Welcome! Our Sunday services are packed with personality and variety. Music, scripture, meditation, prayers, and fellowship can all be found. We hope you feel welcome during your first visit. Here is some basic information to help you feel more comfortable.
Where to go when you arrive
The side doors east of the parking lot are most commonly used. You're welcome to enter through either of those doors. You'll find yourself in the Fellowship Hall, and will most likely see people preparing for Sunday School.
You can also enter our main foyer door on the south side of the building. From there, walk straight ahead to the Sanctuary for worship services, or turn right down the hallway to find Sunday School classes.
If you need ramp access, please use the south doors.
What to wear
Dress on Sunday leans toward casual; however, you will find people dressed in their Sunday best and others in blue jeans, a t-shirt, and flip flops. Wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable, we are just glad you came!
Services for children
Children are an important part of our congregation. We cherish the ministry shared by persons of all ages, and this includes our children. You will find children participating in worship services in a variety of ways.
Classes are offered on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for the following ages:
2-6 year-olds
7-12 year-olds
We currently do not have a separate Sunday School class for teens and young adults. Older children are welcome to attend the 8-12 class or the adult "Coffee and Conversation class.
Children are always welcome during the 11 a.m. worship. We provide small activity bags for each child to use during worship service. There is also a small playroom at the back of the sanctuary with window access so you can observe your child at all times.
Worship services
Expect variety. Because the services are planned by a variety of people and the service leadership and participants change from week to week, no two services will ever be exactly alike. Some will be more traditional, others more contemporary, and most somewhere in-between. All will provide opportunity for you to share in music, scripture, and challenging words of hope, faith, and the love of Jesus Christ.
You can typically expect to see these elements: Prayer for Peace A daily Prayer for Peace is held in the Temple in Independence Missouri where we uphold a different world nation each day. During our Sunday worship, we participate in the Prayer for Peace with congregations all over the church.
Hymns The congregation sings 3-4 songs during a worship service. Our hymnal, Community of Christ Sings!, features inclusive hymns with songs on peace, diversity, social justice, sacredness of creation, and much more.
Prayers Some prayers are written, others are not. We generally stand for the opening and closing prayers.
Spiritual Practice We try to spend a few minutes each Sunday morning engaging in a spiritual practice together. This may take the form of guided meditation, centering prayer, or just a chance to slow down and breathe.
Focus Moment This part of our service is just for the kids! As they are comfortable, children gather at the front of the sanctuary for a quick lesson or story and are handed activity bags they can play with throughout the service.
Readings Most weeks we have some kind of reading. Sometimes it's a scripture, a poem, or an interactive reading with the congregation.
Sermon Our congregation follows the Revised Common Lectionary. Each week, we visit a passage from one of the Gospels and center our message around it.
Disciples Generous Response - Commonly called an offering, the Disciples Generous Response is the time for the congregation to respond to God's generosity. A short message is given, a prayer is offered and plates are passed through the congregation. There is no obligation to contribute. In Community of Christ, we do not tell members how much to give, but encourage giving to our true capacity. You can use the envelopes provided in each pew to designate where you'd like your contribution to go. Undesignated cash contributions will be used for local congregational expenses.
FAQ
If you have additional questions about visiting our congregation, please check our FAQ or feel free to contact us.
