At Peace Hill, we believe that the worship service should:

Acknowledge the continuity of God’s people through time.

Our worship is a type sometimes known as “blended”—we use ancient chants, hymns from the past thousand years of the church’s life, contemporary music, and even some 1970s holdovers. We believe that each era of Christian history can teach us about a different facet of our experience with God’s leading and presence.
This is why you will also see us making use of liturgy, particularly during the celebration of Communion. Using the same words that centuries of believers have spoken and sung reminds us that God’s work stretches through all of human history, that the church of Christ is far larger than today’s believers, and that God’s truth has not changed.
(Watch videos of our services here to see what we mean by this.)

Involve the whole person: body, mind, spirit.

This is why we have readings that require intellectual assent, hymns that lay out theological propositions, and also choruses that simply repeat meaningful phrases again and again.

We make use of visual beauty and symbols (banners, stained glass, flowers, candles) as a way of bringing the physical senses into the experience of worship. And we encourage worshippers to stand, sit, clap, and raise their hands. (The last two still need some work at Peace Hill.)

Form a coherent whole with the sermon.

The songs and readings in each worship service reflect on the truths preached in the sermon that day. They have a coherent shape: a beginning, middle, and conclusion.

Incorporate the sacraments of the church.

Communion

We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (or “Communion”) at least once a month. During these celebrations, the sermon is slightly shorter so that the Communion meal can have a prominent role.
God’s love and grace are abundant, so for the Communion meal we bake lots of delicious bread and bring plenty of wine and grape juice, and we encourage the congregation to eat and drink more than just a nibble and a sip. We eat and drink substantially, not just symbolically, so that the representation of Christ’s body and blood is a real and vibrant reality.

We serve the Supper in two ways: at a kneeling rail for quiet introspection, and at small tables where people encourage each other, pray for each other, and reflect together on how God is calling them to put their faith into action.

Funerals and Baptisms

Funerals and baptisms—times when we are drawn into the presence and love of God—are also celebrated, and mourned, as part of our worship services—not as “extra” services disconnected from the life of the church.

Weddings

We also invite our members to plan weddings as part of the worship (although we understand that many will choose to hold their ceremonies at another time).
Encourage both active participation, and receptive listening. The congregation sings, reads out loud and responsively, and shares their joys and concerns. They also sit and listen (to readings, to special music). We steer away from “performance” at Peace Hill, but also acknowledge that there is a place for solos and presentations which allow the congregation to rest and thoughtfully receive.

Value and include all levels of musical ability.

The members of the congregation are welcome to take part in the worship team; our only request is that you arrive early on Sundays to rehearse. We have no auditions and no required level of musical accomplishment; we are happy for you to join and learn along with us. (Although you may not immediately get a microphone.)

Be for the whole family.

Babies and toddlers are welcome and encouraged. We do ask that you be sensitive to your fellow worshipers; if a sad baby or a happy toddler is making constant noise, it may be difficult for those nearby to meditate and receive, and you may want to consider going out into the fellowship area to comfort or entertain your little one. But squeaks, squeals, and exclamations are part of family life; don’t be embarrassed by them!
We do have a nursery available that your young one can go to after the brief opening portion of the service, should you (as a parent) wish for a respite, but you may also choose to keep your babies with you.

Everyone who volunteers in the nursery has completed a background check.

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