Sabbath Gatherings
You are most welcome to join with us.
SABBATH GATHERING Q&As
What is a Sabbath gathering?
Throughout history, some have called this a mass (check out why we still love this word). Some have called it divine liturgy. Others engage it as a service of worship (ex. liturgy means "work of the people"). And a few unique words might give us a clue to what's going like the message (ex. Gospel means Good News), key prayers including the "Our Father / Lord's Prayer" and "Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy)," and other sacred traditions (ex. sacraments like baptism, Eucharist). Ultimately, a Sabbath gathering is a special set aside time in which we're invited to rest, to repent (i.e. turn away from ourselves to the One who can save us), rejoice, and remember the story that God is writing that we get to participate in for the glory of Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us, for the good of each other, and for the life of the world.
We gather our City Groups to worship together 2x each month at:
30 Tyler Prentice Road, Worcester, MA
4 p.m. on every other Saturday
Check the ECC calendar to join us next time
Why do you gather?
The Gospel, or Good News, is that God has come to renew and restore creation in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. If this is true, then we get to, and need to, continue to learn more together about who Jesus is and how His abundant life transforms how we live with God, love each other, and serve the world around us.
Where do you gather?
We gather together at the Fusion Center building located at 30 Tyler Prentice Road, Worcester.
How do I participate during a Sabbath gathering?
Be yourself and come as you are. We welcome anyone to learn more about Jesus, no matter how far away you may feel from God or how skeptical you are about there being a God at all. Our prayer is to provide you with a clearer picture of Jesus and help you understand more of why His Good News is not only history-altering and world-restoring, but also personally life-transforming for you.
How do I engage during the songs, prayers, and message?
If hearing about Jesus during a Sabbath gathering is new to you, we invite you to to listen and learn more. Some helpful questions to ask are:
1) Who is God in light of this prayer, song, or message?
2) What is God saying and doing that, if true, transforms the world and my life?
3) How might my life look different if I believed God came in Jesus to save me and I chose to follow Him?
Why do you enjoy the Eucharist every Sabbath gathering?
Eucharist means "meal of grace and gratitude." After we hear the Good News of Jesus during the message, we are then invited to see, touch, smell, taste, and receive that Jesus is present with us at His table set with the bread and the cup. God doesn't just want us to think about His love, He invites us to turn to Him in humility and receive all He as to offer in Himself as we enjoy His grace together as God's family at the Lord's Table of hope.
How do kids engage this time?
We love kids joining with us in all we do. Visit our City Kids page for more info.
Last question: Why Saturday?
The simplest answer is because this was a space and time available at a key location in our city where we can see God is at work, and it has provided us with multiple opportunities to be loving neighbors and partner with other ministries and nonprofits. Another ancient, yet fresh side note is that the Sabbath – the day of the week that God has generously gifted humanity with to set aside from work to rest – has historically begun during the sunset of the previous day. We get to step into Sunday fully embracing the gift of rest while being reminded of the power of the resurrection of Jesus, anticipating that the evening's darkness will be overcome by the morning's light.
Fun Fact for the Curious: In the Bible, Acts 20:7 indicates followers of Jesus first met at night “on the first day of the week;” so in light of the Jewish calendar of the Sabbath day beginning the night before, local churches who witnessed to Jesus' death and resurrection first began to gather for worship on Saturday nights.
What is a Sabbath gathering?
Throughout history, some have called this a mass (check out why we still love this word). Some have called it divine liturgy. Others engage it as a service of worship (ex. liturgy means "work of the people"). And a few unique words might give us a clue to what's going like the message (ex. Gospel means Good News), key prayers including the "Our Father / Lord's Prayer" and "Kyrie Eleison (Lord, have mercy)," and other sacred traditions (ex. sacraments like baptism, Eucharist). Ultimately, a Sabbath gathering is a special set aside time in which we're invited to rest, to repent (i.e. turn away from ourselves to the One who can save us), rejoice, and remember the story that God is writing that we get to participate in for the glory of Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us, for the good of each other, and for the life of the world.
We gather our City Groups to worship together 2x each month at:
30 Tyler Prentice Road, Worcester, MA
4 p.m. on every other Saturday
Check the ECC calendar to join us next time
Why do you gather?
The Gospel, or Good News, is that God has come to renew and restore creation in the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. If this is true, then we get to, and need to, continue to learn more together about who Jesus is and how His abundant life transforms how we live with God, love each other, and serve the world around us.
Where do you gather?
We gather together at the Fusion Center building located at 30 Tyler Prentice Road, Worcester.
How do I participate during a Sabbath gathering?
Be yourself and come as you are. We welcome anyone to learn more about Jesus, no matter how far away you may feel from God or how skeptical you are about there being a God at all. Our prayer is to provide you with a clearer picture of Jesus and help you understand more of why His Good News is not only history-altering and world-restoring, but also personally life-transforming for you.
How do I engage during the songs, prayers, and message?
If hearing about Jesus during a Sabbath gathering is new to you, we invite you to to listen and learn more. Some helpful questions to ask are:
1) Who is God in light of this prayer, song, or message?
2) What is God saying and doing that, if true, transforms the world and my life?
3) How might my life look different if I believed God came in Jesus to save me and I chose to follow Him?
Why do you enjoy the Eucharist every Sabbath gathering?
Eucharist means "meal of grace and gratitude." After we hear the Good News of Jesus during the message, we are then invited to see, touch, smell, taste, and receive that Jesus is present with us at His table set with the bread and the cup. God doesn't just want us to think about His love, He invites us to turn to Him in humility and receive all He as to offer in Himself as we enjoy His grace together as God's family at the Lord's Table of hope.
How do kids engage this time?
We love kids joining with us in all we do. Visit our City Kids page for more info.
Last question: Why Saturday?
The simplest answer is because this was a space and time available at a key location in our city where we can see God is at work, and it has provided us with multiple opportunities to be loving neighbors and partner with other ministries and nonprofits. Another ancient, yet fresh side note is that the Sabbath – the day of the week that God has generously gifted humanity with to set aside from work to rest – has historically begun during the sunset of the previous day. We get to step into Sunday fully embracing the gift of rest while being reminded of the power of the resurrection of Jesus, anticipating that the evening's darkness will be overcome by the morning's light.
Fun Fact for the Curious: In the Bible, Acts 20:7 indicates followers of Jesus first met at night “on the first day of the week;” so in light of the Jewish calendar of the Sabbath day beginning the night before, local churches who witnessed to Jesus' death and resurrection first began to gather for worship on Saturday nights.
Psalm 107:31-32; Psalm 149:1; Joel 1:14; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Hebrews 10:24-25
