The entire congregation often participates in these
unique child-oriented messages.
What
if I will feel out of place?
We hope this visitor's guide
will ease your mind, but if you have any questions,
please don't hesitate to ask someone...anyone. Just
say, "I'm new here. What is this about?"
Any of our members will be more than happy to help
you feel at home at Christ Lutheran. We understand
that many times those visiting here for the first
time like to watch and see what we are all about
before getting involved. No one will try to
pressure you to join the church or volunteer for
something. Church membership is a voluntary thing
and the most important reason for being at a church
should be trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for
forgiveness and salvation. We respect your need for
time to evaluate and decide if you wish to be
further involved with our congregation's ministry.
What
if I don't know much about the Bible?
We all are here at
Christ Lutheran to learn more about God's holy Word,
the Bible. Attending a Bible study class or even a
worship service is the best way to do just that.
Whether young or old, this is how we grow in
knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior.
Finally. . . It
is our hope that this Visitor's Guide has helped
answer some of your questions and alleviate your
concerns. Our goal as a congregation is to grow in
faith and share that faith with people like you. We
pray that nothing will stand in your way from
learning more about your Savior.
Please do not hesitate to call or
email us if you have any further questions about
Christ Lutheran Church.
Location:
We
are located on State Route 3A, about 1 mile north of
the intersection of Routes 3A and 123 in Scituate.
Click here for a map,
driving directions and complete contact information.
