• A time of singing from Voices Together:

Usually, whoever is present may request the songs that they would like us to sing.  Sometimes we ask for songs appropriate to a theme.

• Passing the peace.   An interlude in which we greet each other with a word of peace or a hug or a greeting.

• A time of quiet prayer.  We light candles, pile rocks, pour water into a basin, or let sand sift through our fingers to represent our prayers.

• Teaching.  Participants in our fellowship teach each other.  One person agrees to study scripture and commentaries, and to prepare a message to share with the group.  We rotate this responsibility among members of the fellowship.

• Reflection and response.  Sometimes we respond to the day's teaching with a time for reflection and discussion.

• Communion. We often share communion with each other. We usually follow a liturgy that was written by members of our congregation. We serve homemade, gluten-free bread and grape juice that we make ourselves every fall.

Why do we sit in a circle?

We believe that it’s important for us to worship together as one body of Christ, each member as important as every other. We sit in a circle because it’s one way to demonstrate our dependence on and affirmation of each other. We also just like seeing one another’s faces.

Why do different/multiple people lead the service?

The church is a collective voice, many parts of one body. Each part brings unique strengths and perspectives, and no one part is greater than any other, a concept called “The Priesthood of All Believers.” Although Tory Bonners is our pastor, she does not always lead services. Rather, we all learn to lead and follow.

What is “open singing”?

During open singing, anyone is welcome to choose a song for the church to sing from one of our songbooks. Because we value input from everyone, we choose to build our worship together.

Why is singing such a predominant part of the service?

Like every denomination, the Mennonites have shared history and traditions. One of these is music; Mennonites like to sing, both accompanied and acapella, and have always done quite a bit of it. When we sing at Sojourners, we connect ourselves not only to our denomination, but to words and melodies that have inspired generations of Christians all over the world. We want them to be a part of our story as well.

Why do we emphasize peace so much?

Mennonites are one of the historic peace denominations (along with the Church of the Brethren and the Society of Friends). We believe Christ calls us to a life that seeks nonviolence. Peacemaking and pacifism are creative calls: as image-bearers of God, we believe that alternative, peaceful solutions are possible through the power of the Spirit.

What is “passing the peace of Christ”? Why do we do it?

Our pursuit of peace rests on the understanding that the source of that peace must be God. Thus, we join in the tradition of Christians throughout history by taking time in our worship service to share the blessing of Christ’s peace with each other. This sometimes takes the form of saying “The peace of Christ be with you,” but sometimes is as simple as exchanging a hug or asking someone about their week.

Why do we have a basket in a corner for offering?

God leads different people to contribute to the life of the church in different ways. For those who want to help with financial resources, there is a basket in the back. Money is one of many ways an individual can participate in the life of the church, and out of this understanding, we do not pass the basket, but provide it as an option for those who wish to use it.

Why do we often have a response time to the teaching?

There are many different ways we seek to understand God. Teaching is one of those ways, but equally important is the response of the listeners. We find that we learn better together and reflecting with one another is an important part of that learning. It also allows for further development of the speaker's ideas and values the impact their words have on those listening.

Why do we usually include some physical action with our prayers?

The presence of the Holy Spirit is an intangible thing - impossible to touch and at times difficult to sense. Using a physical action with our prayers reminds us that while we cannot see the Holy Spirit, we believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. The physical action is not a requirement but a tool that we find helpful in our worship together. If you would like to pray with us and forgo the physical action, please feel free to do so.

What is that painted on the wall?

The painting on the wall is a ribbon symbolizing the seasons of the church year; each segment symbolizes a different season. The length of each segment corresponds to the length of the season. We sometimes put things on the wall above the ribbon to remind us of what we studied/or did during a particular time of that year.

Where does our communion liturgy come from?

Our standard communion liturgy was written by our congregation, drawing on language used by other churches and from our annual covenanting ceremony, in which we commit to one another for the coming year. We typically take volunteers to serve communion because, as part of the priesthood of all believers, we are all God’s hands and feet. Everyone in our congregation, from the smallest child to the oldest adult, can both serve and receive the elements. The repetition of this element and liturgy week after week helps to tie our life as a church together.