Worship Style
Each worship service at First Presbyterian is a medley of different styles. We sing traditional hymns with a resounding pipe organ, and also contemporary worship songs with a band. We have a time to read together prayers printed in the bulletin, and another time for spontaneously sharing individual celebrations. On any given Sunday, you might hear a Renaissance anthem in Latin, a heartfelt Spiritual, or a men's quartet; not to mention violin, mandolin, Celtic harp, conga drums, gospel-style piano...we've even had a bagpipe.
Whatever the mix of the day, the service is built around a time of "Gathering," a time for "Proclaiming the Word," a time for "Responding," and sometimes for Sacraments, and a concluding Blessing.
We "Gather" with a welcome and announcements, followed by a spoken "Call to Worship:" words which focus our attention on who God is and what God has done. We continue to focus on God with a hymn, a prayer, and three or four songs, before moving to a group "Confession," and the assurance that "in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven." We often have a choir anthem next, and/or a message for children, before the children are dismissed for Church School, and the adults take a moment to greet one another. At this point, we share some of the "Celebrations" of our lives. Individuals stand and tell what God has done, and together we thank God in prayer.
"Proclaiming the Word" consists of a reading from scripture, and a sermon to draw out its meaning and relevance to our lives.
We "Respond" by giving our tithes and offerings. It's at this point that we celebrate Holy Communion, usually on the first Sunday of each new liturgical season. The pastor reads out any prayer requests that have been written in the book in the narthex, and leads us in intercessory prayer. We conclude with a hymn, and a benediction.
Seasons
The colors of the altar cloth, lectern fabric, and Neal's stole reflect the seasons of the year.
We have a family fun night as Advent begins, and two special services on Christmas Eve
On Palm Sunday, the children and choirs process into the sanctuary with palm branches. We celebrate communion together on the evening of Maundy Thursday.
Many of the congregation wear red on Pentecost Sunday
The sanctuary is also beautifully decorated with palm branches, swathes of fabric on the cross, banners, greenery, and flowers to mark special days. These visual elements are a part of our worship, along with the verbal and musical elements. All of this together adds up to the "worship style" that is distinctively First Presbyterian San Pedro.
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Page Last Updated: Sun Nov 6, 2005