Haven Lutheran
Church
1035 Haven
Road
Hagerstown, MD
21742-3101
Fax: 301-733-8725
Welcome! We are delighted that you are worshipping with us.
We are a liturgical
community. “Liturgy” means “the work of
the people” and is a celebration by all who gather. Together with the Pastor who presides, the entire congregation is
involved by participating in a prescribed order of worship which Christians
have called Holy Communion, the Eucharist, the Sacrament of the Altar, the
Lord’s’ Supper, the Mass, the Divine Service, the Divine Liturgy, or simply,
the Liturgy. The liturgy helps us to
recall that we are a community of the present generation as well as generations
past and future. We, the “Church on
earth, join the host of heaven” in praising God’s holy name.
Sunday morning worship at Haven employs one of the musical settings of the Lutheran Book of Worship, With One Voice, or additional supplemental resources. These settings are either provided or found in the front of the worship book and are referred to in the bulletin by page number. Hymns are also in the worship book and are identified by bold numbers at the top of the page.
By using your bulletin you may follow our worship, although it does take a bit of work the first few times. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you are confused.
We observe the traditional seasons of the Christian Church Calendar year – Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Within these seasons we celebrate festivals and Saints’ Days. The colors of the paraments and the vestments worn by the clergy remind us of the changing emphasis of these seasons. Royal blue is the color for hope and anticipation in Advent; purple is the color for the penitential Season of Lent; green for growth and life during the Pentecost season; red for festivals of the Holy Spirit; while white or gold, the colors for joy and perfection, are used for the major festivals of the church (Christmas and Easter).
As the baptized people of God, we invite you to take an active part in our worship life. Join us in celebrating; we hope that you will return often
* * * *
Our worship is divided into four actions:
GATHERING, WORD, MEAL and SENDING.
Entrance Hymn
Kyrie
Hymn of Praise
Children’s Message
God calls and gathers the believing community through the Holy Spirit. To celebrate the life God gives us – the community responds to God’s grace in song and prayer. During the Prelude worshippers may listen, offer prayers, meditate in silence, or perhaps read the Scripture lessons, psalm or hymns of the day. The gathering may begin with a Confession of sin or an Entrance Hymn. God’s grace and welcome is extended to all by the presider. When appropriate a Kyrie, a litany – a series of petitions in which we pray for peace, for ourselves, for the church and the world is sung. The Kyrie may be followed by a Hymn of Praise – “Glory to God in the highest” (from the Christmas story) or “This is the Feast” (from the book of Revelation) in which the host is Jesus Christ who has promised to be present whenever we gather. The Prayer of the Day is then proclaimed for all by the presider. Through these actions, the congregation prepares to hear the Word of God.
Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
HYMN OF THE DAY
Creed
We hear the good news of God acting in this and every time
and place as readers and preachers proclaim the Holy Scriptures. A three-year cycle of readings provides portions
of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament letters and the gospel books for
each week. In the Advent/Christmas
season the lectionary reveals the mystery of the Word become flesh. In Lent/Easter, the paschal mystery of the
Lord’s death and resurrection is proclaimed.
During the Pentecost season, the New Testament texts are read in a
continuous order. During the last
Sundays of the church lectionary year, the readings present the final vision of
a new heaven and a new earth.
The First Reading is normally from the Old
Testament (Hebrew Scriptures). It is followed by the Psalm, which is sung or spoken by a lector or cantor, the choir and the assembled congregation. The Second Reading is usually a section of the New Testament letters (epistles) to the churches. The Holy Gospel tells the words and deeds of Jesus. The Sermon announces God’s news for the community and the world; and the Hymn of the Day is selected from the church’s rich treasury of music to proclaim and respond to the word. A Creed is a further response in which the church confesses her faith. God’s Word, read, preached and acclaimed, leads the community to pray for the church, the world’s people, and those who suffer or are in need.
Greeting of Peace
GREAT THANKSGIVING
LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION
Canticle
Prayer
We begin by sharing the Greeting of Peace, a sign that all who participate open themselves to the healing and reconciling power of God’s love. Then, in thanksgiving, the congregation praises God for the gracious gifts of creation and the saving deeds of Jesus Christ. To the table are brought bread and wine, simple signs of God’s love, humble signs of human labor. From our labors we also take up offerings to support the church and our mission to care for the oppressed, the stranger, the widows and the poor. Following the Presentation of the Gifts the congregation and the pastor engage in a dialog, the
Great Thanksgiving, one of the most ancient and least changed parts of the liturgy. In word and gesture, praise and song, we are asked to lift our hearts to God in praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of life, health and salvation. Hearing the words of Jesus spoken at this meal, we remember his life, death and resurrection. We may also recount the history of God’s salvation as the presider speaks for the whole community the Eucharistic Prayer (Thanksgiving Prayer). The presider also asks during these prayers that the Holy Spirit unite the community in the Lord’s bread and cup, so that as one body in Christ, we too may proclaim God’s salvation in the world. To this grateful proclamation, the community joins its “Amen” before praying the Lord’s Prayer with one voice. The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), is sung as a sign that God takes away our sin and gives us peace. As this song is sung, the final preparations for sharing Communion occur.
All is now ready. At Haven all baptized Christians are invited to receive Holy Communion.
Welcomed to the table, each person is united with God in Christ, with each other, and with the church’s mission in the world. We practice Eucharistic hospitality as we seek the unity of full communion with other Christian churches. We believe Jesus Christ is truly present in, with and under the forms of bread and wine. This real presence is a mystery.
During communion hymns, songs and psalms may be sung. As the table is cleared, the congregation may sing a song or canticle. A brief prayer concludes the liturgy of the meal.
Hymn
Dismissal
Worship on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) ends with simplicity. The community receives the Blessing of God. We are invited to leave in God’s peace, sent out to witness and work for justice, to speak God’s good news, to care for those in need, and to share what we have received with the poor and hungry.
In brief, this is how we worship at Haven Lutheran Church. Our worship is Gospel centered and points us to the promise of God in the person of Jesus Christ. As God’s people we rejoice in God’s presence.
(Adapted from Introductory Section of With One Voice
and the worship pamphlet of Saint Peter’s, New York and Christ Chapel,
Gettysburg College)
Haven Lutheran
Church
A congregation
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
In America
DE/MD Synod
Adopted 6/05