Worship Services
A Service of Word & Music
As stated in Article XII of our foundational Confession of Faith: The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ’s ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
Since the days of Charles Wesley, who wrote hymns and was one of our founding Methodist leaders, live singing and music has been, and remains, a very important component of United Methodist worship.
Our traditional music is from either the United Methodist Hymnal or the Missalette.
Worship and Prayer
Worship and Prayer are two words often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
A Prayer
Prayer is a solemn expression to God to thank Him or to request something from Him.
Prayer can be performed anytime, anywhere, by yourself, or in large groups.
Worship
Worship is the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God.
Worship consists of crisply defined and structured ceremonies, of which Prayer and music are a part.
When you join full-throated with the choir and congregation,
belting out The Sanctus:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Does it not stir your soul?
A Typical Sunday Worship
Our Sunday Worship Service is in the call/response format, and we have a bulletin that provides information and direction with which you can easily follow along.
In addition to the Holy Bible, we have the United Methodist Hymnal and the Missalette.
Ringing of the Bell
Preparation for The Word
Prelude
A time to relax and enter the mindset of worship. The moment you set foot on the first step of our Church, you’ll notice your stresses and travails of the earlier day slipping away, since now you are entering our graced Church – which is on the US Historical Register, to safely be in the warm company of your fellow parishioners, enjoy the wonderful hymnal music that is to come, and of course the Word of God, all within the span of an hour and a half.
Introduction
Hymn of Invocation
Call to Worship
Our Call to Worship is in the call/response format, and we have a bulletin for you to follow along.
Prayer of Invocation
Hearing of The Word
Old Testament Reading
Hymn of Preparation
Psalm
Gospel
Message
Response to The Word
Moment of Silence
Affirmation of the Faith (Nicene Creed)
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*catholic—small “c” means universal. So it means we believe in the universal church, rather than in the Catholic denomination.
Gloria Patri
Gloria Patri, or Glory Be to the Father, is a Trinitarian Doxology (a short Hymn, which is a religious song)
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
The individual prayers of the people are heard, shared out aloud, whether of thanks, or pleas, whether for themselves, friends, families or strangers.
Passing of the Peace
Offering of Self and Resources
Invitation to Communion
As stated in Article VI The Sacraments of our Confession of Faith,
We believe the Lord’s Supper is a representation of our redemption, a memorial of the sufferings and death of Christ, and a token of love and union which Christians have with Christ and with one another. Those who rightly, worthily and in faith eat the broken bread and drink the blessed cup partake of the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual manner until he comes.
The Great Thanksgiving
Hymn of Dedication
Benediction and Sending Forth
Fellowship
The Fellowship meal is a very important part of the Sunday Worship at the Sea Bright United Methodist Church, where excellent home-cooked meals are served, and you have a great calming interlude between the hectic hassles and pressures of daily life and the peaceful tranquility of the Church, breaking bread and relaxing with good folks that you know from the Church.