Worship

Anglican worship is not a spectator sport but invites full participation. There is call and response, there’s singing, raising of hands, there’s standing, sitting, kneeling, there’s listening, as well as space for reflection and contemplation. As C.S. Lewis said, "[Anglicans] don't go to church to be entertained. They go to use the service, or, if you prefer, to enact it.” We recognize that for many people, the various actions, words, and movements of our service can appear and feel strange. In one sense, they are! And in another sense, each aspect of our service is intended to be an invitation to encounter the living Jesus Christ. 


Sunday Services:

Time + Location 
On Sundays we gather for worship at the Music Resource Center (MRC) at 105 Ridge St in Charlottesville. Two services are offered on Sundays at 9 + 11am.

Parking 
The MRC is located on Ridge Street near the downtown mall. Visit our parking page to learn more about nearby options. 

First-time Visitors 
When you come in, you'll see greeters with badges. They can help you find your way around and answer any questions that you have. Also, we hope you’ll stop by the welcome tables in the foyer before or after the service.

Good Shepherd Kids and our Little Lambs Nursery
Each week we welcome our littlest congregants to Good Shepherd and invite them to fully participate. We have formation programming for ages 0-6 at both services. Your child's age by September 1 will determine where they go for the year:

  • Little Lambs nursery for 0-1 year olds. Please check them in at our Welcome Center first.

  • Toddler Atrium- If your child is or will be two years old by September 1, 2023, they are welcome to join the Toddler Atrium. Please drop them off in the toddler atrium after checking them in at our welcome center.

  • 9am Service Only: Level 1 Atrium for 3-6 year olds. Please check them in at our Welcome Center first. Children in this age group will be invited to our Atrium after the Children’s Blessing and will stay until the Passing of the Peace.

All other children are invited to fully participate in our service and they have a prayer table where they can gather during the service to pray, journal, or color in response to God in worship. For more information, please contact Milena Mesfin, our Children's Ministry Coordinator, to learn more, or take a look at our Good Shepherd Kids ministry page. 

Livestream/Audio/Sermons
We are currently not livestreaming our services or recording our sermons.

Accessibility
As renters of the historic Ridge Street Church, we incur the building's lack of accessibility for those with physical disabilities. The upstairs worship space does not have ramps or elevators that enable wheelchair access. The downstairs of the building and our Welcome Center located next door are both accessible and have accessible restrooms. We are actively considering various ways we could welcome people into an accessible area and have them observe and participate in worship, though we’ve not yet decided on which path is the best one to take. If you plan on attending worship at Church of the Good Shepherd and have questions about the accessibility challenges and limitations, please email us here.

Have other questions about worship?
Email us. We'll be happy to talk to you.