"For most of us it takes years and years to exchange our dream world for the real world of grace and mercy, sacrifice and love, freedom and joy." 

— Eugene Peterson 

Our weekly services are designed to call us out of the dream world and into the real world of living in light of the reality of God's grace to us in Jesus!  We believe that our gathering together for worship is about loving God with all that we are for all that he is to us in Christ. 

At the heart we believe that our worship of God is the critical component of our service, and if we fail to worship well, we will fail to accomplish everything else we are trying to do in our service to the Lord.  We believe that our worship must be authentic and Christ centered, bringing glory to God and not man, reflecting both our joy over our salvation and lament over our sin.

Our Belief About Music Ministry

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: 
Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music
to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth;
and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty,
and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers and Thanksgivings #17. 
For Church Musicians and Artists,
Book of Common Prayer, p.819

Our Worship Ministry includes singing and playing instruments. We do not believe that singing praise to God in a church service is, in and of itself, worship. However, we do believe that singing praise to God is a command to all (Psalm 66:1-2) and is a powerful way to respond to our God and King.

The message that our music and songs communicate is of utmost importance to us. Whether our music is loud or soft, fast or slow, new or old, with a full band or without, matters little in comparison to the message of the song. It is important to us that the songs accurately reflect the Scriptures. In particular, we hope to express the triune nature of our God as we respond to the gospel of the Son. Though we believe our enjoyment of God brings Him glory, praise is not ultimately about what we want, need, desire or prefer. Worship is an end in itself. We don't worship to raise money, attract crowds or improve church morale. Should we worship for these reasons, then it ceases to be worship. He is our satisfaction.

God considers music a very high priority in the celebration of Himself (I Chron 15:16-16:36; Eph 5:19-20). We value "making melody to the Lord" with all of our heart. We understand that musicians are ministers appointed by God to invoke, praise, make melody and give thanks to our great God and King. This appointment and calling is for His glory, not for our entertainment (I Chron 16:4-6).

We believe that singing praise to God is not optional; it is commanded to all (1 Chronicles 16:23-35; Psalm 66:1-2). Scripture also says that we can "give thanks," "make a joyful sound," "make melody" and give "praise" to the Lord with musical instruments (Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 81:1-4, Psalm 98:4-6, Psalm 147:7, Psalm 150). We are compelled by our love for God's Word to ensure that all words, both spoken and sung, are consistent with scripture and are doctrinally sound (Colossians 3:16).