What to wear:
Most people dress casual or business casual. We invite you to wear whatever is most real and comfortable for you.
Where to park:
Most people use the door closest to the parking lot, which is closest to where the worship service is held. Please feel free to use the carport in the front of the church if you are dropping off someone or need to use a wheelchair.
When I arrive:
- Where do I hang my coat? There are coat racks to your left as soon as you enter from the parking lot entrance or on the other side of the foyer, across from the bathrooms.
- Where are the bathrooms? If you enter from the parking lot entrance, the bathrooms are on the other side of the foyer. Ask anyone you see to direct you, if needed.
Before the service starts:
- What if I’m early? You can ask an usher for a tour or you can look at the bulletin boards on the other side of the foyer (by the bathrooms). You can sit in the foyer and people-watch! You can find someone to talk with. You can sit in the sanctuary where we have our service and listen to the pre-service music, look at the bulletin, or read the church announcements on the big screen. It’s not uncommon for there to be only a few people in the sanctuary until the last minute because many people are coming from Sunday School, which is held from 9 to 10. By the way, you are welcome to join us there as well!
- Where do I take my kids? Children of any age are welcome in the service. If you’d like to have your child cared for during the service, or provided a way to amuse themselves, there are several options:
- Birth to age 3: There are nursery services available for infants to age three. If you are interested in more information on how we safeguard our children, please see a summary of our child protection policy. It’s always helpful if your child’s things are labeled (bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers, etc.).
- Age 3-12: There are activity supplies available for kids age 3-12. You can also ask an usher for a children’s bulletin to color, which coincides with the message of the day.
- Are there assigned seats? No. Please sit anywhere you are comfortable.
- What if I have special needs? Large print hymnals or hearing assistance devices are available for those who need it. Please see an usher.
During the Service:
- How long will I be there? The service starts at 10:15am and usually lasts about an hour and fifteen minutes. While we try to get done by 11:30 each week, sometimes we can run over—if you’ve made plans and have to leave before the service is done, we understand.
- What happens during the service? Each service includes times of singing, prayer, a teaching time (called a “sermon”), some announcements, reading from the Bible, and a story for children. Some weeks will include extra elements like special musical performances, drama, new baby celebrations, or communion (remembering Jesus’ death with a special ceremony).
- What is the music like? We sing music in two different styles each week: a traditional style with songs sung in four-part harmony without instruments and a selection of newer songs led by a team of musicians. Both styles of music are enjoyable and all of our songs have important words that talk about God and our relationship with Him. The words of all our songs are projected on a screen so that you can sing along.
- What do I need to do? When you come to our services, you can participate as much or as little as you like. If you have a Bible, you can bring it along. If you don’t, all the Bible stories we read are projected on a screen so that you can follow along. If you just want to listen to the singing, you can do that, too. The leaders up front will let you know when to sit, stand, close your eyes, etc.
- Will I need money for anything? While you are more than welcome to give a financial gift to the church if you want to, we don’t expect that of you. We value your time and consider your presence a gift to our church. Sometimes during the service there will be an extra collection of change to help with humanitarian projects.
- Who are the people up front? There are a number of people up front during the service every week. You will probably see the pastor who will teach, the Praise Team who leads the singing, one of our “choristers” who also leads singing and a “worship leader” who reads the Scripture, leads the prayer time, and makes sure everything runs smoothly. You will also see people telling stories, giving announcements, doing drama, and more—we like to get as many people involved as we can!
- What if I don’t understand something? Feel free to ask! When the service is over, ask someone who is sitting near you to explain. Or if you aren’t comfortable with that, find the pastor or one of the people you saw up front. We don’t want you to leave without understanding what you heard.
After the Service:
- Greeting the Pastor: After each service, Pastor Nathan stands at the center door in the back of the sanctuary. If you’d like to talk to him, you can exit through those doors. If you would prefer not to, there are plenty of other ways out of the sanctuary.
- Conversation: People stand around and talk after the service is over— and some of them might want to talk with you! Someone might invite you to dinner or tell you about an event coming up in the next few weeks. It’s ok to say “no” if you have other plans or just would rather go home (but be forewarned—we are REALLY good cooks!!).
- Pick up your kids: If you left your kids in the nursery, you’ll probably want to pick them up before long (ok, you might not want to . . .)
What If?
What if I wasn’t baptized or am from a different church?
Regardless of where you went to church in the past, or if you never went at all …you are welcome to worship with us!
What if I don’t agree with everything you believe in?
You are still welcome to worship God with us. If you don’t believe there is a God, please spend some time with us and we pray that you will be able to see otherwise.
What if I don’t understand what you’re talking about?
Questions are welcome. Feel free to ask someone seated near you after the service or see Pastor Nathan or Pastor Tracy who are available to greet everyone in the foyer after the service.
What if I need help (financial, counseling, etc)?
You may speak to the pastor after the service or contact the church office, who will direct you depending on your specific needs.