Worship That Embodies the Whole Nature of God
Our Worship Ministries
Congregation members at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church come from varied musical backgrounds and worship traditions. Through the use of a wide-range of musics, arts, and other creative acts of worship in both the 8:45 (The Gathering) and 11:00 services, our goal is to provide worship opportunities that embody the whole nature of God where worshippers can interact with the Holy Spirit through mind, heart, soul, and body.
As a general framework, we use the church year to organize our broader liturgical strokes. Each Sunday, worship is based on a given theme – a theme that is tied closely to Scripture texts and the liturgical season/day. The music and worship at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church reflect the church body, for we are an open-minded congregation seeking vitality and faithfulness in our worship of God. We are a people greatly shaped by our Baptist worship heritage, particularly the idea of liturgical freedom. At the same time, we also maintain and nurture a strong ecumenical environment through the use of three main sources: the church year, the best of ancient Christian worship traditions, and vital and faithful ecumenical resources through a variety of musics, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines.
At HAB, spiritual formation takes place in a variety of settings throughout the week. Nearly every day, a Bible study class, small group, prayer circle, discernment team, or book study group is meeting together in an environment of hope, expectancy, support, and love. Undertaken with a sincere desire to discover new insights about God and a disciplined approach to Scripture and tradition, spiritual formation is both challenging and affirming. Take on the mind of Christ.
Sunday Bible Study
One of the most exciting places around HAB is Sunday Bible Study (also known as Sunday School). We have nearly 20 classes ranging from children and youth all the way up to senior adults. Some of our classes are grouped according to age or life-stages. Some of our classes are grouped according to interest or affinity. All of our classes, however, are centered on great teachers, a strong sense of fellowship and community, and above all the search for truth and meaning in the Bible. Please click this link for a list of Sunday Bible Study classes that we offer.
In addition to meeting on Sunday mornings, we also have classes (or small groups) that meet throughout the week in people’s homes or nearby restaurants and shops. Each class or small group leader does his or her very best to promote an atmosphere of honesty and openness, where participants can freely ask questions and “think aloud.” With a genuine desire to honestly reflect the truth and reality of Scripture, Bible study at HAB is both challenging and fun at the same time!
Training in Christian Living on Wednesday Nights
Meeting for prayer, study, a meal, and fellowship has been a longstanding tradition among Baptists. At HAB, we call this time together on Wednesday nights “Training in Christian Living.” We begin each Wednesday night with a fellowship meal (Wednesday night supper menu), lovingly prepared by our outstanding kitchen staff. After sharing a meal together, we spend a moment in prayer, lifting up our community and world with a spirit of thanksgiving and humility.
After our meal and prayer time, we have a variety of adult, youth, and children’s classes ranging from in-depth Bible study to music classes for children. We also meet to learn about the work of God in other countries around the world. Each class or small group (whether adult, youth, or children) is facilitated by well-trained and dedicated leaders who strive to create an environment of peace, honesty, and genuine fellowship.
The name, “Training in Christian Living” (or TCL), not only describes who we are but also describes what we do: Living as Christ lived, caring for others with sensitivity and a passion for life!
Please check our Calendar for our upcoming church-wide events.