Worship

Sunday is at the center of our community life, a day of resurrection joy. In worship, we connect to the historic liturgy of word and sacrament.

This Community Centers Around the Sunday Gathering

Some of us arrive at 9am for The Conversation or for musical rehearsals. At 9:45am we ring the church bells, summoning folks to 10am worship.

Our worship is based on an historic pattern going back to the early church, similar to what you might experience in Episcopal and Catholic churches: a liturgy of Word and Sacrament. It’s centered around a message of good news in Christ, spoken and given to eat and drink at the table. It’s very musical: sing if you like, or just take it in.

Some people dress up, some dress casual. Children are most welcome in worship. The service runs about an hour. Afterwards, we gather for coffee, treats and fellowship.

Painting of the FLC sanctuary, above, by Marguerite Fletcher.

Sunday isn’t just a convenient day to plan church activities. The day itself is a gift.

Most people think of the first day of the week as Monday, when you’ve got to hunker down and get busy with important matters. But in early Christian tradition, the first day of the week was Sunday. You get the week started with matters that may be even more important: community, beauty, sharing, prayer and good news.

It was on the first day of the week that Christ was raised from the dead. The 50 Sundays of the church year are known as the “Great Easter” (the remaining Sunday being “little Easter”). The painting here of a garden at dawn maybe conveys the lush new life we find in Christ.

  • The First Day is a Feast Day. We’re inspired by Jewish teaching on the Sabbath. Let Sunday be restful but also joyful and celebratory! Let life be a feast.
  • First Day practices include: gathering for human connection, sharing food and gifts, prayer and praise, beauty and the arts, and God’s promises. How can we be about these gifts in Sunday church activities as well as at home and throughout the week?
  • First Day is about first priorities. There are so many claims on our time, from work to social media feeds. Can we support each other – and all people – in finding time for what gives us life?
  • First Day means new day. When Christ was raised it was like the first day in a new creation. In all our struggles and fears, can we support one another in finding hope?