I’m New

What should I expect on a Sunday morning?

We have Sunday School at 8:30 AM. Followed by Fellowship time at 9:15 AM in our fellowship hall downstairs with coffee, juice, and cookies. You are more than welcome to join us!

Worship service is at 9:30 AM. When you arrive a greeter should be available to greet you and give you a bulletin. Please consider signing our guest book by the main sanctuary door. Then enter the sanctuary and sit wherever you would like. It is not unlikely that other members of our congregation and our pastor will greet you.

We DO NOT make a practice of making visitors stand up and introduce themselves during worship or Sunday School.

What should I wear?

There is no dress code for St. Peter’s, but we do ask that you keep in mind that we are gathering together at our Father’s house to confess our sins and to receive the forgiveness of sins in Christ. This is a holy place set aside for this special purpose. For this reason, we ask that you dress modestly and decently. Please, no clothing with profanity, vulgarity, or any other themes that would be considered inappropriate or disrespectful.

What should I expect in worship?

Our worship services make use of the liturgy and hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB). We have three service folder options for you to choose from: Full Service; Large Print Full Service; Hymnal Bulletin. The Full Service folders have all the liturgy, hymns, and readings printed for ease of use. The liturgy is a “divine service” meant to deliver to us Christ in His Word and Sacrament with our pastor standing “in the place” of Christ as His undershepherd, by Christ’s own command and authority. The liturgy is a conversation between Christ, represented in our pastor, and the congregation. The content of this conversation is taken from Scripture itself. Our worship service is accompanied by piano and organ. At the end of service, the ushers dismiss everyone by rows while pastor waits at the entrance to the sanctuary to greet everyone.

What about my children?

And they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Luke 18:15-17; Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16

We eagerly bring our children before the Lord in worship. All are conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5) and all need the forgiveness (Romans 3:19, 23) He gives in Word (John 20:22-23) and Sacrament (Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 5:25-26; Matthew 26:26-28; John 6:32-33) no matter the age (Psalm 22:9-10, 71:5-6; Matthew 21:16; Luke 10:21). Therefore, we ask that your children remain in worship with us, unless it becomes absolutely necessary to remove them for a time. There is no better way to train up our children than by them watching and absorbing, and as they learn about God and what all He has done for us, may we learn from them simple faith so that we too receive the kingdom of God as they do.

What if I need to leave the sanctuary during service?

Our worship service isn’t a show. Our focus is on receiving Christ through Word and Sacrament as a family of believers, not on a finely tuned and orchestrated event which requires the “right atmosphere” or it is ruined. It’s more like sitting down together for a conversation and a meal at our Father’s dinner table. If you need to leave the sanctuary for any reason please feel free to do so. If you are able to wait for a transition in the service it would be preferred to minimize distraction from the gifts of grace and maintain reverence, but if it cannot wait please do not hesitate to do what you need to do! There is no guilt.

What should I expect in Sunday School?

We gather together as a family in the sanctuary for our opening. There we pray, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. After that we break off into our individual classes. To learn more about that visit our Sunday School page.