First and foremost, we are Gathered to Worship. We don’t gather ourselves, but we are gathered by the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacraments.

We are baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and it is in that same name that we are gathered every Lord’s Day to celebrate the Holy Eucharist: to offer our praise and thanks to God, to hear the Word in scripture, liturgy, hymn and homily, and to receive our Lord in Holy Communion.

Secondly, we are Sent to Serve.  Worship strengthens us to depart and serve God by serving our neighbor in love. We serve in our families, in our places of employment, in our neighborhoods, and in our city. Wherever God places us, we are called to serve those around us.  Rightly understood, our whole life is one of service—service to God and service to the neighbor.