Worship | Williams Bay Lutheran Church

For Lutherans, worship stands at the center of our life of faith. Through God’s word, water, bread and prayer we are nurtured in faith and sent out into the world.

Connected with and central to everything we do, worship unites us in celebration, engages us in thoughtful dialogue and helps us grow in faith. It grounds us in our Christian and Lutheran roots while demonstrating practical relevance for today’s world.

While some of the approaches to worship may differ from one ELCA congregation to another, we hold certain things in common. Central to our worship life is the presence of God through word and sacrament. The word proclaimed and the sacraments —both Holy Baptism and Holy Communion — are called the means of grace. We believe that Jesus Christ is present in these means through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we describe worship as a “gathering around the means of grace.”

There is also a basic pattern for worship among Lutherans. We gather. We encounter God’s word. We share a meal at the Lord’s table. And we are sent into the world. But we do not think about worship so much in terms of what we do. Worship is fundamentally about what God is doing and our response to God’s action. Worship is an encounter with God, who saves us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

8:00 a.m. Morning Worship:

Morning worship at 8 am is a simple, shorter worship service that includes a blend of praise hymns, traditional hymns, and Holy Communion. Pastor Tom offers a sermon on a topic that matches the Scripture readings for the day. His sermons focus on putting our faith into action.

9:30 a.m. Traditional Worship:

Traditional worship is at 9:30 am. At this service we sing a variety of uplifting traditional hymns and praise songs. The choir and bell-choir offer inspirational music to the service. Holy Communion is offered every Sunday. Pastor Tom gives a sermon that is relevant to our lives today and the topic matches the Scripture readings. Sunday school is held during the middle of 9:30 am worship service. The spirit of the service is friendly, welcoming, and life-giving.

Weekly Holy Communion

We believe that Jesus’ real presence is in the bread and in the wine. He is with us in this meal offering forgiveness and healing. We believe that all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the altar. We are to receive this meal as often as we can. Come to the table of mercy and life!