Visiting Lighthouse Lutheran Church
Hello and welcome to the formation of a new Lutheran congregation in Beaver County! We are the first LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) church in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area. Because we want you to feel comfortable with visiting us during worship, we have organized some information below to help answer questions you may have about us. If there is something else that you would like to know that is not answered here, please feel free to contact our pastor: pastor@LighthouseLutheran.org.
Getting Started
Lighthouse Lutheran Church is currently renting out the Freedom United Methodist Church located at 501 Third Avenue in Freedom, PA. We are easily found off of the Freedom exit off of Route 65 in Beaver County. If you need directions to the church, please check out MapQuest. You will notice once you arrive, there is a parking lot across from the church on the corner of Third Avenue and Fifth Street. The entrance to this parking lot is on Third Avenue. We also have street parking both on Third Avenue and Fifth Street as well as permission to park in the dentist’s office parking lot located next door (on Sundays only please). We have two entrances to the church: one on Fifth Street which is on the same level as the sanctuary, and a lower level entrance on Third Avenue which enters our fellowship hall. Using the lower level entrance will require you to ascend a flight of stairs or use the chair lift to enter our sanctuary. Restrooms are located on the lower level in the fellowship hall area on either side of the kitchen. Greeters and ushers will be right inside the upper main entrance. They will say hello, give you a bulletin, gladly answer any questions you may have, help you find a seat, or offer any assistance you may need. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask.
Relax
We will not make you stand up or embarrass you. We will welcome you with smiles and handshakes and offer assistance (especially if asked), but we respect that your relationship with the Lord is a personal one. We do not care what you are wearing, as God accepts us as we are, regardless of how we dress. You will see jeans and tshirts, slacks, golf shirts, casual wear, dresses, suits and ties. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in while in our church setting.
Children
We love to see children during worship. If by chance you feel your child is being too loud or too disruptive during the service, you may walk them out to the entranceway, step outside if the weather permits or even take them upstairs to the cry room. There is a speaker in the cry room so that you can still hear what's going on during the worship service while you're there. We realize that children will not be completely quiet during the worship service. We appreciate the noises from children as it reminds us that we're human and our congregation is alive with young Christians.
Offering
At some point during the worship service (after the sermon) offering plates will be passed through the pews. This is an opportunity for our parish members who are committed to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ to give back to God what He has first given them. We certainly do not expect nor do we require visitors to put anything in the offering plate, although if you feel so moved, you can certainly do so. For all of our guests worshipping with us, the worship service is a gift to you, and you are not expected to contribute. Once the offering has been collected, we sing the Offering Hymn as the ushers bring forward our gifts. We also invite you to sign our guest register located in the maroon pew pads.
Following Along With the Service
The key to following along with the worship service is your bulletin. We offer a traditional Lutheran liturgy. Click here to see a sample bulletin. Each week, the bulletin will show each step of the worship service. Hymns for singing are found in the green hymnals located in the pews. When we get to the bible readings, you are welcome to follow along using one of the bibles located in the pews, or simply just listen (page numbers for bible readings are shown in the bulletin). Following the bible readings is the sermon. Following the sermon is the hymn of the day, reciting a creed, prayers, the offering, communion if offered, a blessing, and the closing hymn.
Music
We mostly sing hymns accompanied by an organist, but are open to allow other songs of praise to be offered. We have a piano that can be used, and allow other instrumentation as well. Soloists, instrumentalists, duets, handbell choirs, etc. are welcome to share their God-given talents.
What About Communion?
Holy Communion is usually offered the first Sunday of the month and certain holy seasons and festival days. We believe the Sacrament is the body and blood of Jesus Christ and does impart to us the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. We also believe that it gives us the opportunity to witness to our faith in the One True God and that it is a sign of the unity of our faith. If you are a Baptized believer in Jesus Christ and a member in good standing with another Christian congregation, you are welcome to share with us in the wonderful gift given to the Lord’s people. May the sacrament be for each communicant the highest good. For children in our church, we adhere to the practice of educating fifth graders in the meaning of Holy Communion and upon their completion of this study, we invite them to receive this sacrament. If your child has previously received the sacrament of Holy Communion in another congregation, he or she is certainly welcome to receive Holy Communion at our church. All children are welcome to approach the altar. If they will not be receiving communion, the pastor will give them a blessing.
After the sermon and the offering, ushers will indicate when it is your row's turn to approach the altar. In the front of the pews, (usually held by an acolyte), you will find a tray filled with communion cups. When you pass by this tray before going up to the kneeling area, each person wishing to receive Holy Communion will need to take one of the cups with them to the rail. Follow in line and find your place along the railing. We usually fill up the railing from the right to left on each side. As the pastor approaches you, he will say "The Body of Christ, given for you" and hand you a piece of bread. If you hold out your hand, the pastor will place it into your palm for you to take and eat. You may say "Amen". The assistant will approach you as well with a cup full of wine. Take your communion cup and hold it out in front of you. As the assistant pours wine into your individual cup, he or she will say "The Blood of Christ, shed for you". You may say "Amen" and drink the wine. After you are finished at the communion rail, you will return to your seat using the side aisles. There will be a tray for used communion cups on your way up the aisle (sometimes held by an usher, sometimes located on the end of the front pew). Just place your used cup into the tray and make your way back to your seat.
If you wish to receive communion, but are unable to walk to the front of the church or go up to the kneeling area, just notify an usher and the pastor and assistant will bring the bread and wine to you at your seat.
We hope you enjoy your worship experience with us! Feel free to stay a few minutes afterward to introduce yourself, enjoy coffee fellowship time after the service, or even join us for Sunday School.
Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am
Fellowship: Immediately following worship
Sunday School for all ages: 10:30am
Hello and welcome to the formation of a new Lutheran congregation in Beaver County! We are the first LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) church in the Southwestern Pennsylvania area. Because we want you to feel comfortable with visiting us during worship, we have organized some information below to help answer questions you may have about us. If there is something else that you would like to know that is not answered here, please feel free to contact our pastor: pastor@LighthouseLutheran.org.
Getting Started
Lighthouse Lutheran Church is currently renting out the Freedom United Methodist Church located at 501 Third Avenue in Freedom, PA. We are easily found off of the Freedom exit off of Route 65 in Beaver County. If you need directions to the church, please check out MapQuest. You will notice once you arrive, there is a parking lot across from the church on the corner of Third Avenue and Fifth Street. The entrance to this parking lot is on Third Avenue. We also have street parking both on Third Avenue and Fifth Street as well as permission to park in the dentist’s office parking lot located next door (on Sundays only please). We have two entrances to the church: one on Fifth Street which is on the same level as the sanctuary, and a lower level entrance on Third Avenue which enters our fellowship hall. Using the lower level entrance will require you to ascend a flight of stairs or use the chair lift to enter our sanctuary. Restrooms are located on the lower level in the fellowship hall area on either side of the kitchen. Greeters and ushers will be right inside the upper main entrance. They will say hello, give you a bulletin, gladly answer any questions you may have, help you find a seat, or offer any assistance you may need. If you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask.
Relax
We will not make you stand up or embarrass you. We will welcome you with smiles and handshakes and offer assistance (especially if asked), but we respect that your relationship with the Lord is a personal one. We do not care what you are wearing, as God accepts us as we are, regardless of how we dress. You will see jeans and tshirts, slacks, golf shirts, casual wear, dresses, suits and ties. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in while in our church setting.
Children
We love to see children during worship. If by chance you feel your child is being too loud or too disruptive during the service, you may walk them out to the entranceway, step outside if the weather permits or even take them upstairs to the cry room. There is a speaker in the cry room so that you can still hear what's going on during the worship service while you're there. We realize that children will not be completely quiet during the worship service. We appreciate the noises from children as it reminds us that we're human and our congregation is alive with young Christians.
Offering
At some point during the worship service (after the sermon) offering plates will be passed through the pews. This is an opportunity for our parish members who are committed to the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ to give back to God what He has first given them. We certainly do not expect nor do we require visitors to put anything in the offering plate, although if you feel so moved, you can certainly do so. For all of our guests worshipping with us, the worship service is a gift to you, and you are not expected to contribute. Once the offering has been collected, we sing the Offering Hymn as the ushers bring forward our gifts. We also invite you to sign our guest register located in the maroon pew pads.
Following Along With the Service
The key to following along with the worship service is your bulletin. We offer a traditional Lutheran liturgy. Click here to see a sample bulletin. Each week, the bulletin will show each step of the worship service. Hymns for singing are found in the green hymnals located in the pews. When we get to the bible readings, you are welcome to follow along using one of the bibles located in the pews, or simply just listen (page numbers for bible readings are shown in the bulletin). Following the bible readings is the sermon. Following the sermon is the hymn of the day, reciting a creed, prayers, the offering, communion if offered, a blessing, and the closing hymn.
Music
We mostly sing hymns accompanied by an organist, but are open to allow other songs of praise to be offered. We have a piano that can be used, and allow other instrumentation as well. Soloists, instrumentalists, duets, handbell choirs, etc. are welcome to share their God-given talents.
What About Communion?
Holy Communion is usually offered the first Sunday of the month and certain holy seasons and festival days. We believe the Sacrament is the body and blood of Jesus Christ and does impart to us the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. We also believe that it gives us the opportunity to witness to our faith in the One True God and that it is a sign of the unity of our faith. If you are a Baptized believer in Jesus Christ and a member in good standing with another Christian congregation, you are welcome to share with us in the wonderful gift given to the Lord’s people. May the sacrament be for each communicant the highest good. For children in our church, we adhere to the practice of educating fifth graders in the meaning of Holy Communion and upon their completion of this study, we invite them to receive this sacrament. If your child has previously received the sacrament of Holy Communion in another congregation, he or she is certainly welcome to receive Holy Communion at our church. All children are welcome to approach the altar. If they will not be receiving communion, the pastor will give them a blessing.
After the sermon and the offering, ushers will indicate when it is your row's turn to approach the altar. In the front of the pews, (usually held by an acolyte), you will find a tray filled with communion cups. When you pass by this tray before going up to the kneeling area, each person wishing to receive Holy Communion will need to take one of the cups with them to the rail. Follow in line and find your place along the railing. We usually fill up the railing from the right to left on each side. As the pastor approaches you, he will say "The Body of Christ, given for you" and hand you a piece of bread. If you hold out your hand, the pastor will place it into your palm for you to take and eat. You may say "Amen". The assistant will approach you as well with a cup full of wine. Take your communion cup and hold it out in front of you. As the assistant pours wine into your individual cup, he or she will say "The Blood of Christ, shed for you". You may say "Amen" and drink the wine. After you are finished at the communion rail, you will return to your seat using the side aisles. There will be a tray for used communion cups on your way up the aisle (sometimes held by an usher, sometimes located on the end of the front pew). Just place your used cup into the tray and make your way back to your seat.
If you wish to receive communion, but are unable to walk to the front of the church or go up to the kneeling area, just notify an usher and the pastor and assistant will bring the bread and wine to you at your seat.
We hope you enjoy your worship experience with us! Feel free to stay a few minutes afterward to introduce yourself, enjoy coffee fellowship time after the service, or even join us for Sunday School.
Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am
Fellowship: Immediately following worship
Sunday School for all ages: 10:30am
