The Portico Community gathers for worship every Sunday evening at 5:00 PM at Johnston Memorial Presbyterian Church in NoDa. We call our worship time a gathering instead of a service. We’re not sure a church should be thought of as a type of religious “service station” where you come to “fill up” for the week ahead. Worship is more about what we create and offer to God than about what we receive.

Most folks begin arriving around 4:30 to catch up with friends or spend a few moments in prayer and meditation at one of our experiential prayer stations. Sometime around 5 PM we’ll begin our worship time. We’re not really anal about that: If we sense that we need to begin worship with conversations that are already happening that’s perfectly fine with us.

Worship at The Portico is designed to be participatory, filled with singing, sharing, prayers, Scripture and a meditation that will likely as not require interaction. We use the term “progressional dialogue” to describe our sermons. That means no one listens to a 20 minute speech every week! Sometimes the point of a sermon is made by a question someone asks. (Sure, go ahead and interrupt the preacher! We expect it!)

Children in worship: We don’t have a nursery or children’s program during worship. That’s primarily because we think children should be in worship with families and adults. We want their presence with us because we believe they are as important in the community of faith as anyone else. Children’s packets are available as is space for them to color, draw, and participate in their own ways in worship.

Our worship is both informal and liturgical. We share responsive readings, creeds, and elements that are both symbolic and ritual. We light candles to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and we are called to reflect that light to one another. We speak words in unison to remind us of our unity when many voices come together as one. We sing and make music together because we think God wants to hear our joyful noise! We gather around the Lord’s Table every week to remind ourselves that God is the source of all our sustenance.

We have opportunities for financial offerings as an act of worship, although they may be more subtle than you are familiar with. If you are visiting with us for the first time, please know that we do not necessarily want your money. If you choose to offer it to the ongoing work of God in our midst, we will gladly welcome it. We think offering our financial lives to God is both an act of worship and of discipleship. It cannot be coerced. Thus our offering basket is available as an individual act of worship but is not highlighted in manipulative ways.

Somewhere between 75 and 80 minutes after beginning, we close our worship time by standing, holding hands, and sharing a spoken and musical benediction. You might be amazed at how fast those 80 minutes seem to fly by!)

Our hope is that our worship is inviting to everyone, comfortable to all, and most importantly, a safe place to experience God's presence in the mystery and miracle of corporately gathering in Jesus’ name.

We are the first to admit that it might be different than what you have experienced before. Frankly that’s one of the main reasons we enjoy it so much. In fact, our worship might not be for everyone. But if you're looking for something that's both meaningful and fresh, stop by some Sunday evening and let God's presence fill your soul with us!