Katie Weidemaier, Congregation Council Liaison
The Worship Ministry facilitates a welcoming, meaningful, and faithful environment through music, prayer, and liturgy.
Our goal is for worship to be accessible for as many people as possible. We provide a hearing loop that enables anyone with T-coil activated hearing aids to receive sound from the microphones directly into their hearing aids, reducing echoes and background noise in the sanctuary. We also live stream our service for those who are unable to attend (links can be found on our front page).
Worship Participation
We encourage community members to serve during worship as readers, assisting ministers, ushers, acolytes, tech helpers, and communion assistants. A brochure detailing these volunteer duties can be found near the sign up sheets. There are also opportunities to serve with your gifts through liturgical art, choir, and instrumental music.
Children
During worship, we encourage all children to be a part of our worship services. We offer a child-friendly space in the sanctuary where kids can play quietly, color, or work on crafts. Also, “Busy Bags” are available for infants and toddlers in a basket in the back rows of the sanctuary.
Music
Emmaus is a church that loves music and we offer a variety of music during worship. Our adult choir sings each Sunday and rehearses each Wednesday evening. Choir members are known for socializing after choir rehearsal, and once a month the “Emmaus Choir Beer Club” goes out for a festive beverage. New members are always welcome to lend their voices!
Liturgy
When you worship with us you will experience a traditional Lutheran liturgy. (Liturgy means “work of the people.”) The form of the liturgy has been shaped over hundreds of years and by millions of Christians, and it connects us to them all as we worship. The liturgy follows these four basic elements:
GATHERING
We gather together with song and prayer. We sing songs from We Evangelical Lutheran Worship and All Creation Sings hymnals.
WORD
We hear the Word of God in scripture and preaching, and responding to it in prayer.
COMMUNION
Each week, we partake of the sacrament of Holy Communion during which all are welcome at the table of the Lord. At Emmaus we practice an open table; if you do not wish to partake, you can come forward with arms crossed to receive a blessing.
SENDING
We go forth to serve the Lord with a blessing and a song!
Andrew Langford—Pastor
Clare Josef-Maier—Deacon
Grant Mack—Accompanist
Brent Anderson—Choir Director
Clare Kugler-Snarr—Children’s Table Supervisor
Heidi Stolp—Liturgical Arts
Kristi Wilde, Lori Nicklin, Becky Bowman, Carol Lodl & Sidsel Tompkins—Communion Set Up
Kathleen Kerr, Pastor Dave Paulson, Pastor Tom Dodd—Preaching Team Members