Come as you are!
It can be a little intimidating to walk through the doors of a new church for the first time, so we’d like to share some details that might help make the experience more comfortable for you!
Our worship service is Sunday morning from 10:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. Sometimes we run until 11:15 a.m.
You do not need to dress up for worship! Come as you are truly means that. You will see our folks dressed in everything from fancy “go to meeting” clothes to jeans and t-shirts ... and everything in between.
Entrances
We have two entrances to the building. The main entrance is the double doors below the clock tower. The office entrance is also at the front of the building on the right-hand side directly off of the parking lot. Both entrances are open on Sundays from Easter through December 31st. From January 1st through Easter, the main entrance doors are closed to preserve heat.
We lock each entrance at 10:05 each Sunday morning. If you are running late, please come to the office entrance, ring the doorbell located to the left of the door, and someone will come let you in.
Accessibility
Our Sanctuary is located upstairs. There are signs as well as plenty of friendly folks willing to direct you.
If accessibility is a concern, please use the office entrance off the parking lot. We have a small elevator which will allow you access to the upstairs sanctuary. We also have handicapped bathroom stalls for both men and women.
Entering the sanctuary
Once you are upstairs, our ushers will greet you and provide you with a bulletin outlining our entire service. As you enter the Sanctuary you can select any pew you wish…there are no “assigned seats”! And trust us, no one will be upset if you sit in the pew they have sat in for the past ten years, they will just be thrilled to have you with us!
We will not embarrass you and ask you to stand and introduce yourself. However, we offer visitors a small gift so we will ask you to raise your hand so our ushers can bring it to you.
In your pew
In your pew you will find a traditional hymnal as well as a white binder that also contains some of our favorite hymns that we use occasionally. You will also find a pencil as well as a small prayer request form. If you have something going on in your life that you would like us to pray for, please fill out the slip and during the service there is a time when the ushers will come by with a basket to receive those prayer requests and take them up front to the pastor, who will then share those prayers with the congregation as we pray for one another and our world. If you wish to remain anonymous, that is absolutely fine, or you can share your name and any specifics you wish us to know. And remember, we encourage you to share blessings as well as sorrows! We want to celebrate with you, as well as help carry any painful challenges you may be experiencing.
During worship
Our bulletin outlines the entire service, and our Pastors will share when it is time to stand, sit, or sing. Throughout the service we sometimes pray together out loud using words written in the bulletin and also displayed on our large screen. We usually sing a hymn and the page number will be listed in the bulletin. Our choir will perform an anthem. There is also a time called “Passing of the Peace” when we stand and greet one another offering the peace of Christ. One of our Pastors will offer a sermon of about ten minutes in length, and sometimes a member of our congregation will offer a message.
What our services are like
We offer creative presentations of our messages. On some Sundays a traditional sermon will be delivered. Sometimes you might receive a message offered in the form of a skit. Once in a while we film sermons that are like a mini TV episode!
You will hear traditional hymns, secular songs, and big, bold choir anthems. The atmosphere is often light-hearted and joyful! But that doesn’t take away from the depth of the message, or the tears occasionally shed as we share our heartaches and challenges. The words most often used to describe us include: Authentic, unexpected, creative, and meaningful. We take our faith very seriously, but we feel God is found in the laughter and the playful as well.
Children
Children are always welcome in worship and we have a small play area at the back of the Sanctuary with a few quiet toys to entertain them. We also have a basinet available. We provide Sunday School downstairs for school aged children during worship throughout most of the school year.
Communion
We serve communion on the first Sunday of each month. Prior to being served, our congregation sings “Surely the Presence” which can be found in the white binder. Our Deacons will serve the bread on trays that they will bring to the pews, then the Pastors will indicate it is time for all to eat. The same will happen next as the grape juice (non-alcoholic) is brought to you in your pew. We close Communion with the congregation singing The Lord’s Prayer.
After worship
Once worship has finished, you will exit the Sanctuary and greet the Pastors at the bottom of the stairs. A quick hello will suffice if you are shy, or you can introduce yourself and let us know a little about you!
We have a well-attended coffee hour after worship, which will provide you with the perfect opportunity to get to know some of our church members! Feel free to grab a cup of coffee and a snack, and sit at any table. Don’t be surprised if several people introduce themselves and sit down to visit with you.
