What To Expect

Worship at Crossroads flows in an ancient form common to many Christian traditions: in short, we gather, we listen for God's Word, we give thanks to God, and we are sent out in God's name. All of the acts of worship - the particular prayers, readings, songs and responses - fall into one of these four broad movements. All together, worship lasts for about an hour and 15 minutes. On Communion Sundays it may be a little longer, on all ages Sundays it may be a little shorter!

GATHERING

This part of the service encompasses everything that happens from the moment worshippers enter the building. The greeting at the door, the decision to sit in a particular place, interaction with others before worship begins or a quiet settling inside oneself are all preparatory to the gathering for worship.

The more formal part of our worship begins with a welcome and announcement time, which is often led by a member of our congregation. Then, most weeks, the Christ candle is lit, and we sing an initial song, meant to help us leave behind the concerns that accompany us to worship, and focus on being present with God. The "opening prayer" is offered by the worship leader, again with the purpose of bringing our conscious presence to the here and now.

We then sing a hymn of praise to God. As worship opens we are made aware of the wonder and loving power of God, giving thanks to God for the life we share. Then we pray the "prayer of confession" - telling the truth to God about the ways in which we fail to be the people God has called us to be. We bring our brokenness to God not in fear of punishment, but because we know brokenness unconfessed tends to fester and grow, and because we long for the wholeness and forgiveness which God in Christ offers to us again and again. Assured of God's grace and love, we share the peace of Christ with one another, then sing a chorus of "hallelujahs" (except during the season of Lent, when we refrain from uttering that word).

LISTENING FOR GOD'S WORD

This portion of the service begins with a short conversation between the minister and the children, who are engaging with Scripture in their Sunday School program, so the minister often introduces the theme of their story, or speaks with them about another aspect of their program. After a short song of response, the Scriptures for the day are read.

At Crossroads we follow the Revised Common Lectionary, which means that the portions of Scripture which are read on any given Sunday have been selected by a consultation of church leaders across several denominations. In many places across the Christian world, these same texts will be read and interpreted. Typically at Crossroads we hear three of the four texts for the day: the Hebrew Bible text, the Psalm (which is often read responsively with a musical refrain), the Epistle (from the writings of Paul) and the Gospel.  The minister who is preaching will choose one of these texts upon which to focus her sermon, and if it's Rev. Cari, she will read this text herself, just before she preaches. After the sermon itself, which usually lasts between 16 and 20 minutes, there is a period of silence for reflection.

GIVING THANKS FOR GOD'S GRACE

Our response often begins with a hymn, which the preacher has chosen because of its resonance with the sermon or the focus text of the day. We then pray together, offering both our thanks for the many gifts of God known to us, and our petitions to God for the world, the church and people we know who need God's grace and love. These "prayers of the people," which our minister sometimes elicits out of us by passing a microphone, and sometimes leads by leaving time for silent inward prayer, always end with the singing of the Lord's Prayer. The offering is received, with the financial gifts of the congregation symbolizing our very lives, which we dedicate to God each week, asking God to use us for God's purposes in the world.

BEING SENT FORTH

After the closing hymn, we are sent forth into the world, where our true ministry takes place, commissioned to remember whose we are, with the blessing of God as we go.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated regularly at Crossroads during the thanksgiving part of the Sunday service, and at other special times of the year such as Maundy Thursday and Christmas Eve. In this sacrament of the church, Christ's people remember him as the nourishing gift of our common life, given for our sake and for the sake of the world. At Crossroads we have an "open table," which means that anyone who is seeking to follow Jesus and live in him is welcome to celebrate this great feast at his table with us. On communion Sundays, the children leave for Sunday School right at the opening of the service, then return to worship just before we celebrate the sacrament.

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

The sacrament of Baptism is celebrated at Crossroads at regular intervals, during seasons of the church year when it seems most appropriate to us. Historically in the church, the season of Easter, the Reign of Christ, and the season after Epiphany are all times to celebrate growing faith and to welcome new Christians into the Body of Christ. We take our baptismal promises seriously at Crossroads, and rejoice to welcome fellow disciples of Jesus into our midst.

ALL AGES SERVICES

All ages services occur at regular intervals at Crossroads as well. These services are opportunity for the very old and the very young (as well as everybody inbetween) to worship God together and to explore the greatness of God in fresh new ways. Drama, music and storytelling are often foundational to these services, which usually are a little bit shorter than our usual service of worship.