February 22, 2026
Crossroads: Control <–> Trust
Worship Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Expect During Worship - a Helpful Guide
What to expect in Worship at St. Luke’s UMC?
First of all…. WELCOME!! We are SO glad you are here!
We hope you have already felt a sense of welcome by visiting our welcome booths outside our worship venues. Or maybe you have been checking out our new website, have already learned a little about us and are joining us in worship for the first time. Thank you for spending your Sunday with us! We hope today is an uplifting, inspirational, and moving start to your week.
Coming into a new space can feel daunting for some and we want you to feel at home. We hope today you enjoy a worship experience that lives into our core values of Christ-centered love through acceptance, hospitality, and community. Here are some helpful tips to let you know what to expect today in worship.
“CHURCHY” LOCATION WORDS…You want me to go where???
Sanctuary: This is the main auditorium for Traditional Worship on our campus. It also serves as a concert space from time to time throughout the year.
Founder’s Hall: This the main auditorium for Contemporary Worship on our campus as well as our Theatre Ministry productions.
Building C: This building is located adjacent to Founder’s Hall and has a large welcome space where donuts and coffee are located on Sundays, as well as many of our offices for staff and clergy.
Narthex: Fancy word for the lobby area of each worship venue where you will be greeted by our ushers. This is also the donut and coffee location for Traditional Worship and where you can find the nearest restrooms for the Sanctuary.
Chancel: Fancy word for the stage or platform area where worship leadership happens.
Communion/prayer rails: In each worship venue there are prayer kneeling rails that we use to serve Communion and are used during the Prayers of the People if you would like to kneel there in prayer (more on that below).
“CHURCHY” WORDS AND WORSHIP SERVICE TRADITIONS
Sometimes words used in worship can feel like some sort of secret handshake. To eliminate the feeling of not being “in the know” here is some info to help you understand some of the traditions we have within our services and hopefully make you feel more prepared for what a typical worship service is or can be here at St. Luke’s:
Traditional Worship: This worship service features music leadership from a choir and instrumentalists that could be a piano, organ, hand bells, a full orchestra, or all of the above! Music selections from the choir vary in style, but traditional hymns are used for congregational singing more than praise songs. This service is in the Sanctuary.
Contemporary Worship: This worship service features music leadership from a praise team of singers along with a worship band of drums, guitars, and keyboard. Music selections vary in style, but praise songs, or more contemporary versions of hymns, are used in this service. This service is in the auditorium called Founder’s Hall.
Prelude or Gathering Song: This is usually the first piece of music you hear in worship, either from an instrumental group or ensemble. This piece usually sets the tone for the service and the message from our pastor that will come later in the service.
Call to Worship: This is a moment where we all collectively speak words that center us all in the themes for the day, and puts us in the same heart and mindset for the rest of the service. It usually starts with a leader saying a phrase followed by everyone saying a responsive phrase. All of this will be on the screens so you can join in!
Passing the Peace: Turn and greet one another! Shake hands, give a smile, say hello…simply connect with people who are worshipping along with you! We love the community we have and continue to build here. For new guests, this may feel overwhelming. Our intent is never to make you feel uncomfortable. We will never point you out as a new guest. If you choose to opt out for any reason of discomfort, that is ok. Our suggestion would be to remain seated or have a posture and moment of prayer by bowing your head for a time with just you and God if being extroverted in a new place is not your thing. This is true for many of our regular St. Lukers as well. You are not alone in the choice to opt out of a holy hug or handshake!
Congregational Prayer: This is a time of prayer where we all join our voices to pray aloud. This prayer is centered on the themes of the service and will be on screens so we can join our voices together.
Hymns/Praise Songs: There will be songs within the service where we all can lift our voices together in praise and worship. There is something powerful about the room filling with song. If the song is unfamiliar to you, that’s ok. Feel free to enjoy the music around you and when you feel comfortable, join in!
Tithes and Offerings: Giving our resources to support our ministries and ministries in our community and around the world is a part of what we call our spiritual disciplines. It is something we do with joy and thanksgiving but also to live into our core value of supporting and serving our community. There is no expectation for our new guests to participate unless that is already your tradition or spiritual discipline in any church setting. We hope you will come back and fall in love with the work we do to be light in the world, and you will become inspired to be part of the support.
Doxology: This is a musical moment that happens in Traditional Worship as a word of thanksgiving for the gifts received. We usually stand and sing this together. The words are on the screens if you would like to join in.
Scripture Readings: There will be a scripture reading that our service music and message are based on each week. After this is read aloud, the reader usually finishes by saying, “This is the Word of God for the People of God and we say…” followed by a response from everyone of “Thanks be to God.”
Prayers of the People: this is a time of prayer led from a single voice that lifts our collective concerns and cares for the world around us. It is also a time of personal prayer in silence to lift our individual burdens and concerns. It is usually concluded with everyone praying the Lord’s Prayer. Words for that are always on the screen if you would like to join your voice in that prayer. Some people choose to come to the kneeling rails to pray. Many remain in their seats. This is completely up to you and your comfort level or need.
Communion: we usually observe Communion on the first Sunday of every month. This is a time where we gather around the Table to observe and remember the sacrifice of Jesus. It is a special time here at St. Luke’s because our table is OPEN TO ALL. It is not our table…it is Christ’s table. All are welcome and beloved. Therefore, all are welcome to partake in this portion of the service. One of our pastors will explain how this works and our ushers will lead you through the process if you would like to participate. As we said, all are welcome but it is not required. If you do not feel comfortable on your first visit, that is ok! Just sit and spend some time meditating on what the day has been for you, enjoy the music, and ponder the message of the day. Communion is about spending time with God, whether that is at the table or in your seat.
Benediction: this is at the conclusion of the service. It is a word of blessing over everyone and a challenge that sends us forth into the world to live out the message we have just experienced, until we return again for another inspiring day of worship. Each service has a song that we all sing after the benediction. Words will be on the screen when you feel comfortable to join in.
TO STAND OR SIT….THAT IS THE QUESTION!
There are moments in the service where we are invited to STAND AS YOU ARE ABLE to participate in different portions of the service: Call to Worship, Congregational Prayer, Hymns or Praise Songs, Doxology, Benediction. All of the above are OPTIONAL. If you are unable or are uncomfortable standing, remain seated. You should never feel an obligation to stand on ceremony or just because. However you choose to spend your day of worship with us, we want you to feel welcomed and loved. God sees you and loves you both standing and sitting!
We believe in the value of individual worship and corporate worship. Individual worship is your one-on-one powerful time with God. Corporate worship is also powerful in the sense that we all collect our individual worship as a whole congregation to glorify and honor God.
We hope this information is helpful to make you feel at home here with us today. Whatever we can do to eliminate barriers to you experiencing an inspirational worship service is our aim with this little set of guidelines and helpful hints and explanations.
We hope you will consider coming to join us again. If you have questions about how to connect more or learn more about us, we encourage you to explore our website if you have not already. Or, you can always reach out to the church through the connection card that was provided during worship or using the QR code on the screens.
Enjoy the service and have a wonderful week! We look forward to seeing you again soon!
