What to
Expect at
Worship
You may! You'll find a wonderful group of fun, caring people. We come from all backgrounds and all walks of life. You'll fit in just fine!
At Emmanuel we plan our worship around a biblical theme for the day. The songs we sing (mostly hymns) and the portions of the Bible that we read are selected to reinforce that theme. We have opportunity to listen to God speaking to us, and we have the opportunity to praise him, pray to him, and sing to him in return.
God is a majestic and transcendent God. In our worship service we want to approach him in reverence, awe and humility – but at the same time with joy and celebration. Our service is carefully planned, and it's printed out, so you'll know what's coming next.
God's word has relevant and personal things to say to people in the 21st century. More than anything, we hope that the sermon relates God's timeless truths to the challenges you're confronting in your life today. We hope that the sermon reinforces things you already knew,teaches you something you didn't know, encourages you in your walk with Jesus, and leaves you with the peace and assurance of God's embracing love and complete forgiveness in Christ.
A typical worship service lasts about an hour.
Not at all! We want you to feel welcome – and we hope you're warmly greeted by other Emmanuel worshipers – but we won't single you out or put you on the spot. You won't be asked to stand up and introduce yourself. There won't be a quiz later on the names of people you met. You can worship as anonymously as you choose. We're just very glad when you can join us to hear the good news about Jesus Christ!
Ah, that's an important question! We gather an offering of thanks during the service, usually after the sermon, because it gives our worshipers another chance to praise God with their gift. The offering is completely voluntary – you don't have to participate at all, if you don't care to. When the plate comes by, you may simply pass it along. Nobody will think badly of you or look at you funny if you do so. Quite frankly, our goal is to give something to you, not to take something away from you.
You're welcome to sit wherever you'd like. Some people like to sit up front. Other people would rather sit in back. Our excellent sound system will enable you to hear from anywhere in our sanctuary. If you need any assistance, an usher would be happy to help you.
When you join us for worship at Emmanuel, you'll find people who wear everything from suits to more casual dress. We won't be concerned about what you're wearing. We'll be thankful for the opportunity to share God's Word with you.
At Emmanuel, we love having children in worship. When you join us, you'll quickly find that you're not the only one with young kids. Our songs and orders of service lend themselves to children becoming familiar with them at a very young age. A parents’ room in the back of our sanctuary is available for your use as needed. A television allows you to continue to see and hear what's going on in church.
The members of Emmanuel partner in spreading the good news about Jesus in Tempe and throughout the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in the weekly offering that supports our ministry.
At Emmanuel, we gather for worship to hear the gospel, that is, the good news of what Jesus Christ our Savior has done for us.
About
Liturgical
Worship
The aim of liturgical worship is to make Christ's saving work the center of our time together each week. There are some parts of the service that are very similar from week to week. This ensures that the central truths of our Christian faith are proclaimed at every service. These truths are what strengthen our faith. Other parts of the service change every week. Liturgical worship follows a calendar made up of seasons and festivals that cover the entire life of Christ each year. Finally, liturgical worship is designed to enable people to participate in praising God and proclaiming the gospel. When you join us for worship, you'll notice that people aren't passive observers but are actively involved in reminding one another of God's love.
Our worship follows a variety of formats and incorporates a variety of musical styles. At the same time, certain key elements are found in just about every service. Invocation Every service begins "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," the same words that were spoken at Christian baptism. These words remind us that, through baptism, we are God's children and can enter his presence as boldly and confidently as children approach a loving father. Confession and Absolution Even though God has made us his children, we still fall into sin each and every day. Therefore, when we come into God's presence, we start by humbly confessing our sins and then gladly hearing the announcement that, through Jesus, each one of them is forgiven. Each service starts out with this wonderful, comforting news. Song of Praise Following the announcement of forgiveness, we burst into joyful song, praising God for his love and proclaiming the wonderful things he has done for us through Christ. Lessons Each service usually includes the reading of three lessons from the Bible. Typically one of them comes from the Old Testament, one comes from a New Testament epistle (letter) and one comes from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). Through his word, the Holy Spirit strengthens our faith and we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sermon Each week one of the pastors preaches a message based on one of the three lessons. The sermon is an opportunity for him to explain what God's Word means and how it applies to the lives of believers. Confession of Faith The basic truths of the Christian faith are summarized in creeds, statements of what we believe. The worldwide Christian church has been confessing the two creeds we use, the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, for almost two thousand years. Prayers Brothers and sisters united by faith pray for the joys and challenges that we share. These prayers are followed by the Lord's Prayer. Holy Communion Before he left this earth, Jesus instituted a special meal for his Church that we refer to as the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. In it, he offers us his own body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins and for the strengthening of our faith. At Emmanuel, Holy Communion is offered on the second, fourth, and fifth Sundays of each month. We would love to speak with you more about preparing to receive this special meal with us. Benediction The last words that we hear before we leave are the words of God's blessing that have been spoken over God's people since the days of Aaron the High Priest, more than 3,500 years ago. We leave God's house assured of his love.
Each year we cover the most important events and teachings of Christ by following the Christian calendar. Advent The word advent means "coming." During this first season of the church year, we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's first coming at Christmas and his second coming on the last day. Christmas At Christmas, we celebrate the fact that God's Son took on human flesh and came to this world to save us. Epiphany The word epiphany means "appearing." During Epiphany we remember how Jesus, the baby born in a manger, was clearly revealed to the world as the Son of God and Savior of all mankind. Lent During Lent we solemnly remember Christ's suffering and death, and our sins that made those things necessary. While Lent is more of a somber season, it is still a joyful one. Through Christ's suffering and death, our sins have been paid for. Easter During Easter, we celebrate Christ's victory over death and the devil. His resurrection from the dead proves that our sins are forgiven and that we, too, will rise from the dead. Pentecost Pentecost was the day 50 days after Easter when God poured out the Holy Spirit on his Church. On the day of Pentecost we remember that important day. In the season that follows, we cover the important teachings of the Bible through which the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts and brings about change in our lives.