What to expect when visiting Eternal Love...

Visiting a new church for the first time can be intimidating.  We understand.  We know how hard it can be to visit a new church for the first time. Many of us had to do it once. If you’ve got questions or concerns, please take a moment to browse the information below to help make your first visit to Eternal Love a good one.

What is Worship like at Eternal Love?
Every church has its own style of worship. We think you’ll enjoy the services at Eternal Love Lutheran Church, but as in any church, you should expect it to take a couple of Sundays to become accustomed to our way of praising God together.

Each week the service is printed in the worship folder, which you will receive when you arrive.  You will also find a brief explanation of the worship theme of that particular service along with the responsive readings, songs, Scripture readings and prayers.  Some of these will also be projected on the front wall.

Our worship services focus on readings from God's Word--the bible.  There we hear God talk to us. Music and singing are important parts of our worship as well. Loud or soft, in monotone or rich harmony, traditional or contemporary, all our praises are music to the Lord.  Throughout these different parts of our service, we praise our gracious God with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs from the entire history of God's Church. Our worship uses traditional forms blended with contemporary songs, modern language, and application. The traditional brings us the best that has been used by God’s church throughout the ages and the contemporary brings God’s promises and his will into our daily lives. We hope you enjoy both!

• Call to Worship (sometimes called the Invocation) - We call on the name of our Savior God as we praise him.
• Admitting sins and finding forgiveness - We acknowledge that we have not always done what God asks. Then, we are assured of forgiveness because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
• Bible Readings - We hear selections from God’s Old Testament prophets, Jesus’ apostles, and from Jesus himself in the Gospels. The readings are introduced with a brief explanation and how it ties in each Sunday’s theme.
• Sermon - Our pastor offers instruction and encouragement in a Bible-based sermon. We hear how we can expect God’s guidance and grace for dealing with problems, as well as the promise of eternal life in heaven through Jesus.
• Response to the Word - We respond with offerings and prayers for the things God has promised to us and for strength to do what he has asked.
• Parting Blessing - We hear one last assurance of God’s care before we head out into the world to live as God’s children.

I rejoice with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." ~ Psalm 122:1

How Should I Dress?
Sometimes people wonder how they are expected to dress at a church they have never visited before.  Since the Bible presents no dress code, aside from simple decency and Christian humility, Eternal Love Lutheran Church doesn’t make any rules either.

Like most people, our members try to make their worship time at church a special time.  This is often reflected in the way they dress.  But dress is a personal matter of worship before God. One may dress casually and rejoice that we have a God who accepts us as we are. Another may dress to reflect the awe and reverence we have for our Savior King.

On any Sunday at our church, you may see running shoes and high heels, jeans and suits, open collars and ties. When a person dresses out of love for God, the choice of causal dress or more formal is acceptable to God… and us.

What About the Offering?
When will they take the offering?” “How will it be collected?” “How much am I expected to give?” “Do they want visitors to contribute too?” These are typical worries about church offerings, but God's Word teaches us that our offerings to God should reflect our belief that all we have is His gift to us.  It teaches us that with our offerings we worship and honor God.

Like most Christians, our members bring offerings to God through their church. Since offerings are gifts of love for God, no one dictates what each person is to give. These offerings give them the opportunity to not only show love to Christ, but also to support the work of our congregation as we bring the Good News of Christ's love to more people.

We pass an offering plate during the service so that our worship may include bringing gifts to God and we use offering envelopes to keep our gifts a private matter known only to the Lord.  Now a child may bring the quarters and dimes his parents give him.  Someone older may write a check.  Both, however, remember Jesus and give their gifts out of love for him.

As our guest, we do not expect you to contribute an offering, nor do we want to pressure you into doing so.  You may wish to learn more about our ministry before bringing your offerings to God through our church, but you are welcome to participate as your heart leads you to give.