Jesus commands His Church to “make disciples”. The purpose of our ministry at FLC is to foster discipleship in believers. The members of First Lutheran are disciples who wish to grow in their discipleship.
Worship
From the earliest days of the Church, weekly Sunday worship with Communion established the basic routine of God’s people, and so it is for the members of First Lutheran as well.
In addition to Sunday worship, we also offer midweek worship services during the season of Advent, which precedes the celebration of Christmas, and the season of Lent, which precedes the celebration of Easter. We have an evening candlelight service on Christmas Eve, and, during Holy Week, worship services on Thursday of Holy Week (Maundy Thursday), and Friday of Holy Week (Good Friday). We also gather for worship on Thanksgiving Eve.
Liturgical Order of Worship
We use six orders of service on Sunday mornings, each from the Lutheran Service Book: Divine Service 3 during the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany; Divine Service 4 during the season of Lent; Divine Service 2 during the season of Easter; and during the long season of Pentecost we use mostly Divine Service 1, but we also use Matins occasionally, and in October (Reformation Month) we use Divine Service 5.
Historic Church Calendar and Three Year Lectionary
First Lutheran Church follows the same Church Calendar all Lutherans, Anglicans, and Roman Catholics follow. That calendar is organized around the major aspects and events in Jesus’ life and ministry, and repeats every year. Scripture readings are appointed for each service, and rotate every three years. The themes for each Sunday, as well as the hymns and prayers used in the service, are usually based on the season of the Church Year, and on the particular readings appointed for the day. Sermons and teaching are usually, but not invariably, based on the appointed readings.
Weekly Holy Communion
There are two focal points in the Order of Divine Service. The first is the read and preached Word, and the second is the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Therefore, just as every Sunday service has Scripture readings and preaching, Communion also is offered at every Sunday service at FLC.
Babies and Small Children
The sound of children in worship, even restless ones, is a beautiful thing, and parents should let their kids experience worship right along with the adults. For that reason we do not offer a separate “children’s church”. Children being what they are, and sometimes needing special attention that cannot be given in the sanctuary during the service, for that reason we have a nursery, and parents are welcomed to use it if they wish, as needed, but preferably only for brief periods. Again, the place for children, even little children, is in the worship service with their parents.
First Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) 