Welcome! We're Excited to Fellowship with You.
We hope that you feel the love of Jesus at our church! Whether you are searching for a church family or just visiting for a special occasion, we welcome you. Below you will find information about our worship services and practices, as well as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Worship Services
Visiting a church for the first time can be intimidating, especially when you are unfamiliar with the "flow" of events. Below is an overview of our worship services - the format, seating arrangement, and music.
Format
Sunday worship services begin at 10:00am (singing at 9:45) and 12:15pm (singing at 11:50); Wednesday evening services begin at 7:30pm (singing at 7:15). Typically, we follow this format (may vary on special occasions such as holiday services, weddings, baptisms, etc.):
- Fifteen minutes of acapella singing
- A moment of silent prayer as the ministers go up to the pulpit
- Introduction
- Old Testament reading and reflection
- Hymn and Prayer
- New Testament reading
- Sermon (~20-30 minutes)
- Closing thoughts/summary by a second minister
- Closing Hymn and Prayer
- Greetings from across our national/international denomination
- Brothers and sisters will announce the names of other Apostolic Christian congregations they have visited. (E.g., "Greetings from Chicago.")
- Announcements and any other closing remarks
- Ministers exit the pulpit, congregation files out beginning at the front. Following the first service on Sunday, we'll head directly to the dining room for lunch.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in worship through singing, engaged listening, and silent prayer throughout the service (a minister or church member will offer spoken prayers). We typically kneel to pray during services, but will also stand for prayer on special occasions such as weddings or baptisms. Bibles are available in the pews, or feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
Seating
During services, you will see groups of women sitting with women and men sitting with men, rather than family units sitting together. In addition to assisting our four-part singing, this practice helps us be conscious of individuals who attend church by themselves (single, widows/widowers/divorced, those without family nearby, etc.) and help them feel included in the family of God. It also fosters relationships that cross family and generational lines. However, feel free to sit with your family or friends during your visit.
Music
We do not use instruments in our song worship, but sing acapella in four-part harmony. This invites everyone to participate fully as we lift our voices in song. We sing from the Zion's Harp Hymnal, which contains hymns specific to our church heritage, and the Hymns of Zion Hymnal, which contains more well-known songs (It is Well, Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, etc.).
Ministers
Currently, we have eight ministers who rotate giving the sermons on Sunday and Wednesday. We embrace a "lay ministry" - our ministers are selected by the church, without formal seminary training. They forego financial compensation, and generally have (or are retired from) full-time jobs apart from their church duties. For this reason, having multiple ministers helps distribute the responsibility for preaching, teaching, and leadership. It also provides accountability and mutual support. As a congregation, we greatly benefit from their different preaching styles and perspectives.
When a minister from another Apostolic Christian congregation comes to visit, they often conduct one of the services.
Sunday Lunch
A lunch is always served between the first and second service on Sunday. All are invited to stay and eat! The menu varies week by week, but typically includes sandwiches, veggies & fruit, chips, and sweets (cookies, bars, donuts, rolls, etc.). Coffee is also provided. As a church family, we greatly value this time of fellowship and building relationships.
Sunday School & Children
All children, ages pre-school (3-4) and up are welcome to attend Sunday School, which begins at 10:00am. All the students gather for group singing / announcements and then dismiss to individual classes, organized by grade (except for high school students, who all attend the same class).
We love to see (and hear) a church full of children! We have a baby room furnished with changing pads, toys, and supplies, as well as a nursing room and sleeping rooms with cribs and rocking chairs. Infants/toddlers stay with their grown-up during morning and afternoon services; childcare is not provided for that age group.
Attire
As a church culture, we embrace a formal style of dress. Women typically wear skirts and dresses, while most men come in dress pants and dress shirts (many wearing ties or suits). However, anyone is welcome regardless of their attire, so feel free to do whatever is most comfortable for you and your family. You will also notice that female members wear head coverings and male members leave their heads uncovered, a practice based on 1 Corinthians 11.