What to Expect During Worship

Come as you are - all are welcome to worship at Sharon! Worship is focused on God’s Word of grace and love for our lives. You can expect Holy Communion at each service. Christ welcomes all to God's table and you are invited to participate in Communion - and all of worship - regardless of your background or denomination.

To expand further, you can expect worship that includes gathering and liturgy, confession and forgiveness, a message or sermon, Holy Communion, a blessing, and a sending. You will see people of all ages and frequent baptisms. We hope that you also experience great music, uplifting and encouraging messages, a sense of community and many friendly, welcoming faces!

Location

1720 S. 20th St.
Grand Forks, ND 58201

(link to Google Maps)
We are located on the corner of 17th Ave. S. and S. 20th St. Our building is just east of Red River High School and just south of the GF Police Annex.

 

Parking
Parking lots are available on both the north and south sides of the building, with overflow parking on the west side into Red River High School's parking lot. Automatic doors are located at both the west and south entrances. Dedicated accessible parking spaces are located in the south parking lot. 

Accessibility
Automatic doors are located at both the west (door #3) and southeast (door #1) entrances. Dedicated accessible parking spaces are located in the south parking lot. Screens are used in both worship spaces to project words for songs and liturgy. Assistive hearing devices are available in the sanctuary. We have a limited number of wheelchairs for use within the building; please ask an usher for assistance. 

Attire

Come as you are! You will find people dressed in jeans and others in suits/ties or dresses! You are welcome here!

Nursery

We have a nursery located in the hallway between the Celebration Hall and the Sanctuary. Parents are welcome to use this space with their children during worship or during other church activities. Audio from the Celebration Hall is available in the nursery via controls on the wall. Please do not leave your children unattended.

Music
Music is a central part of our worship experience! At Sanctuary Worship, expect to sing hymns from the ELCA Lutheran hymnal, accompanied by organ and/or piano, and often special music by the Sanctuary Choir or congregational members. At Celebration Worship, expect to sing along with the vocal group, Higher Ground, to a mix of traditional and contemporary Christian music. 
Communion

At Sharon you can expect Holy Communion at all services. We practice an “open table” meaning all are welcome to participate in Communion regardless of age or whether you are a member of Sharon, a different denomination, or have no church background. Christ is the host of the Communion table and Jesus opened his arms to welcome all people. 

Communion is one of two sacraments in the Lutheran tradition, along with Baptism. Lutherans define a sacrament as something that contains these 3 things:

1. The command of God:

Holy Communion: “Take and eat," “All of you drink of it”
Baptism: “Go therefore into all the world, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

2.  A promise of God: 

Holy Communion:  “The body of Christ, given for you," “The blood of Christ, shed for you”
Baptism:“Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved”

3.  An earthly, physical element: 

Holy Communion:  Bread and wine
Baptism:   Water

In the sacrament of Holy Communion Christ is present with us, as Luther says, “in, with and under” the bread and wine, uniting us as one body of Christ, nourishing us in body and spirit, and providing what we need to go and share God’s love with the world.

Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament full of promises. Our sins are washed away, we are claimed as God’s children, we are gifted with the Holy Spirit, and welcomed as a member of a congregation.

Why infant baptism?

  • All ages and all people are welcome to be baptized. We baptize infants because baptism is a gift of God, not something we earn or deserve or qualify for, but a gift given because of God’s love for us. 

Can I be re-baptized as an adult?

  • Baptism is not about what we do, but rather about what God does.  Baptism is a gift in which God claims us, names us, forgives us and gives us the Holy Spirit.  Since it is God that does the acting in baptism, you only need to be baptized once.  However, we often include a Thanksgiving for Baptism in our worship services as a reminder of the gift of baptism and God’s promises to us. 
Confirmation

The Confirmation service is actually titled, “Affirmation of Baptism.” This is an opportunity for people to make a public affirmation that they trust in their baptismal identity as children of God and are ready to make their own set of promises about how they will live out their faith as adults in the church. At Sharon, we typically confirm 11th grade students, but adults looking to learn more and make a public affirmation are welcome to participate as well. Reach out the church office to get connected with a pastor and learn more.

Praygrounds

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." - Matthew 19:14

Sharon Lutheran’s church family is made up of people of all ages. Your little ones are welcome just as they are - noises, wiggles, and all! Although it may sound counter-intuitive, we encourage families with little ones to sit near the front. Their little minds are sponges and being able to watch and participate up close and personal tends to be a more engaging worship experience for them than trying to see from the back. 

Praygrounds are available throughout the worship space as a place for kiddos to color, use the activity bags, have snacks, and read Bible stories. We want little ones to know that church is for them too! Children are not just the future of the church; they are the church of today and they have so much to teach us about the kingdom of God.