Join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 A.M. in the Worship Center!
Worship Style
Spiceland Friends Church has what Quakers/Friends call a "programmed" style of worship. This means that our worship service includes singing a few hymns together, a scripture reading, a children's story for the younger children (see below), and a sermon/message given by one of our pastors. Worship is also considered "programmed" because it is expected that the pastor or individual leading worship has spent time during the week in prayer listening to God, and that the message that is shared during worship emerges from this prayer time with God. The service also includes a shorter "unprogrammed" time of worship — a quiet time of listening to and talking with God, as well as time to reflect on the morning's message. We believe that the spiritual life and our time of worshiping God together involves a balance of both a community and a personal experience. We seek to focus our attention on the Presence of Jesus Christ in our midst — not on the individuals leading worship.
Experiencing worship is the heart of a vital Christian, Quaker faith. "Worship is the loving interaction between God and the people of God who are the Church ... When we worship, we receive God's love for us and express our love for God ... Worship involves centrally the process of abiding in Christ and He in us, for apart from Him we can do nothing" (Paul Anderson, Quaker theologian).
Early Friends worshiped in silence. There were no hired ministers; folks gathered together and listened for God's voice. Someone might share a message, a scripture reading or a hymn or spiritual song that God had lain on their heart during the silent worship time. There are Friends Meetings today whose worship is silent. These Meetings are called "unprogrammed" Meetings because it is expected that God will speak to people during the silent worship and that any message that is shared with the gathered community is not prepared ahead of time, but emerges out of the silent worship time.
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
Current Sermon Series
To view our current worship theme, click here.
Children/Youth & Worship
Children's Story During Adult Worship
We feel that our children are vital to our congregation. Each week during our worship service, the younger children are invited to come to the front of the sanctuary for a children's story. Our children’s ministry team does a wonderful job of coming up with creative ways to talk about the morning's worship theme — using illustrations and visual aids that help children understand.
Children's Worship/Junior Church
We also provide a wonderful Junior Church program for ages 3 through 5th-grade students. Immediately following the children's story in the sanctuary, students head to our children's worship. Children are divided into two age groups where they experience a fun and age-appropriate children’s church curriculum. Our preschool children (3 - kindergarten) meet in our basement children’s area while our 1st through 5th grade students meet in the Family Center.
Nursery
We provide a nursery for infants through 2 years old. There is a wide assortment of toys to keep children entertained — with the sandbox being everyone's favorite. Parents are always welcome to use this facility. Our service is broadcast in the nursery area.
Junior Church for Students in 6th-12th grade
Students in 6th-12th grades go upstairs during the last half of the worship service each week for a worship lesson, which is led by Mike VanOsdol.