We kick off worship at 10:30 AM Sunday mornings. In a lot of ways we are like many other churches you might have attended in the past, but in other ways we might be a little bit different.

You will notice a mix of worship styles at AllPoints, and that’s okay. We do not judge one another in styles of worship. Most of our music is what is called “contemporary” in its style, but you’ll hear an upbeat version of some of your favorite hymns from time to time. Some people might have their hands up while they stand and sing, others might sit while they sing, still others might clap their hands. All are normative and acceptable ways to worship the Lord.

We are always open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Scripture says that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people, and we anticipate and expect His presence. We are not “Charismatic” but we are charismatic—gifted and graced by the Holy Spirit to accomplish Kingdom tasks and for the common good of the congregation and our community. Our desire is to be obedient stewards of the gifts, graces and resources God places in our midst. No gift or grace or resource is greater than another—all work to serve the Lord in obedience. He gets the glory and praise, not us!

Another way we might be a little different is that children are always welcome in our worship service. We have found that they, too, have deep experiences with God when allowed to worship with the rest of the congregation. If your little one gets a little fussy, that’s okay. Our senior minister has 4 boys and large dog, so he can deal with it. On the other hand, if your little one turns into a blue-veined red-faced screamer (Hey, most of us have kids, too, so we know how it goes sometimes!), we have a great nursery that’s all yours for the time being!

During our corporate prayer time, we share praises, thanksgivings to God and our concerns aloud as we are led by the Spirit. You will hear us use Yahshua Messiah as the Hebrew name of Jesus Christ, and may hear us refer to the Father by the name he spoke to Moses, which is Yahweh. We do this not to be elitist, or special, or just plain different; rather, we want to be reminded of our deep Jewish roots as modern-day Christians, and to do as Scripture asks us to do when it says we are to call on the name of the Lord. He told us His name, it’s not a secret.

Our sermons are always based in Scripture, and are another way that we can grow in grace. More than one person has said that it was good to hear a sermon “with some meat on the bone” for a change. The beauty and power of Scripture is that it will never fail us. It has an original context that always needs to be understood, but because the Holy Spirit breaths life into the Scripture, it can speak to us today with living and eternal power.

Each Sunday we also celebrate Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper, and typically we will follow the Great Thanksgiving liturgy that has been a part of the church since it was introduced by Hippolytus around 215 A.D. You’ll know it when you hear it since it starts out with the cry, “Lift up your hearts!” This also serves to ground us in experiencing the Lord in a way countless millions of Christians have done for nearly 20 centuries. Good things do tend to withstand the test of time! Our view of communion is very high—it is not just a symbolic act to be done from time to time. We see it as being able to take in the Risen Lord Jesus in a way that is otherwise impossible. Over the centuries debate has gone back and forth over just how Jesus is present in the bread and wine (and we use a kosher wine each Sunday, but have the unfermented juice of the grape on hand for those who totally abstain from alcohol). But in all of those debates, not a single theologian has ever argued that Jesus is not present in the bread and wine. The full power of the Risen Lord is available to us in those elements, and we anticipate and expect nothing less each time we come to His table.

We give generously not just to keep the doors open on AllPoints, but also as an expression of our gratitude for all God’s done for us. You might not realize it, but just the very fact you were born in this country, and not say, in Uganda or Darfur is a great blessing. So we ask that when you give, you give as an expression of gratitude for what God has done for you so far. You will find out along the way that you cannot out-give God. Your gifts and offerings reach out in the local community, and around the world. Our giving to God is one of the most vital acts of worship we can participate in from week to week, and from cause to cause. Faithful giving reminds us that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

Most Sundays our final act of worship is to pray specifically for individual needs. Those that are led gather around the one receiving prayers and lay hands on them as they are being anointed with oil. Nothing fancy, nothing showy, just the Body of Christ lifting up a brother or sister in need to the mercy seat of God. Health has been restored, circumstances have resolved favorably, and lives have been changed during these powerful prayer times. If this is a little foreign to you, that’s okay, too. Just sit quietly and be a prayer warrior for those doing the praying.

Bottom line, we are a congregation that believes and expects and knows that God shows up for true worship. So far He’s never let us down!