What to Expect in Worship
When you worship at Thompson Church, you are joining a family of believers who are seeking to live their lives in the rhythm of God's Kingdom. In worship we come together and hear God's Word read from the Holy Scripture and proclaimed in the sermon; we sing hymns and songs to express our faith; we pray together: for each other, for our community, for the church, and for our world. On the first Sunday of every month (and on some other special days), we celebrate the Sacrament of Communion.
Depending on which worship gathering you attend (learn more here), you may experience different styles of worship, ranging from traditional to contemporary. No matter what service you attend, however, you will always find:
Bible-centered preaching
Congregational singing
Prayer
A warm welcome
Below are some of the questions you might have about worship at Thompson Church.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between traditional and contemporary worship?
There are many aspects of worship that are common to both of our services, such as the order of worship, the Sacraments, the sermon, and the prayers. The key difference is in the setting of each service. The Traditional Worship Service takes place in our Sanctuary while the Contemporary Worship Service takes place in our Fellowship Hall. There is a difference in the style of music; however, regardless of worship style or time frame, in each service we sing all music to the glory of God.
What is available for my children on Sunday Mornings?
We have opportunities for children of all ages on Sunday mornings (learn more about Christian Education here). We offer Sunday School during both our worship services for children from preschool through 5th grade. Children are invited to attend worship with their families and then following a children’s message they will be dismissed to their Sunday school classrooms. For our youngest friends, we have a nursery, which is open all morning, and our Nursery Assistant is happy to welcome any infants and toddlers!
Do you have a coffee or Fellowship hour?
Yes! At Thompson Church we love good food and good fellowship. Coffee and goodies are available in our Fellowship Hall, at 10:00 -10:45 a.m. During the summer, we move our fellowship time outside to the Lemonade on the lawn in our courtyard (weather permitting, of course!)
How Often (and how) Do you celebrate COMMUNION?
We typically observe the Sacrament of Communion on the first Sunday of every month in both our Traditional Worship Service and our Contemporary Worship Service. At times we also observe Communion on special occasions, like major church holidays.
In our Traditional Worship Service the congregation typically remains seated and is served by our Elders. In our Contemporary Worship Service the congregation typically comes forward to receive the Communion elements by intinction (dipping the bread into the juice). In both services instructions regarding how to participate are provided.
We celebrate the Sacrament of Communion using bread and grape juice. If you have questions, please feel free to ask one of the greeters at the service.
I'm not a member of Thompson Church; can I take Communion?
At Thompson Church everyone who is a baptized believer in Jesus Christ as her or his Lord and Savior is welcome to participate in our Communion observances.
To learn about becoming a member of Thompson Church, you can get more information here.
What should I wear to worship?
We don't have a dress code at Thompson Church; we care about who you are, not what you wear. We encourage you to wear something that helps you to feel comfortable and confident, and which allows you to focus on worship; don't feel the need to buy fancy clothing just for us!
