Introduction to the Traditional Service

If you have never visited First United Methodist Church and plan to attend our Sunday morning 11:00am traditional service, it might be helpful to learn more about the elements of the service so you will have a better idea what to expect. For more information about how things work at First UMC, please check our main visitors page.

Probably the best way to describe the 11:00am service is that it is rich with music. We are blessed with many talented musicians in our congregation, and every week they help us worship God with music. In addition to the congregational hymns (frequently accompanied by our very own Brass Choir), every traditional service includes a musical prelude, a musical offertory, as well as a choral anthem. We also include several meaningful musical worship opportunities that you might not find elsewhere. Every week after affirming our faith as a congregation, we sing the Gloria Patri. The congregation also takes time after greeting one another to join together and sing "Blest Be the Tie That Binds". As a congregation, we offer praise weekly to God through the Doxology and Prayer of the Nation following the offering. Finally, worship is concluded with the joining of hands and singing "May the Lord Bless You", followed by a musical postlude. Music is a central feature of the traditional service, and we hope that you find the experience uplifting.

As its name implies, the 11:00am service does follow classic, traditional liturgical practices. We participate in a Call to Worship every week, led by a member of the congregation. We affirm our faith as a congregation every week using the Apostle's Creed and the Gloria Patri. We participate in prayer, including the Lord's Prayer, and we have a reading from scripture. Of course, the central feature of the worship service is the sermon, and we are blessed to have Rev. David Okerberg deliver the message every week. Rev. Okerberg's ability to distill scripture and real-life experiences into a meaningful message is a treasured gift. Far from being "stuffy", the 11:00am service, through its adherence to the traditional liturgy and order of worship, provides members and guests alike with a meaningful opportunity to worship God.