Passionate Worship

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD" (Psalm 84:1-2)

"Vibrant, fruitful, growing churches offer Passionate Worship that connects people to God and to one another. People gather consciously as the Body of Christ with eagerness and expectancy; encounter Christ through singing, prayer, Scripture, preaching and Holy Communion; and respond by allowing God's Spirit to shape their lives. Lives shaped by God's Spirit become the nucleus for congregations with extraordinary warmth, graciousness, and belonging. People are searching for worship that is authentic, alive, creative, and comprehensible, where they experience the life-changing presence of God in the presence of others."
- Robert Schnase, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

9:00 AM Traditional Worship with Sunday School*

Following a more traditional style of worship, the congregation is invited to sing in the familiar hymns of the faith, with music led by our Sanctuary Choir (September through June).

* Sunday School for All Ages from Pre-K to Adult.

10:45 AM Contemporary Worship with Children's Church**

Led by our praise band, Spirit Fire, this is an interactive, less formal, contemporary worship service. It is designed to praise God and make everyone feel welcome. The words to all of our music is posted onto our projector screen, allowing more freedom to move around in worship.

* Children's Church is for pre-school through second grade.

Holy Communion
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month at both services.

Nursery
Infant Care is provided during all worship services by adult staff in our nursery. A pager is given to the parent to enable the staff to notify parents if their child needs their parent's attention.

And for those with special needs...

Phonic Ear Ministry
We are pleased to make available the Phonic Ear Easy Listener System for anyone who may be in need of hearing assistance during our worship services. Three systems are available - just contact one of the ushers and they would be pleased to assist you.

Video Screen Texts
We now have many portions of the congregation's part of the worship service projected on a large screen at the front of the sanctuary. Our Bible passage is on the screen so that you can follow along as it is read. For all worship services, we use the New Living Translation of the Bible.

Large Print Bulletins
Large Print Bulletins are available at the 9:00 am Worship Service. Please ask an Usher for a copy if you need one.

Handicap Accessibility
Our church building is fully handicap accessible

Special Services

Throughout the year we celebrate a variety of events and times in the church calendar. The Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday services are particularly notable.

Other special services include:

Ash Wednesday
The theme of this service is humility. It comes from the creation account in the Bible that says that God formed humanity out of the dust of the earth. It is a time to acknowledge our full dependence on God. The date it is held is different every year, because it is 40 days before Easter (not counting Sundays), and Easter changes each year because its date is based on the Jewish Lunar calendar. At the Ash Wednesday service, communion is served to symbolize our spiritual dependence. And, as the congregation leaves, they have the option of going forward to have their forehead marked with ashes, usually in the shape of a cross. This symbolizes our physical dependence on God.

Maundy Thursday
This service allows us to remember the time when Jesus shared his last meal with his followers. Our practice of having a special ceremonial meal, called Communion, is in memory of what Jesus did to bring us healing, and to make it possible for us to be in a loving relationship with God. This service always happens on the Thursday before Easter.

Thanksgiving
Held on the Sunday evening prior to the holiday in co-operation with other congregations in Solon.

Christmas Eve
We offer several Christmas Eve worship services that include a contemporary family service and a late evening candle lighting service.

For times, contact the church office.

Music Ministries

Angel's Voices & Sanctuary Choirs

(K-8th grade Children's choir) rehearsals are Sunday mornings between worship services at 10:00. See Judith Overcash, Director.
The Music Ministry of the church is led by the Director of our Sanctuary and Children's Choirs, Judith Overcash, supported by Organist/Pianist, Linda Gilbert, and Angels' Voices Children's Choir accompanist Carol Taylor.

Sanctuary Choir
A 20 voice choir helps to lead worship at our 9:00AM. traditional service. The choir performs a mixture of music compositions and leads in the singing of hymns. Special music around the holidays adds to the splendor and richness of the seasonal atmosphere. Rehearsal is Wednesday evening at 7:15PM. New members are always welcome. If you have questions contact Judith Overcash or anyone with a bright blue robe!

Spirit Fire

For our contemporary service, our praise team, Spirit Fire, leads us as we sing together the songs like you might hear on the local Christian radio stations. This group, led by John Woodard, includes acoustic guitars, electric guitars and bass, singers, drums, flute, and violin.