United Church of Christ
Worship
Worship, or praise to God, goes on 365 days a year, 24/7 worldwide. When we attend a worship service, we join in that praise. The worship service has changed and evolved for more than 2 millennia. And, its form varies a great deal from church to church. At The Valley of the Flowers we try to provide a service that will be varied enough so that everyone will find something to like.
The music at our church is a mixture of the familiar and the new. The "Congregational Response," the "Doxology" and "We Are One in the Spirit" are repetitive songs sung weekly. We find comfort in these rituals. The Worship and Music Committee chooses the monthly Gathering Song. This song is often a less familiar one and it gives us a chance to learn new hymns. The hymns we sing after the sermon are chosen by the pastor and usually compliment the theme of the week's sermon. The prelude and the postlude are chosen by the Organist and often are classical organ pieces. The prelude and postlude give us a chance to reflect and sit quietly at the open and close of worship. You will often notice applause after the postlude and at other times when music is performed.
- Ruth Lee, at right,
Organist/Pianist
- Ruth Norris,
Choir Director
- Lola Day
- Nora Flores
- Doug McLaughlin
- John McReynolds
Communion
We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of the month. It is open to everyone. The communion celebration is at the end of the service, after we sing the "Doxology".
As we begin, the pastor leads us in the Communion Liturgy, provided on an insert in the church bulletin. After saying the liturgy, we all move towards the front aisles of the sanctuary and begin singing the "Communion Song". We move slowly past a deacon and the pastor who hold a loaf of bread and a cup of grape juice. We use nonalcoholic grape juice to represent the wine. Our process of dipping the bread into the wine is called intinction. When your turn comes up, break off a chunk of bread, dip part of it into the grape juice and eat the bread in one bite. Then continue to follow the line and hold hands with the persons on both sides of you as you continue singing. Eventually, the whole congregation is holding hands in a loose circle. The deacon and pastor then offer the bread and wine to those who may not be able to walk or stand easily, and finally to each other. Be ready to return a hand squeeze as we return to our seats to enjoy Ruth Lee playing the postlude.
Worship
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Worship and Music Committee
Music
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Please welcome new
members Christy Weikel
and Maggie LaMar
this Advent season.
Pastor Chuck and Moderator Kitty Mac Kenzie welcome new members Christy Weikel and Maggie LaMar.
Pastor: Chuck Arnold
Organist: Ruth Lee
Adult Classes: 8:45 am
Sunday Service: 10:00 am
Modern Gospel Music Rally
First Saturdays: 7:00 pm
LMA 2011-2012 Season
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Click above to view links.
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