Welcome to Worship!
Worship is at the heart of who we are as a community of faith, and Christ is at the center of our worship. Come discover the refreshing beauty and enduring depth of worship with a tradition that draws from a five-hundred year history of being "reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God."
Sunday Schedule
Come join us on Sunday mornings for fellowship, study, and worship!
9:15-10:15 Sunday School by Zoom
10:45 Worship live-streaming on YouTube
We celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of each month and on major Christian holy days, and all are invited to share the feast Christ has prepared.
Child Care and Children's Ministry
Child care is available during worship on Sunday mornings and during most church events. Our nursery is available on Sunday mornings, and we have Sunday School classes for children Kindergarten through High School.
During worship, all young disciples are invited to the front of the Sanctuary for a special message and prayer, after which children Pre-K through 2nd Grade are dismissed from the Sanctuary for Little Presbyterians.
Little Presbyterians encourages children Pre-K through 2nd grade to explore Scripture and to see God's work in the world and their lives, bringing stories from Scripture to life through games, art, music, and reading.
As people called to reflect God’s love to young people, we recognize the great responsibility we have to be accountable before God, the church, and the community for the safety and well-being of children and youth. Respecting this responsibility, we hold ourselves to a high, holy standard of providing safe and secure environments for all children and youth under our care. For more information about our guidelines, please read our Child and Youth Protection Policy.
Lent Worship Schedule
The Way to Shalom: A Lenten Journey to Peace and Wholeness in Covenant Community
Each Sunday this
Lent, we will focus on different aspects of what it means to journey toward shalom through life together as a community in covenant-relationship with God. This series follows the lectionary readings for Lent (primarily the readings from the Old Testament), and tracks closely with our Lenten devotional, which is now available in electronic format as a PDF (see link below) or by hardcopy upon request.
February 17, Ash Wednesday (6:30 PM)
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
This service will be held by Zoom and ashes are available in the church office for your use at home. If you have not yet received ashes or the Zoom invitation to attend this service, please contact Pastor Dave Strickler at (828) 292-1664 or at dave.fpcjeffcity@gmail.com.
February 21, First Sunday of Lent
Scripture Readings: Genesis 9:8-17; Mark 1:9-15
This week we will explore God's covenant with Noah as promise to stand in solidarity and peace with all creation, seeking shalom (wholeness) for all creatures
February 28, Second Sunday of Lent
Scripture Readings: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 4:13-25
Turning to God's covenant with Abraham and Sarah, this week we explore the character of covenant faith through trust in God’s provision of a way out of
no-way
March 7, Third Sunday of Lent (Communion Sunday)
Scripture Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; John 2:13-22
Continuing with the theme of covenant, we now turn to the way our lives must join in freedom with the saving covenant God makes with us—turning away from the ways of exploitation and violence as embodied in the Law as well as in Christ’s righteous anger toward the moneychangers
March 14, Fourth Sunday of Lent (Spring Forward)
Scripture Readings: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21
This week, we see images of hope, remembering that God does not send disaster, but “in the midst and wake of such catastrophic events, God teaches us things about ourselves, our faith, our God, and most importantly about trusting God to lead us through our various wastelands to God’s promise for us” (Journal for Preachers)
March 21, Fifth Sunday of Lent
Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-36
The culmination of reflection on God’s covenant relationship with us is hope for a New Covenant, when our lives will be fully transformed by God’s working upon our hearts, as light suffuses glass and fire permeates iron
March 28, Palm Sunday
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40:4-9a; John 12:1-16
In celebrating the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week, we see through his anointing at Bethany a shadow of both the cross and the servant ministry of Jesus.
On the last Sundays of each month, we receive the Five Cents-a-Meal Offering (click here for more information about this Special Offering).
April 1, Maundy Thursday (6:30 PM; Communion)
Scripture Readings: Psalm
139:1-12; John 13:1-17, 34-35 and 15:9-15
We will gather in the church parking lot for a tailgate fellowship meal, after which we will celebrate in outdoor worship together. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, teaching us that no one has greater love than laying down one’s life for friends. In sharing this love with both Judas and Peter, Jesus shows there is no length to which he will not go in order to show his love for us. This service continues on Good Friday.
April 2, Good Friday (6:30 PM)
We will gather again for an outdoor worship service. Tonight, we commemorate the day Jesus died for us on the cross, telling his story through readings, special music, reflection, and prayer. This service continues on Easter Sunday.
April 4, Easter Sunday (Communion)
Scripture Readings: Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18
Gathering again for outdoor worship, we celebrate the good news of the risen Lord.
On Easter Sunday, we also receive our Special Offering for One Great Hour of Sharing (please click here for more information about this offering).
Our Music Program
All ages are invited to join in leading worship through the ministry of music. Our regular music program includes:
The Beauty of Holiness
We believe beauty lifts our hearts toward God in worship. Our sanctuary windows are graced by these banners, hand-made by members of our community.
