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Worship
Currently, Tustin Presbyterian Church has one worship service every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Worship is traditional in nature with the entire service carefully planned around the Revised Common Lectionary. Music is a very important part of our worship services, both in congregational singing and through the voices of our choirs. Most Sundays during the year, our Chancel Choir, a talented group of about 30 adults, sings a wide variety of music, accompanied by a 53-rank pipe organ. On special occasions, the choir is also accompanied by orchestral instruments.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and at other special worship services. (Look below to see the upcoming communion schedule.) We also joyously celebrate the baptisms of infants, children, and adults when the opportunities arise.
Children are very important to our worship. Each Sunday the children attend the first portion of the worship service and then go to church school after meeting at the front of the church for a Children's Moment from a member of the pastoral staff. Several times during the year one of the children's choirs or handbell choirs also share their music during worship. For the very young children, nursery and toddler care is available during the worship services.
We invite you to listen to recordings of recent worship services.
Communion Schedule for 2011
Recent studies have shown that many positive benefits accrue when families dine together frequently. The same may be said of our church family. We are enriched both as individuals and as a congregation when we break bread around the Lord's Table regularly and often.
In 2011 we will continue to celebrate the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of each month. First Sunday communions will be served in trays in the odd-numbered months and by intinction in the even-numbered months. Because the Lord's Supper is so important to us as a family meal, we will have twelve special Sunday communions this year. Most of these will be served by intinction. Our special evening communions (Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Eve, and Thanksgiving Eve) will be by intinction. The full schedule for 2011 is as follows:
Worship Symbols
Thanks be to God. We have now re-entered our renewed worship space. As we look around perhaps we will see this space with new eyes, with renewed faith, with refreshed spirits. We see the central symbols of our worship as reminders that point us to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Biblical images, many from the fourth gospel, focus our worship on Jesus Christ who is light of the world, living water, Word made flesh, Good Shepherd, bread, vine, resurrection, and eternal life.
The hymn, “God is Here,” describes beautifully the central values of our life together as believers. Our beautiful, historical, renewed sanctuary is the location, the place, where we gather to practice our faith, week in and week out. This sacred space is also the springboard that sends us out into God’s world to be Christ’s disciples by the power of the Spirit.
Reflect on these symbols in our worship:
The lectern is the place where Scripture is read and prayers are led. We believe the Bible to be the Spirit-breathed Word of God. As we gather, we see that God’s Word is our focus. We listen attentively to the reading of Scripture, hoping, expecting to hear God’s voice to us here and now.
The
pulpit is shaped like the one we know, octagonal
like the font, the lectern and the table, to remind us of the eight days of the
new creation. Preaching is central to our worship and is something we do
together. The preacher brings God’s Word to us, but it comes alive as we listen
and hear and respond in faithful living.
The candles, especially the Easter or Paschal candle, remind us of Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world. The light of this candle reminds us of the way the children of Israel were led through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud and fire, day and night. The light of this candle also reminds us that Jesus charges his disciples to be the light of the world. Christ’s light shines in the darkness of the world, bringing hope and joy, through us.
As water is poured into the font each week, we are reminded that baptism is the way we are welcomed into the church. We baptize infants and children, believing that they belong to God even before they know it. When we see the clear, clean water, we remember the simple, pure grace of God that cleanses us, refreshes us, renews us, welcomes us.
Communion, or the Lord’s Supper is a family meal, a thanksgiving meal for all believers. We now have a beautiful new mahogany table decorated with wheat and grapes, to remind us of the earthy gifts we bring to the table and the sacred gifts Christ offers us at the table—forgiveness, grace, a new beginning, renewed relations with God and one another, nurture and sustenance for our life together and our life of service. The chalice and paten remind us of these elements, signifying Christ’s body and blood given for us.
The brass cross is a Celtic cross, linking us to believers who have gone before us, all the way back to the cross of Calvary. This central symbol reminds us of Christ’s suffering love and of his resurrection. The symbol of the cross identifies us as Christians—Christ’s own—forgiven, redeemed sinners, now disciples.
Green is the color of the season we call “Ordinary Time", the longest season of the Christian year, a time when we seek to follow Jesus even in the ordinary moments of everyday life. The green paraments currently in our sanctuary were specially designed and made by fabric artist, Jamie Fingal. The leafy design reminds us of the growing grace of God that is ours day in and day out throughout our lives.
We were created to praise, to glorify and to enjoy God forever. So music is crucial to Christian worship and to the life of this congregation. Just as choirs have led the people of God in worship since ancient times, so our choir helps us sing our praises to God. Their faces, together with the musical instruments-the piano and organ-in our sanctuary are visual reminders of this high calling.
Finally, the people of God, our neighbors, our sisters and brothers in Christ, are incarnate reminders of God’s grace. We are, each one of us, unique, one-of-a-kind children of God. As C.S. Lewis once said, “Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” Together we are the very Body of Christ, and so look around and see what it means to believe, to follow, to be forgiven, to forgive, to love, to care, to share, to welcome, to encourage one another.
GLORY BE TO GOD!
TPC Labyrinth
When the flooring in the Fellowship Hall was replaced in 2009, a labyrinth design patterned after the well-known Chartres plan was incorporated into the new flooring. A labyrinth is a complex and circuitous walk, a winding pathway that serves as an aid to meditation. Labyrinth patterns are universal. They are found in ancient cultures in basket weave designs, paintings and drawings all over the world. In the Middle Ages, labyrinths were made with colored paving stones in the floors of cathedral naves. People walked the labyrinth as a symbolic pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
To walk a labyrinth can be a journey, which leads to sensing the mystery of God at the very center of one’s being. Walking the pattern of the labyrinth seems to help people get into a meditative state very quickly – to find one’s center.
How to walk a labyrinth
Walking a labyrinth can model the three-fold spiritual path:
The labyrinth is an ancient tool. Not only can we walk it in faith with others around the world today, but we are also accompanied in our desire for transformation and holiness by those who have gone before us. While walking the labyrinth may be a private or a personal experience, it is also a global venture and a walk across time. Our very own labyrinth will be used for prayers and spiritual walking by young and old for a long time to come.
We invite you to listen to the recent TPC worship services and special music presentations listed below. (NOTE: Due to their large size, a significant amount of time may be required to download these files. The time required depends on the computer hardware and internet connection that are available.) Recordings on compact disks can also be requested by calling the church office at (714)544-7070. There is a $1 charge for each compact disk.
January 8, 2012: (The sermon is not available in the linked file.) (Worship Bulletin) January 15, 2012: "All Ears", The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Prichard preaching (Worship Bulletin) January 22, 2012: "Gone Fishing", The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Prichard preaching (Worship Bulletin) January 29, 2012 (No recording available): "Food for Thought", The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Prichard preaching (Worship Bulletin)
Evensong
A vital part of the worship life of Tustin Presbyterian Church is the Evensong service. Evensong has a long history in the Christian church, particularly in the Anglican tradition. TPC has often held Evensong services in honor of All Saints' Day as well as during Lent.
An Evensong service was held on May 31, 2009, Pentecost Sunday, as a way to honor Robert Volbrecht on his retirement after thirty-three years as Minister of Music at TPC. A composition by noted British composer, Andrew Carter, was commissioned and premiered at this Pentecost Evensong. The composition is entitled The Californian Canticles and includes Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. Listen to a recording of this Evensong service and follow it in the bulletin.
There is a need for a few good people to volunteer for usher duties in 2009. Your services would be immensely appreciated. Please contact Tom Lorden if you are interested or for further information contact the church office at (714)544-7070.
The importance of the sacrament of baptism is highlighted by the filling of the font at the beginning of each worship service. Children and adults participate in this ritual, one or two at a time. It is a meaningful opening to our worship and takes no extra time or training. We do welcome any volunteers who are willing to serve as water-bearer by carrying the pitcher of water to the font during the singing of the first hymn. Please contact the church office at (714)544‑7070 if you are willing to help.
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225 West Main Street, Tustin, CA 92780-4319 (714)544-7070 www.tustinpresbyterian.org |
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