Worship at Cahaba Valley Church includes:
singing -- a song leader directs us and we all sing together without an organ or piano
reading -- we read Bible verses selected as part of the Revised Common Lectionary
prayer -- one leader restates the requests of everyone as we ask God for help and give thanks for our blessings
communion -- eating bread or crackers and drinking juice that symbolize the body and blood of Jesus
offering -- gathering of monetary gifts to support our ministries
message -- one of our ministers or one of our members offers a lesson, usually focused on one of the Bible readings for the day

Even though we have a formal program with everything listed on it, our services feel like a family gathering. We may have a young boy reading a Bible verse in public for the first time, standing on a stool to reach the top of the podium.  We may follow that verse with a praise song or a hymn that repeats some of the same thoughts, focusing our minds on the lessons God gives us in the Bible.

The singing is special too, since our simple service uses only the unaccompanied voice in a style called a cappella. That was the usual practice in the Church of Christ tradition we came from, but we choose to follow this practice as a way to be more active participants in singing our praises to God. 

Some of our most enthusiastic participants admit they have trouble carrying a tune and they certainly don't read music. But like singing around a campfire or singing along with the radio, you can find a way to participate without any particular training. However, if you really love to sing, you can quickly find a place among the "Cahaba Valley Singers" who sometimes perform on special occasions. Click here for a song performed by a quartet from our church, followed by the sermon on the occasion of the departure of long-time minister Robert Montgomery.