April 19, 2026 - Formed for Fellowship | Baptism
Contemporary Worship Service at 9:30 a.m. in Founder’s Hall
Traditional Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. the Sanctuary
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 to St. Luke’s. Know that you are welcome here, just as you are. We hope today is an uplifting, inspirational, and moving start to your week. Our worship experience seeks to live into our core values of Christ-centered love through acceptance, hospitality, and community.
Coming into a new space can sometimes feel daunting, and at times we can use words that you might not have encountered elsewhere, even in other churches. To help you feel at home, here is a guide to what you might expect in a worship service:
AROUND THE CAMPUS AND WORSHIP SPACES:
Sanctuary: This is the home of our Traditional Worship service, and it also serves as a concert venue at times.
Founder’s Hall: This the home for Contemporary Worship service as well as our Theatre at St. Luke’s productions.
Welcome Hall/Building C: Located adjacent to Founder’s Hall, our welcome hall is where you will find donuts and coffee before and after Contemporary Worship on Sunday morning, as well as the main office of the church. You’ll also find restrooms located near the center of the Welcome Hall, on either side of the Rotunda.
Narthex: This is the entryway to each worship space, where you will be greeted by our ushers and given anything you need for worship; be sure to take a Connection Card to let us know you’re here! In the Sanctuary, the Narthex is where you’ll find both donuts and coffee, and the nearest restrooms.
GUIDE TO WORSHIP:
Traditional Worship: This worship service features music leadership from a choir and instrumentalists that could be a piano, organ, handbells, a full orchestra, or all of the above. Music selections from the choir vary in style, but traditional hymns are used primarily for congregational singing. 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 usually used in this service. This service is in Founder’s Hall.
Sitting and Standing – Worship leaders or pastors will invite you to sit or stand as you are able at different times during the service. We will often stand to sing, or for certain prayers. We usually sit during things like the sermon, or the song during the offering time. We know everyone has differing abilities, mobility, and comfort levels, so standing is always an option, and you are always welcome to remain seated for the duration of the service. If you need any mobility assistance or other disability accommodations, please let one of the ushers know and they will be happy to assist.
Greeting/Passing the Peace: At the beginning of most services, we want to ensure that we are making connections with one another; this is a time for you to meet someone new, and to introduce yourself to a few people nearby as well. If this is not yet comfortable for you, that’s okay! You are welcome to remain seated or simply say hello.
Congregational Music – This is music that you are invited to sing along to. Some songs we sing every week at particular parts of the service, and some of the songs change every week. All of the lyrics will be on the screens at the front of the room. If you don’t know the tune yet, that’s okay! Our worship leaders or choir will be leading you, so you can pick up the tune as we sing together.
Special Music – This is music that a choir, soloist or ensemble will perform as the congregation listens. Listen to the melody and lyrics, as special music often is closely related to today’s theme or overarching message.
Spoken Prayers or Responsive Readings – Sometimes we join all of our voices together to pray the same words at the same time, or to set our intention for the service. These words will appear on the screens at the front of the room. Most services will include a “Call to Worship” at the beginning of the service and a “Congregational Prayer” in the middle of the service. We also often pray a traditional prayer called “The Lord’s Prayer.” If you have attended other churches, you may have said this prayer before, but it might have included slightly different words. Praying and speaking aloud together helps us connect as a community, just like singing together.
Bible Reading – Each week we will have a particular passage of text from the Bible – a story, letter, song or poem – that inspired the day’s theme. It will be read aloud by a leader, and appear on the screens. You can also make a note of the book, chapter and verse and look up the text in your own Bible or on a Bible app. If you do not own a Bible and would like one, let one of the ushers or pastors know at the end of the service. We would love to give you one.
Sermon/Message – On most Sundays, one of our pastors will preach a sermon. Like both the music and Bible reading, it will center on the theme for the day and offer further insight into that theme, the Bible passage, and how it is relevant to your daily life or faith. We often use what we refer to as “Worship Series.” We focus on one overarching theme for a few weeks in a row, with particular focus areas each week.
Communion – On some Sundays (usually the first Sunday of each month), we share in the traditional Christian practice of Communion. Some churches also call it Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. At St. Luke’s we practice an “open table,” which means everyone is welcome to participate in Communion: children and adults of all ages, members and visitors, people with lifelong faith and people who are not yet sure what they believe. If you’re wondering if that includes you … it does.
Prayers of the People – On most Sundays, we will have an extended prayer time where the pastor or another leader will pray for you, the community, and the world. Most of the time this prayer will include a time of silence for you to offer your own specific prayers to God as well. You can pray at your seat, or you can come to the kneeling rails at the front of the room.
Offering/Stewardship – Each week we have a time where we collect an offering – donations to support the operations and ministry of the church. Gifts can be made either in the plates or baskets passed around by our ushers, or using a digital link that will be on the screen.
Benediction – At the end of the service, the pastor will offer a blessing to the congregation, sending you out of the service with a reminder of the day’s message. We conclude worship with a sung benediction, joining all our voices together.
If you have questions about how to connect more or learn more about us, feel free to explore our website, or visit one of the Welcome Booths on your way out of worship. You can also 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!
