WHAT TO EXPECT in Worship
In our church we are committed to telling good stories. We believe that we are in the midst of a great story of redemption where the hero, God, revealed to us in the person of Jesus, presents opportunities for change. This leaves us with a sense of hope.
Because we are committed to telling this redemptive story, 8th Street Church follows the lectionary, a resource based on the Christian Calendar. The Lectionary is a list of scriptural texts that follows the seasons and times of the Christian calendar, in a three-year cycle. This allows for themes and seasons of emphasis to shape the individual believer and the Church. The seasons tell us God’s story displayed in the life of Jesus:
We wait for his arrival in Advent.
We celebrate his coming at Christmas.
We revel in his glory during Epiphany.
We join him on the journey to the cross during Lent.
We experience the new life of resurrection in Easter.
On special days, we ponder the mysteries of The Ascension, The Trinity, Pentecost, and Christ Our King.
And during Ordinary Time, we notice the presence of Jesus in our story.
The rhythms of the Christian calendar orient us to a different reality: God’s reality. We do not merely ask God to join our lives; we are invited to participate in God’s life. Subtly and explicitly, this way of marking time reminds us that we are a part of a story very different from the stories we hear all around us. Practices specific to each season enable us to engage further with this larger story and help us in the process of re-orientation to this very different way of keeping time.
Want to know more about the Seasons of the Christian Church Year? CLICK HERE
Eucharist
At the center of our services is the Table (also known as the Lord's Supper, Communion, the Eucharist). We have been embraced by Jesus, and he invites us to come and eat with him at his table, and to yield to his good work in our lives.
We practice Open Table, which means that everyone that is open to the good work of Jesus is invited to receive the bread and wine at communion. This is a sacred and sacramental activity. John Wesley, one of our theological forefathers, said that participating in the sacraments (i.e. the Eucharist and Baptism) is an "Outward sign of an inward grace." In other words, in this act, God does something for us that we cannot do for ourselves.
We understand that this is His table. These elements represent the body and blood of Christ who died for the sake of the world.
Historically, our denomination has been rooted in helping people with addictions. Therefore, we want there to be no barriers at our church so we offer non-alcoholic wine and for those with dietary needs, we offer gluten free bread.
