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What to expect at a sunday worship service
We recognize that it can be a bit intimidating coming
into a church service for the very first time, so we
thought it might be helpful to give you a bit of a
"heads up" on what to expect.
When you enter the lobby you will be greeted and handed
an information bulletin. An usher will help you find a
seat in the auditorium or, for classes, will help you
find the right location.
Coffee and donuts are available for you in the East
lobby free of charge.
In the lobby and hallway you will see various
information and ministry bulletin boards. You will also
see an information desk where you can find printed
information on a variety of Littleton's ministries.
Before the worship begins you will see the current
church announcements displayed on the screen in the
lobby and at the
front of the auditorium.
MUSIC
As our worship begins, you will notice our music is
somewhat different - it is acappella (without
instruments). We treasure this method of worship music
because it encourages everyone to participate in the
singing. You will hear beautiful four-part harmony as we
sing. We do have a praise team (singers with
microphones) to assist the congregation in singing the
various parts of the music. The music is both
traditional and contemporary in style. You will also
observe some people clapping or raising their hands,
which are biblical expressions of worship to God. We
don't expect you to know the words of all the songs, so
we project the words on the screen at the front of the
auditorium. Written music is also provided for most
songs in the song books in the pews. If you don't know
the tune or the harmony, just listen and join in when
you are ready. We usually begin our worship with songs
of praise to God.
THE LORD’S SUPPER
We partake of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. The bread
and the cup are passed to the congregation and in
fellowship with each other and with Jesus, we commune
together in memory of the Lord’s death, burial, and
resurrection and proclaim our belief in his sacrifice
for our sins. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are
welcome to commune with us.
COINS FOR CHRIST
In each worship assembly there is a special collection
for young children called "Coins for Christ" during
which the children bring coins and small denomination
bills to put into large jars at the front of the
auditorium while the congregation sings a song. If your
children feel comfortable, they are welcome to
participate. After Coins for Christ we dismiss the
children (up through 5th grade) to special classes.
THE SERMON
Every Sunday we have a message from a Bible passage or
topic, most often given by our pulpit minister. The
intent of the message is to draw us closer to
understanding and fellowshipping with God and to
challenge us to live lives of faithful service in his
kingdom. The lesson usually ends with an invitation for
those who want to be baptized, place membership with the
Littleton church, or ask for the prayers of the church.
If you have special needs, our elders and their wives
are available at the end of the service. If you have
special prayer needs, one of our elders and his wife
will be available to pray with you in the prayer room.
THE OFFERING
We also take a collection each Sunday to give the
members an opportunity to support the work of the
Littleton Church of Christ and all her related outreach
and mission efforts. If you are a visitor, there is no
expectation for you to give.
BENEDICTION
Our worship time ends with a benediction from the
preacher to encourage us to go out and live for Jesus
during the week.
FOUR-FOLD WORSHIP
At Littleton we follow a "four-fold" order of worship to bring an intentional focus on the specific aspects of our worship experience together ...
- The Gathering: The time to draw God's people into worship, for them to recognize their sin and accept their redemption in Christ. This is a time to come into God's presence and to praise Him.
- The Word: A time to hear God speak through the reading and preaching of His word so that His word may take up residence in us and shape us into Christ's likeness.
- The Lord's Table: At the Lord's Table (communion) we respond to the word of God with praise, thanksgiving, and fellowship as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins and we celebrate His resurrection, which assures our own resurrection.
- The Sending: This important time in our assembly brings closure to the public worship and sends us forth to continue in worship as we serve the world around us in the name of Jesus.
APPROPRIATE DRESS
Some people have asked: What do I wear? At Littleton you
will be comfortable dressing casual to Sunday
dress-up. We provide a very comfortable setting that
focuses on people and not appearance. The only thing we
ask is that you dress modestly.
CONCLUSION
We think you will find the Littleton Church of Christ to be a friendly and helpful group of people. You will not be embarrassed or singled out for any particular emphasis. We'll just be glad to have you and welcome the opportunity to serve you in the name of Jesus.
See ya Sunday!