Public worship has two important aspects: God serving us through Word and Sacrament, us serving God in thankfulness "with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." These two elements of public worship cannot be separated. Without God's grace, we cannot serve Him. If we do not serve Him, we have not appreciated His service for us. For this reason, Lutherans have often called public worship "God's service," emphasizing this dual relationship, rather than simply "worship." The Lutheran Church is a liturgical church, which means we celebrate the Liturgy of Word and Sacrament (the Western Rite). Luther's Reformation was a doctrinal one, going to the heart of the matter, not a liturgical one, dealing only with externals. Most of the worship practices handed down through the centuries were retained by the Lutheran Church, with the exception of those which had become corrupted by false teaching or irreparably associated with superstition. Christ Ev. Lutheran Church is proud of the Lutheran tradition handed down to us, a tradition of respect for the past, concern for the present, and hope for the future. What you will experience at Christ is a collection of hymns, vestments, movements, dialogues, readings, and practices assembled from every century of the Christian Church's existence, including our own. Our worship seeks to be and is relevant, not because it is manipulative or contrived, but because it is rooted in the past, proclaimed in the present, and geared toward the future. Come experience Christ at Christ in Word and Sacrament. We guarantee it will be relevant, timely, and edifying, because it will flow from the Gospel, point to Christ, and proclaim and apply forgiveness, life, and salvation to all those gathered around Him who comes to us through Baptism, Holy Communion, the preached and read Word, and Absolution (the declaration of God's forgiveness). The last thing people need from a church is a carbon copy of what the world gives them all week. The first thing they need is Christ, the Truth, who Himself does not change, but changes those who gather around Him. Be one of those who gather around Him. Gather with us at Christ. Our worship services, God's service, usually consist of: The invocation, where God's name -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- is again placed upon those gathered, just as it was in Baptism. Confession and absolution, where we corporately (as a group) confess our sinfulness and hear the pastor speak God's own forgiveness. Songs of the Church and Prayer Readings from the Old Testament (or Acts), the Epistles (New Testament letters) and the Gospels (the historical record of Jesus life and teaching). A Psalm is also customarily sung. The creed (Apostles' or Nicene), where we confess with the saints who have proceeded us the never changing truths of the Faith, revealed by God to the human race. The sermon on a selected text for that Sunday in the church year (consisting of "seasons," which emphasize different aspects of Christ's life and work). The sermon is the eyes of the liturgy, applying the never changing truths of Scripture to the specific individuals gathered in this specific place at this specific time. General prayers and intercessions, prayers for specific individuals and causes, and the Lord's Prayer The Liturgy of the Sacrament, which consists of an ancient dialogues, Songs of the Church, the Words of Institution, and the distribution of Christ's Body and Blood. Prayer and Blessing. Note: Hymns are sung at various places throughout the liturgy.