Worship

Sundays | Sanctuary | 11:00 am

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”(Psalm 122:1 NRSV)

Worship is at the heart of our life together. Each week we gather to give thanks to God for the blessings we've received. We ask for forgiveness, healing, and the strength. Through music, prayer, Word, and Sacrament we share in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Haygood worships in a traditional fashion, with robed clergy, acolytes, and choir, as well as traditional liturgy including creeds, prayers, and sermon. We usually follow the Revised Common Lectionary, a three year cycle of scripture readings following the annual outline of the Christian year and celebrating the central mystery of our faith: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you experience worship at Haygood, you will see many fixtures and traditions that we share with all Christians.

Acolytes

Acolytes are attendants or helpers who assist in worship by lighting and extinguishing candles and bearing the flame in worship processions. Their task is to bear the light of Christ into the sanctuary and then to bring that light out into the world at the end of the worship service.

Appointments and Elements

The lighting of candles on the altar table represents Christ's presence in worship. The two candles at either side of the altar table symbolize the two natures of Jesus: his humanity and his divinity. The use of two candles may also represent the Epistles (the letters of the New Testament) and the Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John). The tall candle inside the chancel rail is the Paschal Candle. We light a new Paschal Candle on Easter Sunday morning; this stays lighted all during the Easter season. After Easter, we light it during baptisms and funerals. The Pascal Candle testifies to the Christian certainty in Christ's resurrection.

During special days on the Christian calendar, worship may begin with a full entrance procession. An acolyte carrying a processional cross (crucifer) leads the procession. This symbolizes our belief that Christ precedes all things. Other elements of a full procession might include worship banners, which have been used to celebrate special days of worship for many centuries, candles, the choir, and the worship leaders.

The paraments are the fabric hangings on the pulpit, the altar table, and which ordained clergy wear (elder and deacon stoles). The colors correspond to the different seasons of the Christian year:

Advent                         Blue                         Signifies the royalty of Christ and
                                                                    is the color associated with Mary,
                                                                    Christ's mother

Christmas                     White                      Symbolizes purity, joy, and the glory
                                                                    of Christ

Epiphany of the Lord    White/Gold             Celebrates the coming of the three
                                                                    wise men (magi), who brought gifts to
                                                                    the Christ child

Epiphany to Lent          Green                     Represents hope and peace, and the
                                                                    ongoing growth of the church

Lent                              Purple                     Represents penitence and mourning

Good Friday                 Black                       Symbolizes grief of the crucifixion

Easter                          White                       Celebrates Christ's resurrection

Pentecost                     Red                         Signifies fire, blood, and the coming
                                                                     of the Holy Spirit

Ordinary Time              Green                     

Some of our paraments and linens used in worship are embroidered with the letters "IHS." These are the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek and are used as a monogram for his name in the Church.

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild is entrusted with the care of Haygood’s sanctuary and the furnishings and items that pertain to worship. The members of the Altar Guild have a special responsibility of the highest order -- to provide the best possible environment for our congregation’s worship of God. The Altar Guild works under the direction of the clergy and the Worship Committee. The Altar Guild provides support and dedication for worship preparation/cleanup, and set up for Holy Communion services, baptisms and other special services. The 2010 Altar Guild members are: Beth Downes, Alice Gepp, Anne Dukes, Lynette Slovensky, Jill Welch and Debbie Wood. For information, contact Jill Welch, 404-403-2337.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

We celebrate Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper, once a month and in observance of other special church holidays. Communion is prepared and served from our altar table. We serve communion in a variety of ways according to the occasion. The United Methodist Church observes and open communion table. This means that the communion table is open to all persons who sincerely desire to grow in their love of God and their neighbor, regardless of any, or no, church affiliation. You are invited to kneel at the prayer rail after receiving communion if you choose. The bread and juice used in communion are blessed by ordained clergy during the service. After the service, the bread is fed to birds and the juice is poured into the earth.

The Sacrament of Baptism

The sacrament of baptism is performed by clergy from the font. The font is moved outside the chancel rail when a baptism occurs and also when we observe Baptism of our Lord Sunday.

Questions about Baptism or Communion? Contact Rev. Mary Lou Gilbert.

Giving Through Flower Dedications

The Haygood Memorial Altar Guild invites you to celebrate the Glory of God through altar flower dedications. Make a flower dedication in honor or memory of family, friends and loved ones or to celebrate anniversaries, births and birthdays. There are two opportunities each week, at $75 per arrangement. You can sign up on the calendar outside the church office and send your payment to the church office.

Flowers may be taken and enjoyed by the donor or honoree, or may be left at the church to be taken to our homebound members or enjoyed throughout the week at the church.

If you have questions, please contact Altar Guild Chairperson Jill Welch at 404-403-2337.