General Order of Worship at Wesley

On most Wednesday nights, we follow this outline in worship. About once a month, we have a worship service that is completely different in content and structure. Check out our Event Calendar for those Wednesdays.

Gathering Music
(a chorus or short song to gather God's people)

Welcome/Registration/Announcements

Meet your Neighbor
(we like to know who is worshipping with us!)

Praise Song(s)

Prayer and Scripture Focus
(Although Tom may preach from more than these one or two verses, the Scripture Focus will let you know where to focus your attention)

Praise Song(s)

Joys and Concerns
(we give our burdens to God and thank him for his blessings. The way we do this is sometimes called "popcorn" prayer. The prayer leader starts the prayer, then everyone is invited to speak aloud their prayer concern or joy as they feel led. When everyone is finished the prayer leader closes the prayer.)

Lord’s Prayer
(a prayer that Jesus taught his disciples when they asked him to teach them how to pray)

Offering
(although the majority of the ministry is funded by the United Methodist Church and individual donors, giving our gifts to God is an important act of worship)
Praise Songs

Scripture and Sermon
(God's Word read and interpreted by Rev. Tom Teekell, ordained elder of the United Methodist Church)

Invitation to Christian Discipleship
(an invitation to anyone who wishes to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, believing that he died for your sins, that you are forgiven, and will receive eternal life as God's free gift to you. Feel free to talk to Tom about this commitment and as an ordained elder can baptize you into God's family.)

Communion and Prayer Time
(The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion and the Eucharist, is a remembrance of Jesus' willing sacrifice for our sins so that we may receive eternal life. It is also one way in which the Holy Spirit works in us to strengthen and confirm our faith in Jesus. We use grape juice to represent the fruit of the vine instead of wine. After you receive communion, you may kneel at the altar rail to pray or go back to your seat and pray. You do not have to be Methodist or even a member of a church to participate--this is the Lord's Table, not a Methodist one or a Protestant one. If, however, you feel that taking it would be disloyal to your religion or denomination, feel free to stay seated in prayer as others go foward. We don't want you to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in worship because you choose, for whatever reason, not to receive Communion.)

Benediction
(the blessing or prayer for the people as they take God's word into the world)

Passing of the Peace
(At Wesley, the pastor hugs each person on the end of a row and they in turn hug the person next to them. If hugging makes you uncomfortable, just shake hands; no offense taken! As a person hugs you or shakes your hand, you may hear them say something like "Peace be with you.")

Closing Praise Song
(Hearts Afire plays one last song as people exit the worship area to fellowship.)