Worship

Sunday Worship

What Should I Expect on Sunday?

Calvary Presbyterian Church offers an inspiring worship service every Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M. (9:00 A.M. from Memorial day weekend to Labor Day weekend.) We welcome people of all backgrounds, offering Christian hospitality to all who enter our doors. As a result, you’ll see that the members of Calvary seek to blend some of the oldest worship practices of early Christians with elements of today’s contemporary themes. There will be moments of quiet self-reflection, music with various instruments, and singing of both hymns and contemporary Christian music. During worship we greet each other with the Peace of Christ, children gather around the baptismal font for a blessing, Dr. McDonough gives a sermon based on scripture before taking congregational prayer requests, an offering is received to further the work of Christ’s Kingdom, and Dr. McDonough will offer anointing with oil to any who feel they’ve been called to special service or feel the need for healing before closing the service with prayer. Finally, we gather together around the back table, our time of fellowship with coffee and snacks at the back of the sanctuary.

Will You be Expecting Anything From Me?

We simply ask that you feel welcome with us here, in this place, and that you show hospitality to others. You can expect us to greet you as our guests, answer any questions you may have about Calvary, and invite you to stay for fellowship. There is no obligation to give to the collection or to stay past the service if you can’t.  We will not ask you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.

What Should I Wear?

Calvary is a gathering of friends. That gathering encompasses the entirety of Christ’s family, from those wondering where their next meal may come from to those living on Milwaukee’s affluent east side. We’ll welcome you regardless of what you wear.

What About My Children?

Children may stay with their parent(s) for worship. Two rooms near the sanctuary are available, a nursery with rockers, a crib and a changing table, and another with toys & books appropriate for pre-school and older.  If children need feeding or changing or are making it difficult for others to hear, parents take their children to one of these rooms.  From fall to spring, the room for older children has a paid childcare worker and supervising Calvary parent, and a closed-circuit television so parents can see and hear what is happening in worship. Dr. McDonough offers a Children's Blessing every Sunday.

Labyrinth

“All Christian prayer is the prayer of a people on the march, a traveling people.  It is the prayer of movement.”

The labyrinth is a tradition of prayer that has been part of the Church since the earliest days. The labyrinth at Calvary Church was created in the style of the 12th century labyrinth at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartes, France. The design was common among Europe’s great cathedral churches in the Middle Ages.

The labyrinth finds its antecedents in scripture and in Judeo-Christian tradition. In scripture from Abraham to Paul, the story is told again and again of faith grown on a journey, one suggested by the winding path of the labyrinth. From Sinai to the Mount of transfiguration, another story is told of journeys to an encounter with God and back. The labyrinth tradition takes its place beside pilgrimage, retreat, and the many particular disciplines of prayer.

The labyrinth is a tool that gives shape to prayer. Its winding path purposefully knocks the rational mind “off balance” and allows the heart to focus beyond the distractions of our busy lives and world.

The labyrinth at Calvary Church is open to the public every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. and for groups by special arrangement. To schedule a time for your group to walk the labyrinth, contact the church office (414) 271-8782.

Taizé Prayers

Periodically, Calvary Church hosts a prayer service using the songs and in the style of the prayers of the Christian community in Taizé, France.  This form of worship incorporates chant, scripture readings, silent prayer, and symbolic acts, i.e. coming to the baptismal font to touch water to one’s forehead to remember our baptism.

Check out our Calendar for dates and times for Taizé Prayers at Calvary Church. Please contact us if you would like to be on our email list for upcoming notifications about Taizé worship.  

Midday Eucharist

Midday prayers and Eucharist are held in the sanctuary of Calvary Church every Wednesday from 12:10 p.m.- 12:30 p.m. Often those who attend the Eucharist will gather afterward to share a brown bag lunch or walk next door to have lunch in the Straz Residence Hall cafeteria. Please enter the sanctuary through the doors on Wisconsin Ave.