Worship at All Peoples has been called "structured informality." We follow a basic pattern of worship that is traced to the earliest days of the church: gathering, word, meal and sending. (The meal is called the Lord's Supper where we eat bread and drink wine in response to the command to remember Christ and his death for us). The structure, however, is not rigid. The goal through it all--the music, the scriptures, the message, the silence, the prayers, the meal, and the reflection--is to lose ourselves in the story of God-with-us much in the way we lose ourselves watching an excellent story on film. Worship at All Peoples is mysterious, funny, serious and ironic because we believe our new life in Christ is mysterious, funny, serious and ironic.
What if I've never been to a Christian worship gathering before?
Our goal is for worship gatherings to be user-friendly but not watered-down. This means that if you've never been to a Christian worship gathering before, it will seem different or unusual. For some it's a little like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time: there's a sense of awe, wonder, maybe even intimidation; and yet you can enter into the vastness of it with experienced and trustworthy guides. There's a certain mystery to worship that brings us to the edge of the awesome and wondrous vastness of God. Yet with experienced and trustworthy worship leaders, we can enter into the mysteries of God in peace. It is this peace of God that the scriptures say "surpasses all human understanding." Thus, worship will not have the feel of your local convenience store or a self-help seminar. But there will be signposts throughout the terrain that will help you experience what the Catholic Church first called "sanctuary" - a safe place to be.
What does it mean to be a member of All Peoples Church?
It means to be connected, or to belong.
We believe the local church is a living organism planted by God, not a bureaucratic organization for the promotion of God. Thus, membership in a church is different from membership at your local health club, for example. A health club doesn't need all of its members to be exercising in order for the club to be healthy. The club members can stay home on their couch and exercise only their bank accounts and the club will survive as an organization that promotes health. Health for a church, on the other hand, is different.
If the church is a planted organism and not an organization, then to be connected means to be rooted in down-to-earth spirituality. We believe such spirituality is nurtured by real and honest relationships of people gathered, rooted and growing together in God's Word. So to be a member means to be connected and to belong to a whole, living body of people.
Practically speaking this is exercised in two ways at All Peoples. A living organism is made up of a compilation of cells and cell groups. To be a member of our church body means 1) to be connected to the whole body of people in worship and 2) to belong to a cell group of people for spiritual formation, service or community outreach.
Do I have to be a member to come to the worship gatherings?
No. Faith in God is not something that is forced or manipulated. We trust God will let you know when it's time to be more deeply connected to the community.
What is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?
The ELCA is the largest Lutheran church body in the world. All Peoples Church is in partnership with 10,888 congregations, over 17500 female and male pastors, 28 colleges and universities, 8 seminaries, 400 missionaries and volunteers in nearly 60 countries, 145 outdoor ministry programs serving over 350,000 annually, 144 campus ministries, Lutheran Social Ministry (which is the largest non-profit social service network in America), and Lutheran World Relief: all ministries of the 5.2 million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For more information visit www.elca.org.
Questions about Worship:
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN WORSHIP?
The word "worship" comes from the Old English, 'worth' + 'ship,' which means we worship God because He is worthy to be praised. It is not defined by place, but by grace. That is, when God's Word is shared and celebrated, worship happens, and the Holy Spirit cleanses and renews the church He has created. This can take the form of quiet and contemplative prayer (through devotion and solitude) or through outward service (liturgy) throughout the week. But God especially calls, gathers, and enlightens His followers as one body in corporate worship. At All Peoples Church, we believe that worship is the most visible and practical way of loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We believe the opposite of belief in God is not disbelief in God; but "idolatry". In other words, we were all created to worship something. Idolatry happens when we ascribe worth or we value something (career, money, family, sexuality) more than God as revealed in Christ. Worship is particularly Christian if the object of our worship is God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. (Exodus 20.2-3; Psalms 95-101; Matthew 22.37; John 4.21-24; Rev. 5.9-14)
WHAT MAKES WORSHIP DIFFERENT FROM A CONCERT WITH A LECTURE?
At a concert or a lecture, the people up front are entertainers and performers, and the people watching are the entertained and the spectators. The only intentional entertainment involved in Christian worship is the hospitality God the Father extends to us as he welcomes sinners into his presence and entertains us as invited guests to have fellowship with him in His household of faith, the church. The traditional word to describe the program of worship, "liturgy", literally means the work of the people. Thus when Christians gather to worship, the people in the seats are the performers, the people up front are the prompters, and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the Audience. (Psalms 96-101; Hebrews 10.19-25; Revelation 3.20)
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE MAKE A SIGN OF THE CROSS OVER THEMSELVES?
The sign of the cross is merely a reminder that Christ is in our head, in our heart, to the left of us, and to the right of us. Moreover, it reminds us that we are baptized into Christ Jesus. And in a way we are telling ourselves what the Apostle Paul said "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2.19-20) Ancient Christian writers testify to its use as early as the time of Tertullian, the African church father (160-225 a.d.).
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE RAISE THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY SING OR PRAY?
Like the previous question, we believe that in worship we are free to express our devotion to God with our whole being: spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. The root meaning for the Hebrew word for worship is "to prostrate." The word "bless" literally means "to kneel." "Thanksgiving" refers to "an extension of the hand." Raising hands in worship is not a modern, American invention. The worship book of the Bible, the Psalms, describes ancient Israel employing these means of expression for worshiping God. The apostle paul recommends the same in the new testament. (eg. Psalm 28.2, 141.1-2; 1 Timothy 2.8)
WHY DO YOU EAT BREAD AND DRINK WINE?
We do this in response to the Lord Jesus commanding us to do it in remembrance of Him. When we repeat His words, "this is my body, this is my blood," we believe that the bread is still bread and the wine is still wine. But we believe that since God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is present in all things (Ps. 139), we believe God promises to be uniquely present in these common, earthly elements - not because of our faith, not because of the pastor celebrating the meal, but because of the promise of Christ. (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, 1 Corinthians 11)
