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Worship Gatherings

. . . where we and God beautifully collide!

Worship is sacred, mysterious, and engaging. We endeavor to provide a safe atmosphere for the gathered community of believers and not-yet believers to encounter God.

Opportunities for musicians, singers, readers, artistis, technicians, and speakers of all ages are available. Our worship strives to be intergenerational and balanced. You will find ancient creeds, post-modern choruses. and interactive experiences. Ultimately, we know that worship is not about us … it’s about God.

A Philosophy of Worship

The Tides Worship Gatherings are the space and time we’ve set aside to encounter God as a community. Anyone who attends, whether believer or not-yet believer, is a part of this community of encounter. This is a time of spiritual transformation as we are continually changed to live, serve, and love in the Way of Jesus. The Worship Gathering is a holistic shaping of time and space where the whole person and the whole community can encounter God, others, themselves, and the wonder of creation. You are invited to participate at whatever level you are comfortable. Remember: just by being here for the Worship Gathering you already belong!

What to expect . . .

We call our worship The Tides. This is because there is an ebb and flow in worship: similar to the low and high tides of the ocean. Our worship is centered around experiential learning (sights, sounds, tastes, smells), interactive prayer, reading of scripture, dialogue, familiar songs, and new and creative music.

So, here is a sample of how we encounter God during worship. Most of these elements occur during each gathering:

Music

We regularly use music to express ourselves to God. Music (both sung and played) is powerful. We praise, we ask for what we need, we thank, we complain, we cry out, we lament, and we honor God as we honestly encounter our Creator. Our music consists of an ecclectic mix of powerful, meaningful, and prayerful songs.

Scripture

We read from the Scripture. This focuses us for the day, reminds us of whose name we’re gathered in, and acknowledges that God has gone before us and Christ’s grace is already at work in our lives. “This is the Word of the Lord. … Thanks be to God!”

Silence

Worship is a conversation. We deliberately enter into silence to allow God to speak. We simply listen.

Responsive Reading

By joining together in the creeds of the Church, or reading psalms, prayers, and challenges, we proclaim with our mouths what we ask God to enable us to live with our lives.

Passing of the Peace

This is a time to greet those in the gathered community. But it’s more than that. It’s an ancient tradition wherein we extend the wish of God’s grace and peace to everyone. “The Peace of Christ be with you. … And also with you.”

Visual Liturgy

Often we use multi-media and other art forms to express the call of God to our hearts.

Prayer of Confession

We all have sinned … and we all know it. We engage in a communal prayer of confession to keep ourselves honest before God and each other. This also reminds us that we do not face temptation alone: Christ is with is during these times and gives us strength to live free.

Teaching

We tell the story of God, which we believe is still continuing today. The format is interactive: we pose questions and seek answers together. We understand that God is mysterious and yet revealed to us in Jesus Christ. We apply our lives to God’s Story and let it narrate our reality.

Communal Prayer

We allow a time for everyone to pray. Whether praise or petition, you are invited to boldly approach the God of grace. The Worship Gathering should be the one place that it is safe to be vulnerable. For our hopes, dreams, fears, trials, needs, and thanks are also part of the community. And we share each other’s prayers.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion is a sacrament. That means it is a physical expression of a spiritual reality. God’s grace is manifested in physical actions. We receive Holy Communion as spiritual nourishment, remembering our Lord’s Supper where he instituted this sacrament. His body and his blood are represented in the elements we receive … and by the Living Word of God we are fed. We practice an open table Communion. This was mandated by Christ as his table was always open to everyone. Both the believer and not-yet believer can touch grace through Holy Communion at the Lord’s Table.

Offering

This is the time when monetary gifts for the work of Christ’s kingdom are placed in boxes on the ends of the altar. This is a giving back to God after receiving Christ’s grace in Holy Communion, making it a very personal and special act of worship.

Interactive Response

Engaging with multi-sensory and symbolic activities helps us to experience worship. These moments are powerful, memorable, and life-changing.

Blessing

At the conclusion of the worship gathering, we pray or sing a blessing with our arms extending and palms facing up.  We leave the place of worship going into the world as beggars, knowing that God goes before us as our Lord sends us into the world as a reconciling community.  We are reminded to “Go, be the church.”