What Can I Expect When I Come To Apostles?
A Place to Feel At Home
We are always happy to see new folks at Apostles and we want you to feel at home here. Even if you have never opened the Bible, we want you to come and explore what life in Jesus Christ is all about. Participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable doing. We really want you to “come as you are” because that’s how Christ receives all of His children. Our regular Sunday worship services are scheduled at 8:30AM and 11:00AM. The first service is a more traditional Lutheran liturgical format and the second service is a more contemporary style. Both will focus on the same Bible lessons and will include time for praise, worship, prayer and teaching. Between worship services, adults, teens and children can participate in Sunday School, held at 10AM each week. People dress in a variety of ways for worship, with many dressing casually. Your children are welcome at Apostles and we have special opportunities for them during worship and during the week (see “Children’s Worship” below).
A Friendly Environment
Park in our lot or on the street beside our pine tree grove and come on in the front door of the church building. You’ll be greeted by members of our church family and invited to sit anywhere you’d like in the sanctuary – the place we gather to worship, learn and pray together. You’ll be given a worship folder that has an outline of what’s happening in the service, a Prayer Request/Info card, and message notes so you can follow along with the teaching. Pick up one of our weekly newsletters from the stand by the front door to know about current and future events at Apostles. We gather in the Fellowship Hall for coffee and snacks after the 8:30AM service – please feel free to join us!
A Place to Connect
We will never single you out during the service but we’d like to connect with you after you visit Apostles; so be sure to fill out the Info Card in your worship folder. You can complete as much information as you feel comfortable, tear out the card and turn it in when the offering plates are passed during the service. If you are a first time guest, a member of Apostles will contact you the following week to welcome you and give you a small gift. Please let us know of any prayer requests you have (on the back of the Info Card). It is our privilege to lift up your joys and concerns to God.
An Upbeat and Refreshing Service
You'll enjoy practical messages and a worship style that celebrates God. What you learn on Sunday will help you live life on Monday (and through the week). You can follow the outline in the worship folder and we'll let you know if we are about to stand or sit down. We sing songs, read prayers together or silently, and hear a teaching from our pastor (And, by the way, it’s okay to laugh at the jokes!). Each Sunday we offer Holy Communion – the commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice for our salvation (see “Holy Communion” below). We pass offering plates during the service to receive tithes and financial gifts from our Apostles family members. As our guest you may feel perfectly comfortable in just passing the collection plate on down the row.
Some Details to Help You
Holy Communion
We offer Holy Communion every Sunday morning – at the 8:30AM service on the 1st & 3rd Sundays and at the 11AM service on the 2nd & 4th Sundays. We welcome all who have been baptized and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior to participate in communion at Apostles. Children in the 5th grade or higher who have been instructed in this sacrament are also welcome to commune. If your children to do not receive communion, you may bring them forward to receive a prayer of a blessing from the pastor. We are ushered by rows to the front of the church where the pastors distribute to each person a piece of bread (the Body of Christ). For the distribution of the cup (the Blood of Christ) you may take a pre-filled cup of grape juice or an empty cup that will be filled with wine. After you drink, put the cup in the basket and return to your seat. Please do not feel uncomfortable if you choose not to participate. Just remain seated during the communion service.
Children's Worship
We want all children to know and experience the love of Christ at Apostles! During Sunday worship, we offer a safe Nursery for infants to toddlers (up to age four) staffed by a trained, professional childcare provider and helpers from within our church family. Just ask the greeter for directions to the Nursery when you arrive. “Quiet Kits” filled with crayons, coloring pages and books are available for young children in the lobby; just return the kit after worship. To allow parents to engage in the pastor’s message during the worship service, children ages 4 to 9 are excused to go to Children’s Church where they’ll enjoy an age-appropriate Bible lesson, make a craft and play games taught by adults in the Fellowship Hall. Your children will return to the sanctuary following the pastor’s message.
For more information about who we are and how we live, please visit our Archive Page.
