Here’s what’s happening in worship this week.
Worship Services
The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper unites Christians across boundaries of geography, language, ethnicity, and nationality. Observed on the first Sunday of October, World Communion Sunday is a time to pray for the ministry of the global Christian church and to remember the oneness we enjoy in Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Join us for communion during both Sunday services.
Journey Worship | Sunday, at 8:45 am
An interactive, energetic service for those seeking a fresh encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme this month is Moving On. Pastor Heather will preach from Matthew 28:16–20.
Sanctuary Worship | Sunday, at 11 am
Our largest service, with music from the Chancel Choir and an organ prelude prior to the service. This week, the Rev. Dr. Randy Bush will preach from Acts 17:1–9. His sermon will be titled “Re-Confirmation Class: Lesson #4 – Church.”
The PC(USA) designated the month of September through World Communion Sunday on Oct. 4, as “A Season of Peace”—a season when our thoughts turn to the true meaning of peace and how, through Christ, we can nurture it inside ourselves and out in the world. In order to understand the value of peace, we must try to understand the cost and the many forms of conflict: individual, collective, domestic, international, racial—the list is inexhaustible.
To help address these diverse challenges, the Peace & Global Witness Offering (formerly the Peacemaking Offering) supports a range of ministries devoted to peacemaking and reconciliation. Including bearing witness in communities of conflict around the world, hosting education programs to raise awareness, driving local peacemaking efforts, offering catalyst support to our mission co-workers, and much more.
ELPC will receive the Peace & Global Witness Offering on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 4. Please give generously, as your gift will help to alleviate some of the hurt, violence, and destruction, and will represent the peace of Christ for all of God’s children. With each gift, we can begin to create a world of peace—together.
Years ago, the Peace and Spiritual Life Committees purchased a Peace Pole as a tangible witness to ELPC’s commitment to peace on Earth. The Peace Pole links us to people all over the world who pray for peace and have planted Peace Poles in the spirit of peace. Found on all the continents around the world, every Peace Pole proclaims the prayer “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”
ELPC’s Peace Pole is now planted on the north side of our Highland entrance. Join us after Sanctuary worship for a moment of prayer as we dedicate our Peace Pole.
Taizé | Wednesday, at 7 pm
An hour-long service including sung prayers; simple, beautiful music; a time of silence; spoken and silent prayers; and an opportunity for individual prayer and anointing. The Rev. Mary Lynn Callahan will lead worship. Stay afterward for Centering Prayer.
Christian Education Classes
We offer Christian Education classes for persons of all ages, from infancy through adulthood, on Sundays from 9:45–10:45 am. Click the links for adult class descriptions and children and youth offerings.
This week, all adult Church School classes will combine to hear the Rev. Ron Stief, our guest speaker. Rev. Stief is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and the executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, an interfaith organization of more than 325 religious organizations committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture. He is a national leader and faith strategist on ending torture, and speaks widely at college campuses, interfaith events, and coalition actions.