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New to St Paul's

Welcome!

 

We say that a lot at St Paul's.  We say it because we mean it!

You are welcome here. We learned that from Jesus, who was always welcoming.

Wherever He went, whomever He met, the word of welcome was always shared.

 

We invite you to explore our website. Come visit us for worship and Bible study if you haven’t done so already. Become more familiar with us -- and allow us to become more familiar with you.

 

We hope that you find the highlights about what to expect at our church helpful. If there is a way in which we can serve you -- or help you to serve the Savior -- please contact us and let us know. Our mission is to show the love of Jesus to our neighbors and beyond so that all may have a living relationship with Christ. You are welcome to join us in that mission!

 

What to Expect

 

We understand that it can be somewhat scary to walk into an unfamiliar place, in particular if you are not used to churches. We would love to make it as comfortable and non-threatening as possible, so we have outlined some essential information about what you could expect for your first time at St Paul's.

 

Where do I park and where do I go?

The main entrance is on Carridale Street  through the glass doors to the Lobby with parking on the south

and west side of the building. 

As you enter our church, you will be greeted by members in the Lobby.  
 

From the Lobby, the ARC (gym) entrance for CrossLIfe Praise & Worship is on the left and the Sanctuary for Traditional worship is located down the hallway though the doors on the right.  Ushers and Greeters will be there to greet you and to help you find a seat. Please ask one of the ushers if you  have any questions about our worship services. They also will provide you with a service bulletin and News and Notes which lists all the upcoming  events at St  Paul's.

 

What happens in Worship?

We model Martin Luther’s simple definition of worship "that our dear Lord himself may speak to us through his holy Word and we respond to him through prayer and praise.”  

Our Traditional Worship service follows the Lutheran liturgy crafted in various and varying forms and hymns are accompanied by our organist.  Our CrossLife Praise and Worship service contains the elements of Lutheran worship in a more casual presentation and hymns and songs of praise are led by the worship team, Audience of One

In each of the services, the pastor relates God's Word of salvation to our daily lives in his sermon.

We celebrate the Lord's Supper every weekend at one of the services.  Please check out our worship times and communion schedule here.

 

Do you have Sunday School or Bible Study? 

Yes, we offer Bible studies for children, youth, and adults at 9:30 am.

Please check out the latest Bible studies for adults here.  

 

What do I do with my kids?

We have a staffed Nursery from 8:00 am to noon for children 4 months to 4 years during Sunday worship times and welcome those over 4 to join you in worship. During Power Hour, our staffed Nursery cares for children 4 months up to 2 years (the 2-year-olds have a Bible lesson in the Nursery) and classes for children 3 years through high school.

 

How should I dress? 

Like most people, our members try to make their worship time an important and special time. This is often demonstrated in the way they may dress.

But dress is a personal matter of worship before God.  One may dress casually and rejoice in having a God who will accept us as we are.  Another may dress to reflect the awe and reverence we have for our Lord and Savior.  Bottom line remains .... when a person dresses out of love for God, the choice of dress (casual or formal) is acceptable to God .... and us.

 

Am I expected to give an offering?

Like many Christians, our members present offerings to God through their church.  The Bible teaches us that our offerings to God should reflect the belief that all we have is His gift to us. With our offerings, we worship and honor God.  Since offerings are gifts for the love of God, no one dictates what each person shall give.  We pass an offering plate during the service so that our worship may include bringing gifts to our Lord.  (Worshippers can use offering envelopes to keep gifts a private matter which is not known to other members, but is known to God). You may find blue offering envelopes in the pew pocket located on the back of the seating in the Sanctuary or in the Friendship Register in CrossLife.

 

Children may bring change their parents give them.  Someone may give cash or write a check, or even give online. Whichever way, we are remembering Jesus and giving gifts out of love for Him.  

 

Initially, you may wish to learn more about St Paul's' ministry before bringing your offerings through our church.  But you are welcomed to participate as your heart leads you to give.  Please see more information on Giving here.

 

COMMON WORRIES

Going to church for a first time can be intimidating. Here are some common worries:

 

"What if they make me stand up and say something?!!" Rest assured, we won't embarrass you in any way. Our church wants you to be as comfortable as possible. Worship should always be an enjoyable and uplifting experience. We will do all we can so that you can learn about our Savior.

 

"I just know my child will be noisy and will bother everyone." We welcome and encourage all children to attend our services. If you do feel uncomfortable with your child's noise level, we have a nursery with speakers so you can continue to hear the worship service.

 

"I know I will feel out of place." I hope that this visitor's guide will help you to feel at ease. If you do have any questions, don't hesitate to ask the greeters  or the ushers near the entrance to the worship area. Our members and staff will offer their hospitality and guide you in the right direction!

 

"I am scared I will say or do something wrong." Every one of us has felt this way in a new situation. We hope you see the folks at St Paul's to be ordinary, friendly people like yourself. We will accept you as you are and help you become what Christ wants you to be.

 

"I just want to watch at first, and I know they will try to sign me up in activities right away." It is unpleasant to receive undue pressure as if we were victims of some "membership drive" looking for numbers only. We feel that church membership should be on a volunteer basis, and that the most important aspect is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. It does take time for this to be cultivated. We respect the need for you to evaluate your faith and decide your involvement. While we do encourage worship attendance and Christian involvement, we try to do so in a comfortable and pressure-free environment.  The pastor leads a membership class each quarter for those that want more information on the Lutheran Christian faith and the St Paul's family. 

 

"I don't know that much about the Bible." Worship services and Bible Study are opportunities to grow in knowledge of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You will not have to answer any questions you don't feel comfortable answering. Remember, as Christians we do not always have all the answers, and sometimes the best response to a question can be, "I don't know."

 

A FINAL THOUGHT

We pray that this page has helped answer some of your questions and helped alleviate your fears. Our goals as a congregation are quite simple. We want to grow in faith and share that faith with people like you. All we do is meant to work towards those two goals. We pray that nothing more stands in your way from learning about your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

 

God's blessings. We are looking forward to seeing you in church.

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