What to Expect in Worship

Sunday morning worship is the focal point of congregational life at Trinity. Worship is the time when we praise God for God's goodness and deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. When you walk in you will be greeted by an usher. They will give you a bulletin and can answer any questions you might have.

The service begins with a prelude. Usually the prelude is played on the organ, but sometimes you will hear a flute, the piano, or hand bells. The prelude is a great time to calm your spirit and to prepare to hear God's word to you.

After a word of welcome, the service begins with a participatory Call to Worship and an opening hymn. All of the information that you will need for the service is contained in a bulletin. The bulletin lists the hymns, the prayers and everything else you will need for the service. The bulletin can look long and even intimidating, but don't worry--it serves as a roadmap for the service and its purpose is to help you get more out of the service.

The middle part of the service centers around the Bible. Usually we read two passages of scripture, the choir sings an anthem, and the preacher gives the sermon. Sermons at Trinity cover a wide range of topics: personal faith, community life in the church, and social justice. The sermons use everyday language and are designed to help everyone grow in faith.

The last part of the service is our response to God. We say an affirmation of faith (a historic statement of what we believe), we offer prayers on behalf of others, we give our offering. On the first Sunday of the month we have communion which is the celebration of the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples.

The service closes with a hymn and benediction (words that send us forth for the week).

Music at Trinity covers a wide range of styles: classical, early American folk, spirituals, gospel, and contemporary. From time to time we even use bluegrass, Dixieland jazz, and bagpipes. At Trinity we have two adult choirs, two children's choirs, and a hand bell choir. Occasionally we have guest musicians who add a new dimension to our worship, so there is something for everyone!

We invite you to join us for this enriching time of experiencing God and enjoying Christian fellowship.

Large-print hymnals and bibles and sound enhancement aids are available for those who need them. If you would like either, please contact an usher.