God comes to us

Worship is at the heart of the church's life. We gather for worship every Sunday and on some other occasions as well. Our worship services are open for everyone. In worship, God serves his people through his word and holy sacraments, and empowers them to participate in his mission to the world.
The focus
in Lutheran worship
is not on our actions and feelings, 
but on how God
faithfully and lovingly
comes to us and serves us.
Christian worship can happen in many different ways. Normally there will be readings from the Bible, some interpretation and application of the Bible readings for us, here and now, in the sermon, prayers and songs or hymns. Our worship often involves the celebration of Holy Communion. Sunday worship is all about God serving us and then sending us out in service to the world.
  • God forgives sins, so we can boldly speak the truth of our sinfulness.
  • God speaks through the Bible readings, sermon, liturgy, and hymns, proclaiming love and faithfulness.
  • God listens as we pray for the Church, the world and each other.
  • God feeds his gathered people through a holy meal of bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
  • God remains present in and with his people, blessing them and sending them into their daily lives carriers of his love, mercy and peace.

We confess that we are sinners,
sinners who are embraced by God's boundless love 
so that we may be agents
of God's forgiveness, favour and mercy in the world.

There is one main service in each of our churches every Sunday morning with preaching that is Biblical and Christ-centered. This service uses the historic forms of worship which have nourished the people of God for centuries, while also incorporating some new music and songs. Lutheran services are in the 'catholic' tradition, following the ancient liturgies and observing historic usage. This helps us to remember that God gathers us with people of all times and all places.
Communion is offered to all baptized Christians who believe that Jesus offers his body and blood with the bread and wine, and who wish to receive forgiveness of sins and the life that Jesus offers.
At St Pauls, Mt Cotton, worship is at 7:30am every Sunday and
at Good Shepherd, Tingalpa, worship is at 10.30am every Sunday,
unless it's Christmas Day (see below). 

Visitors

Visitors of all ages, from cradle to advanced age, are most welcome. 
Visitors may also help us see things that we have missed, so that we can be truly welcoming to all.

Children

Children are welcome at worship services and are recognised as an integral part of the worshipping community. Services include a children's sheet and a children's talk. Children are invited to participate fully through worship roles and liturgical involvement.

Helping with worship

Congregation participation is a feature of our worship. Many avenues are offered for people to help, from preparing the worship centre for services, to welcoming people, to reading lessons, to assisting the Pastor with leading the worship services.

Giving

Our giving is a part of our worship to God. We give our offerings in response to what God has so freely and generously given to us. As a church we believe that our giving should reflect the principles of the New Testament. That is, it should be grace filled, sacrificial, regular, generous and a joy. (1 Corinthians 16:1-4 & 2 Corinthians 8 & 9)
Instead of asking 'How much should I give?' we can prayerfully consider 'How much should I keep?' Everything we have has been entrusted to us by God for our well being and enjoyment and for the care of others, as this text indicates: "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." Ephesians 4:28
From the New Testament we also find that this giving is to be used to:
  • Support workers that God has called to serve the local church
  • To help those in genuine need, both within the local church, the community and the world
  • Apostolic work that involves the planting of churches and the encouragement of existing churches both here and abroad.

Personal giving is vitally important for the continued functioning of the congregation, parish and wider church. In Australia there is no 'church fee', or tax which the government collects on behalf of the church, as is the case in some European countries. Most of the money which the church needs to function is given personally as offerings, usually on the collection plate on Sunday mornings, however it is quite easy to give an offering electronically. These offerings are not tax deductible.
The Lutheran Church of Australia has a facility to aid regular and anonymous giving called Regular Electronic Giving (REG) and more details and an application form are available online.
To use REG or to arrange a Direct Transfer, the following details are needed.
  • Account name: TINGALPA GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • BSB: 034002
  • Account number: 636251
or
  • Account name: ST PAULS LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • BSB: 124001
  • Account number: 20124708

Christmas

Please note that on Christmas Day 
Holy Communion
is celebrated at 
6am at St Paul's,
Mt Cotton,
and 
8am at Good Shepherd, Tingalpa.

More on
​Lutheran Worship

More information about Lutheran worship may be found here on the Lutheran Church of Australia website.