TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNAL WORSHIP

We are STSA – Part 3May 27, 2012

We believe that every person who enters our church is the most important person in the world. That person is sent by God and should be loved and accepted as such.

LIMITLESS ACCEPTANCE

We believe God created the church to fulfill our relational needs in addition to our spiritual needs. We reject superficiality in relationships with one another just as we reject superficiality in our relationship with God.

AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY

We gather to be transformed by the real Presence of God in our midst every time we meet. Liturgical prayer is not just a routine; it is life giving and real. It is the center of our life as a family.

TRANSFORMATI0NAL COMMUNAL WORSHIP

“If I am not benefitting from the Divine Liturgy, it’s MY FAULT!”

“If the problem is with me, then the solution is with me too.”

Key to finding meaning in the Liturgy is ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

1) Understand2) Prepare3) Practice

What is a Sacrament?

a) Our way of harnessing God’s POWER

What is a Sacrament?

b) An invisible GRACE through a visible MEANS

“as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and

godliness” 2 Peter 1:3

What is a Sacrament?

THE EUCHARIST

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Matthew 26:26-28

“Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

John 6:53-56

“the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is …

Colossians 1:26-27

“the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is … CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:26-27

“…that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one”

John 17:21-23

#1 Criteria for Communion

COME HUNGRY!

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37

#1 Criteria for Communion

“He who eats My flesh and

drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

John 6:56