Herndon United Methodist Church

Sunday worship at Herndon UMC represents a fairly traditional worship experience. This means that the people gathered to worship God will sing together, pray together, and hear God’s Word proclaimed through readings from the Bible and a time of teaching or sharing.

On Sunday, as you enter the church at the rear of the sanctuary or worship area (see photos at the bottom), greeters and ushers will welcome you and help you find your way around the building. You will receive a bulletin from an usher upon entering the sanctuary. This program serves as a plan for the service and helps you to participate more fully. Information about ministries and programs for the week and future are also included. The sanctuary can be entered at any time before the service begins to find seating and spend some quiet time. There are listening devices available from the ushers for those who need enhanced hearing and also large print copies of the readings and hymns of the day. Two rocking chairs at the rear of the sanctuary are for the use of adults rocking young children. Children are very welcome at Herndon UMC. Feel free to ask an usher or greeter to help you find the nursery for your infants and toddlers. There are special packets of activities for children who remain with you during the service which the ushers can provide. There is a restroom close to the sanctuary in case your children need to visit one during the service. Sunday School is also available for children from two years through high school at 9:45.

Prior to the start of the service, one of the worship leaders will share some announcements about happenings in the life of the church. This is a good time to get a sense of some of the programs of the congregation. You will also be invited to fill out the attendance card, which allows the church to have a record of your attendance and lets us have the opportunity to contact you later should you so desire. The “Ritual of Friendship” is then observed when all regular church attendees stand to greet each other and all visitors. An invocation is then given, followed by the chiming of the hour and a prelude. This selection offers you the opportunity to center your heart on God, focusing your mind and preparing you to listen for God’s voice in the service.

The service itself is divided into several parts. The first is the “Entrance” in which one of the worship leaders leads a responsive call to worship and then a prayer, which asks God to be present in the service. These acts are accompanied by a congregational hymn and an anthem presented by a musical group of the church. The musical portions focus on praising God. The time of “Proclamation and Response” comes next in the service. This part of the service presents the lectionary readings consisting of an Old Testament reading, a responsive reading from the Psalms and a gospel lesson from the New Testament. The sermon, usually delivered by one of the pastors, follows these readings and has generally as its goal to help the scriptures come alive and to encourage the congregation to think about how the Biblical words apply to our daily lives. Following the proclamation of God’s Word, the service moves toward our responses to God. This is the time in the service where the congregation shares joys and concerns and the worship leader offers a prayer for others and ourselves. We also respond through an offering to return to God a portion of that which He has provided us. Following the offering the congregation stands to sing the “Doxology”, a special song of praise. The “Sending Forth” with its hymn and benediction (a word of blessing for the week) brings the service to a close. At the conclusion of the service the worship leaders greet the congregation in the narthex at the rear of the sanctuary. After the nine a.m. service there are refreshments available in the narthex, and people are encouraged to visit with one another.

It is our tradition to celebrate the sacrament of communion at both Sunday services on the first Sunday of the month. Communion is the time when we gather as a church to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection by eating bread and drinking wine (the UMC uses grape juice). After a prayer of thanksgiving and the reciting of the Lord’s Prayer, you will be invited to come forward and take part in the communion meal. The United Methodist Church believes in “open communion”, which means that all are invited to participate regardless of membership in the church.

The members of Herndon United Methodist Church encourage all people to seek and praise God during the worship services.

Special Services

Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve 

Christmas Eve 2009 Services:

5:00 - Children Services

7:00 - Contemporary Services

9:00 pm - Traditional with candle lighting and communion

11:00pm – Traditional with candle lighting and communion