Hello visitor,
I appreciate you considering walking inside our church. It can be scary; I assume you don't know a soul here. A lot of us are friendly introverts, too.
You know how, at big holidays like Thanksgiving, families often will get more formal... use a table cloth and candles. We're casual in our dress, but usually formal in our services, to show how much we care about what we're doing. There's a lot of interesting history and symbolism around - it may remind you of a Roman Catholic or Lutheran service, if those are familiar. There's a program to pick up, and powerpoint lyrics if you like to sing.
If you've got kids, we have a nursery and classes for all ages, but we also like the joyful noises they make and interesting questions they ask.
We have four readings most weeks, two from the Hebrew Bible and two from the Christian New Testament. A homily explores themes, gives (brief) information about our faith and asks thought questions.
We sit and stand and kneel, using our bodies to help us with various feelings. Sitting to learn. Standing to pray or sing. Kneeling to show God reverence. You can participate in as much as you like, or sit quietly and watch. Those are personal choices. I think most people have better things to do than watching each other. We have a lot of customs; some of them are quite old. If you want to come back, you'll catch on soon enough.
All Baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion here, or if you're not baptized or don't want to receive, consider coming forward for a blessing (crossing your hands over your heart.) After communion, we usually have healing prayer in the chapel. It's low key, a healing person listens confidentially and brings your concern to God. The outcome is in God's hands.
After church service (which takes about an hour here), most of us go upstairs for our other sacred rite, Sunday coffee hour. We just talk with caring church friends about ... almost anything! Everybody needs community. We find that ours is warm, caring and thoughtful.
I hope you find what you're looking for soon.
May God bless and guide you,
I appreciate you considering walking inside our church. It can be scary; I assume you don't know a soul here. A lot of us are friendly introverts, too.
You know how, at big holidays like Thanksgiving, families often will get more formal... use a table cloth and candles. We're casual in our dress, but usually formal in our services, to show how much we care about what we're doing. There's a lot of interesting history and symbolism around - it may remind you of a Roman Catholic or Lutheran service, if those are familiar. There's a program to pick up, and powerpoint lyrics if you like to sing.
If you've got kids, we have a nursery and classes for all ages, but we also like the joyful noises they make and interesting questions they ask.
We have four readings most weeks, two from the Hebrew Bible and two from the Christian New Testament. A homily explores themes, gives (brief) information about our faith and asks thought questions.
We sit and stand and kneel, using our bodies to help us with various feelings. Sitting to learn. Standing to pray or sing. Kneeling to show God reverence. You can participate in as much as you like, or sit quietly and watch. Those are personal choices. I think most people have better things to do than watching each other. We have a lot of customs; some of them are quite old. If you want to come back, you'll catch on soon enough.
All Baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion here, or if you're not baptized or don't want to receive, consider coming forward for a blessing (crossing your hands over your heart.) After communion, we usually have healing prayer in the chapel. It's low key, a healing person listens confidentially and brings your concern to God. The outcome is in God's hands.
After church service (which takes about an hour here), most of us go upstairs for our other sacred rite, Sunday coffee hour. We just talk with caring church friends about ... almost anything! Everybody needs community. We find that ours is warm, caring and thoughtful.
I hope you find what you're looking for soon.
May God bless and guide you,