Worship
We gather on Sundays at 9 AM, 11 AM and 5:30 PM. While each gathering has its own unique dynamic, the gatherings share the same content each Sunday.
Our Sunday worship gatherings are spaces created to encounter God. We gather as a community once a week on Sundays in a space we call Kairos. Kairos is one of two Greek words used to describe time in the New Testament. The other Greek word for time is kronos. Kronos is linear time, the time we live in six days a week. It is time that we can quantify and from which we get the word chronological. Kairos is another kind of time: it is theological time, time filled with the possibility of God's activity.
Our Sunday worship gatherings are spaces that we have carved out in time for the purpose of seeking and encountering God and being spiritually formed. Spiritual formation is the process of lives being transformed to live, serve and love in the Way of Jesus. Because we understand that all areas of life are connected, we strive to be holistic. We want to cultivate a space (physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, artistic) where the whole person (body, soul, mind, spirit) can encounter God, others, themselves, and creation. Towards that end, we engage in a number of different practices during our time together. You are invited to participate at whatever level of engagement is right for you.
Singing
Music is a beautiful and powerful means of expression. We regularly use music (and other expressions and forms of art) to express ourselves to God, just as the Psalms in the Old Testament scriptures do: we praise, we ask for what we need, we confess, we complain, we lament. We glorify God as we express ourselves honestly before him.
Call to Worship
The Call to Worship invites us to gather ourselves and refocus our attention on where we are and what we are doing. It is also a time to invite God into our space physically and spiritually. During this time we also release our children to children's church for worship, learning and community.
Greeting
Greeting one another isn't simply a filler activity until we move onto more important things. Jesus teaches that loving one's neighbor is akin to loving God. We set aside time in our gathering to meet and greet one another and to make each other feel welcome and known.
Teaching
Every week we hear, learn and tell the story of God, his people and the creation. We read from the Bible and share from our lives. Often the format is participatory -- we ask questions and seek feedback, we read the scriptures aloud and reflect our convictions and opinions.
Communion
Communion is a sacrament. A sacrament is a physical expression of a spiritual reality, a place where the grace of God is conveyed in a spiritual way. In communion, we celebrate and commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus Christ where he told his disciples that his body would be broken and his blood shed for his people. We receive communion as spiritual nourishment, participating in the life of God. We practice an open communion, which means that we invite anyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ to participate in the celebration of this sacrament with us. Communion is served at the front of the sanctuary after the sermon. We invite you to go a communion server, break off a piece of bread and dip it in the cup, and consume it. If you are unsure about whether or not you should participate, please feel no pressure to join in. We want you to feel comfortable. If you are not comfortable or ready to receive communion, we recommend using this time for quiet reflection.
Offering
We are economic creatures who are learning to surrender more and more of ourselves to God. Because of this, we include our finances in our worship. We provide several different ways that you can participate in our financial life. You can give when you worship with us on Sundays. After you have taken communion you can put your offering in either of the two tithe boxes located at the back of the sanctuary as you return to your pew, or there are two additional tithe boxes located outside the sanctuary (one is in the foyer under the Connect board and one is by the door as you enter and exit the church). You may also place your information card and/or prayer requests in those boxes. You can also send your tithe by mail:
Jacob's Well
1617 W. 42nd Street
Kansas City, MO 64111
Benediction
At the conclusion of our gathering, we sing a benediction. "Benediction" is Latin and means "good word." It is a final blessing and prayer sung over our community as we head into our week. As an expression of our unity, we join hands before God and sing.