Somers Congregational Church
Our Worship Schedule
Sunday Worship
8:15 AM Sanctuary, Meeting House. Service includes scripture, sermon,
pastoral prayer, and hymn verses. 10:00 AM Sanctuary, Meeting House. This
is the "main" service of the week. It includes scripture sermon, pastoral
prayer, hymns, a childrens’ message, and music from the choir. Church School
is also held during this time, with the children being present for the
beginning of worship and then being dismissed to classes following the
Children’s Message. Infants and pre-school go directly to their rooms at 10
a.m. Congregations in the United Church of Christ are part of the "free
Church" tradition, and tend to not be very liturgical. Emphasis in worship
is on the Word, through the sermon, readings, and responses, rather than on
the sacraments. In our church the sermon is the central feature of the
worship service on all but the first Sunday of each month. Holy
Communion is celebrated at both services on the first Sunday of each
month. A children’s communion service is offered on the first Sunday of each
month in the Chapel during the 10 a.m. worship service.
The Bible readings used each week are read from the New Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, and worshipers are encouraged to follow along in the
pew Bibles. Although our pastor is the worship leader, lay readers often
open the service, and read the scripture for the day.
Special Worship Services
Throughout the year, we hold various special worship services to observe
significant days in the Christian calendar.
Ash Wednesday – The first day of Lent each year. This is an
evening service that includes a time of reflection, the celebration of Holy
Communion and a message from the pastor.
Palm Sunday – We celebrate Palm Sunday in two special ways. The
Annual Men’s Palm Sunday Communion Breakfast has been a tradition in the
church for over 50 years. Men and boys gather to celebrate Communion at 7:30
A.M. in the sanctuary, followed by a hearty breakfast in the Foundation
room. It is not unusual for two and three generations of men from the same
family to share the morning together. At the 10:00 A.M. Worship Service, the
congregation gathers outside the church and all march in together singing
and waving palms that are distributed.
Maundy Thursday – This service is held on the Thursday of Holy
Week as the day we remember Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper as a
sacrament. We gather in the Foundation Room of the Meeting House and share a
simple soup and bread supper. Following the meal, we celebrate Holy
Communion. Our observance of Maundy Thursday ends with the reading of the
Passion narrative as the lights in the room are extinguished. Once darkness
has been reached and the readings done, a single candle is re-lit and the
congregation leaves in silence to await the Lord’s resurrection.
Good Friday – We observe a traditional day of meditation and
reflection as Christians think about the crucifixion of Jesus. Our canvas
labyrinth is available for walking in the Foundation Room of the Meeting
House. There is also a corner with resources, set aside for prayer and
meditation.
Easter – We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with three
services on Easter morning. At Sunrise we gather in the State Forest on
Soap Stone Mountain to welcome the glorious day of resurrection. A brief
worship service is followed by breakfast there on the mountain. At 9:00 AM
and 11:00 AM, we celebrate with worship in the Meeting House. The choirs and
guest musicians offer joyous music, and the children and adults hear special
Easter messages.
Baccalaureate - Each June, we host a worship service for the
graduating class of Somers High School, their parents and the school staff.
This is held in the Meeting House and clergy from the other Somers churches
are invited to participate. The service centers on giving thanks for the
accomplishments of the graduates, and asking God’s blessing on them as they
move in the future.
All Saints Day – On (or near) November 1 of each year, we hold a
commemorative service remembering members and friends of the church and
community who have died in the past year. Members of the deceased’s families
are invited to join our Board of Deacons as the names are read and honor
paid.
Community Thanksgiving Service – The Somers Congregational Church
joins with the Congregational Church of Somersville and All Saints Roman
Catholic Church on the Sunday before Thanksgiving each year for a community
Thanksgiving Worship Service. The churches’ pastors lead the community in
giving thanks, and there is traditionally a review of the past year’s events
in Somers given by Shirley Warner, and a combined choir.
Longest Night Observance – Although the Advent and Christmas
seasons can be a joyful time, there are those for whom the holidays can be
difficult because of grief, loneliness, or other reasons. The Longest Night
Service is a time of music, reflection, and comfort for anyone who is
feeling the down side of the season. The service is held about a week before
Christmas and the exact date and time is available from the church office.
Christmas Eve - To celebrate the birth of our Savior, we offer
three worship services on Christmas Eve. 5:30 PM Family Worship- Carols,
prayers, and interactive telling of the Christmas Story for everyone in the
family. The exuberance of children is a hallmark of this service. 7:30 PM
Services of Lessons and Carols-Christmas scripture is interspersed with
familiar carols and anthems by our choirs along with a message by our pastor
and prayers for the season. 11:00 PM Candlelight Communion Service- In the
beauty of the candlelit sanctuary, we share the Christmas scripture,
familiar carols, and Holy Communion as the day of our Savior’s birth
arrives. The service concludes with the Congregation lighting individual
candles and singing "Holy Night". |
