What To Expect
We look forward to your visit, and when you come to the door there will be someone there to shake your hand and answer any questions you’ve got. Expect a friendly place: we love to be together, and we laugh and talk and drink coffee together each Sunday. You’ll find people from all walks of life, some dressed up and others wearing t-shirt and shorts.
In everything we do in our service, it is our goal turn our point of view away from ourselves and towards the Lord. We do this because he’s God and we’re not. The worship service should be more about Him and less about ourselves. Our service is rooted in the ancient practices of the Church, but filled with connection to the world in which we live. We sing new songs along with old ones. We do new things and old things. For example, you’ll see some of the pastors wearing robes and some that don’t. Some things we do may be familiar to you and others may not. We hope that you’ll enjoy both the familiar and the new things you encounter and that they will all help you to worship God in Spirit and truth.
We believe the Church is multi-generational and is best expressed when each generation is bringing it’s experience and life. You can expect your kids to be taken care of and that regardless of your age, you’ll be valued.
We believe that God speaks through his Word, the Bible. We place a tremendous emphasis on hearing and receiving the Word of God.
Each Sunday we celebrate all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ by eating a symbolic meal of bread and wine together. All baptized Christians who come with faith and repentance are welcomed and encouraged to share this meal with us. Lots of folks have yet to make this step of faith and baptism, and so they participate through the prayers and singing that accompany this portion of our service.
Each week we take up “Connect Cards,” that allow those present to communicate prayer requests to the prayer team and pastors. You can also use the Connect Card to communicate your contact information so that we can keep you informed about what’s happening at Christ Church.
We encourage you to talk to our Rector, Fr. Benji Davis, regarding any questions you may have. He loves having conversations with folks who are new to all this, and he treats inquirers with warmth and respect.
Our services are grounded in the early practices of the Church, in the things that Christians have always been about everywhere.
Worship
We did not just make this up as we were going along, but we have learned from the wisdom of those who have gone before us, recognizing that God used many of the same practices in their lives to shape them into extraordinary men and women of God.
We meet on Sundays, first and foremost, to worship God and to join in with the constant celebration that is going in heaven. That is why everything we do in our worship services point us to God: He is the one who is worth all our attention.
We encourage you to come and see what we’re about. We believe that you will, in some way, encounter Jesus Christ as you join us to worship Him.
Before You Come
Our altar party and clergy wear white robes (“albs”) on Sundays. While these clothes might make them stand out, the purpose of these garments is to emphasize the role, not the person (it’s not about me). Deacons (ones who serve in the midst of the people) wear a stole over one shoulder across the chest, while Priests (pastors) wear a stole over both shoulders. The Celebrant (the pastor who leads the celebration) wears what we affectionately call the holy poncho (“chasuble”). The chasuble visually indicates to everyone in the room who is leading the liturgy in that service.
Christ Church is a Bible church and the Bible is all about Jesus. Thus, Christ Church is all about Jesus, the Word made flesh. We read the Word, preach the Word, and receive the Word in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Like any Christian worship service, we sing songs, pray prayers, hear the words of Scripture and the sermon, and we receive communion. Everyone is welcome to come and participate in our worship service. If you are a baptized follower of Jesus (you don’t need to be Anglican!) you are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper with us at the end of the service (because you are a part of our family!).
Our Sermons
One of the best ways to get know Christ Church is to listen to sermon audio.