What to Expect
Worship Times
September-April: Sunday Morning Service: 8:00 and 10:30 am
June-August: Sunday Morning Service: 9:00 am & Thursday Night Service at 7:00 pm
Sunday School: 9:15-10:15am
Five Benefits of Attending Church Regularly
Receiving Forgiveness
Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28).” We have the opportunity each week to confess all the sins that weigh heavy on our hearts. God hears that confession and gladly forgives us for Jesus’ sake. To reassure us that Christ has carried our burdens at the cross, the pastor publicly announces the Lord’s absolution for us to hear.
Growing in Faith
We are told in Romans 10:17 that, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Our faith in Jesus grows when we hear the Scriptures read, the hymns and liturgy sung, and the Gospel preached. The entire worship service is saturated with God’s Word so that our faith may be fortified. If we stay away from the Word, our faith weakens. But when we gladly hear and learn it, we are better prepared to face the challenges of the coming week.
Communing with God and One Another
Holy Communion is the precious gift of Christ’s real presence. Paul writes, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread (1 Cor. 10:16-17).” Through this sacred meal we connect with God and with each other in a most holy way. In fact, we are united with the whole company of heaven, with angels and archangels, each time we kneel at the Lord’s Table!
Receiving and Giving Encouragement
Our presence in worship encourages each other. When children see their fathers pray in the pew, they pray. When children hear their mothers sing, they sing. Young believers need older believers as mentors for Christian living. When elderly members see little ones in worship, it reassures them that the Lord still has plans for their beloved congregation. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Celebrating and Suffering Together as a Family
In worship, we come together as the family of God. We celebrate baptisms, birthdays, confirmations, anniversaries, and other happy occasions together. We also bear each other’s burdens. When our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer illness and misfortune, or face troubles, we pray for them. When they are called away from us into heaven, we weep together at their funeral services. Yet, we weep with hope in our risen Lord. Paul writes, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together (1 Cor. 12:26).”
First time visitor? Welcome! We hope you will join us for worship, and we pray that the Lord will bless your time with us!
How should I dress? We do not have a dress code. You will notice that worshipers at PVLC dress in a variety of ways - casual, business-casual, dressy. What matters most is that you are comfortable and ready to worship. The prophet Samuel was told, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b)
What do I do when I get there? On your way into church, a greeter will warmly welcome you and gladly answer any questions you have. You will receive a bulletin that outlines the worship service. This will tell you where to find the order of service we are using in the hymnal. Feel free to sit wherever you feel most comfortable. After the service, we welcome you to join us in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, refreshments, and a time to greet and get to know the people of Park View Lutheran. Please be sure to introduce yourself to the Pastors on your way out.
What about children? Children are very important to us at PVLC! We encourage kids to worship with their families in the church service. We also invite younger children to come up to the chancel for a children's message. This takes place right before the sermon hymn. The Fellowship Hall is available for walking and comforting restless little ones. We also offer a nursery for young children. We also have "Busy Bags" on coat trees just inside our glass doors. They are cloth bags filled with Bible story books, crayons, and coloring books.
What is a worship service like? Worship services at PVLC follow a liturgical pattern. Most services include the singing of hymns or songs, a time for confession and forgiveness, Scripture readings, prayers, creed, a sermon, offering, Holy Communion, and a blessing. Sometimes a baptism takes place at the beginning of a service. A typical service lasts about an hour.
Do I have to participate? We welcome all guests and visitors to read and sing along during the service. We welcome to the Lord's Supper all who are confirmed members of a congregation of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod (LCMS). We invite all others to come forward to the communion rail for a blessing, and to enroll in our Adult Seekers class where Holy Communion and other important biblical teachings are taught. Our Adult Seekers class is offered twice a year. Please contact the church office for more information.
What about the offering? After the sermon, offering plates will be blessed, and you are welcome to fill out the yellow visitor's card in your pew, listing any special prayer requests or comments you might have, and put them in the plate before or after the service. This is an opportunity for our regular members to actively respond to all God has given them by freely giving to support His church through the ministries of Park View Lutheran. We do not expect or require visitors to put anything in the offering plate, though you are welcome to if you like.
What We Believe
Park View Lutheran Church is a Bible-based and Christ-centered congregation. We hold to the historic teachings of the Lutheran Church as found in the Book of Concord. Here is a brief summary of what we believe.
God and Creation
We believe that the one true God is three-in-one. God is one (Deut. 6:4) and yet there are three Persons (Matt. 28:19): Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Holy Trinity). God is without beginning and without end (Ps.90:1-2). He created the universe out of nothing with the power of His spoken word (Heb. 11:3) and continues to protect and provide for His creation (Col.1:17).
The Bible
We believe that every word in the Bible is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16). The Old and New Testament Scriptures are without error (John 17:17). They have been handed down to us from the inspired prophets and apostles (2 Pet.1:19-21) for our teaching. The main purpose of the Bible is to proclaim the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
Mankind and Sin
We believe that ever since Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Gen.3), every person has been conceived and born with a sinful condition (Ps.51:5). Our human nature is so corrupt that we are spiritually blind (2 Cor. 4:1-4), dead (Eph. 2:1-5) and enemies of God (Rom.5:6-10). It is impossible to please God through our own efforts or good works.
Jesus Christ
We believe that God took on human flesh and blood in the person of Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:14). Jesus is true God, eternally begotten of the Father (1 John 5:20), and also true man (1 Tim.2:5), born of the Virgin Mary. By His perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross, He won complete forgiveness of sins and eternal life for every human being who has ever lived and will live (John 3:16). He rose bodily from the dead (Luke 24:6-7), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9), and reigns at the right hand of God as Lord of all (Eph. 1:19-23). We wait for His glorious return on the Last Day when He will judge the living and the dead (Matt.25:31-32).
Faith and the Holy Spirit
We believe that faith is God’s gracious gift to the sinner (Eph.2:8).Through the Law (God’s commands and threats of punishment), the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and drives us to repentance (Rom.3:19-20). Through the Gospel (God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ), the Holy Spirit leads us to faith (1Cor.2:9-10). Faith in Christ alone saves us from the Father’s wrath (Rom. 10:9). In joyful response to God’s love, the Holy Spirit enables us to bear the fruit of faith in our lives (Gal.5:22-23).
The Church and Its Ministry
We believe that the Christian Church is the community of believers who have come to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Acts 2:42). So that God’s people may continue to grow in their faith, Christ has instituted the office of the Pastoral Ministry (1 Pet.5:1-3). Pastors are called to preach God’s Word faithfully and administer the Sacraments (2 Tim.4:2). All members of the church are privileged to share the Good News of Jesus with others in word and deed (1 Pet.2:9).
The Sacraments
We believe that Jesus has given His people “a delivery system” to build up His church. Holy Baptism is water applied in the name of the Triune God (Matt.28:19) which delivers God’s grace and the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). God desires that all nations be baptized, including infants, and be brought into a saving faith relationship with Him (Titus 3:4-7). Holy Communion is the very body and blood of Christ, given in, with and under bread and wine, for Christians to eat and drink, for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor.10:16). Baptism creates faith. The Lord’s Supper nurtures our faith.
Eternal Life
We believe that death will not have the last word for those who belong to Jesus Christ (John 11:25-26). Because of God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone we are assured that we will live eternally with Him and all believers. Just as Jesus physically rose from the dead on the third day, all who believe in Him will be raised to everlasting life (Dan. 12:2-3).
Park View Lutheran Church belongs to the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod. For more information on beliefs or synodical affiliation, visit the LCMS's website linked below.