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It can be a little intimidating walking into a church for the first time. Or, maybe it's just been a long time since you have attended church. Either way, church should be a joyous experience, but not knowing what to expect can be stressful. Here are some commonly asked questions to help make your visit to St. Paul's more comfortable.
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What is Holy Eucharist? |
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Holy Eucharist means Great Thanksgiving, and is a service of worship that is about giving thanks and praise to God for all that we have in our lives. The service includes ancient and modern hymns and prayers, readings from the Bible, and a celebration of Holy Communion.
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Which Service is for me? |
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We have two services of Holy Eucharist on Sunday mornings. The 8:00 service is a said service (no music) that lasts about 45 minutes. The 10:00 service includes hymns and anthems and is usually an hour in length. Immediately following the 10:00 service, the congregation gathers in the Mission Center for coffee and snacks.
On Thursday evenings, Holy Eucharist begins at 6:30 p.m. with a short said service lasting about 30 minutes followed by a Bible Study.
Morning Prayer is a prayer service on Friday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
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Who is welcome to attend St. Paul's? |
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St. Paul's is a diverse congregation. We believe that God accepts all people regardless of their social and economic status, lifestyle or family structure, so ALL are welcome.
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How should I dress? |
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St. Paul's does not have a "dress code" but our worshippers dress comfortably and respectfully.
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What should I expect when I arrive? |
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St. Paul's is a friendly congregation. When you arrive, you will be greeted by the ushers. They will welcome you to St. Paul's and give you a service bulletin that will guide you through the service.
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Will anyone talk to me? |
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Besides a greeting from the ushers, it is very likely that others will welcome you to our church. Immediately after the sermon and prayers, the congregation greets one another in what is called "Sharing the Peace."
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Are my kids welcome to sit with me? |
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St. Paul's is a family-friendly church. Children are always welcome to sit with their parents. We offer crayons and coloring pages for quiet activities during the service. We believe that children — their presence, their questions, their honesty and their special intuitive sense of God — make us a more faithful and vital congregation.
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Will they ask me for money? |
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Receiving an offering is part of our service. Making a contribution is appreciated, but not expected from our visitors.
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Am I welcome if I don't believe? |
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YES! We believe that the gift we have in Christ is to share God with love, care and respect for all people. We hope you will find St. Paul's to be a place to explore what faith might mean to you as you grow in your relationship with God.
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Can I take communion? |
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All baptized Christians are welcome to take communion at St. Paul's, regardless of denominational affiliation, or Christian background. Visitors may also choose to receive a blessing or remain seated and not take communion.
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How do I know when to stand, sit , or kneel? |
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During our service, we stand to sing and praise God, we sit to hear and learn, and we kneel to pray. However, worshippers sometimes will sit or stand instead of kneeling.
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Am I expected to fill out a visitor card? |
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We appreciate our visitors filling out a card. The information you provide helps us get you more connected with our faith community. Your information is not shared with any telemarketing lists or email spam. You will get a friendly note from our office saying that it was nice to have you with us!
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Will I be able to take my time getting to know the church, or will I be asked to participate in activities right away? |
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Our hope is that you will be welcomed and given the feeling that you belong, but not pressured to join a particular group or help out with a church program. Many people, especially those returning to church after a time away, appreciate the opportunity to take their time.
Although worship is the central focus of life at St. Paul's, really belonging to a church means helping to support the ministries of the church through your stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. Take your time, see what draws you, and join in more fully when you are ready. The opportunities are varied and rich. Know that your presence and your participation are a gift to God and to the people of God gathered at St. Paul's.
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Members of St. Paul's are always willing to answer questions and help guide a newcomer through the service.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
— Philippians 4:13
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| Worship Schedule |
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8:00 AM |
Holy Eucharist Rite II
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10:00 AM |
Holy Eucharist Rite II
followed by refreshments in the Mission Center |
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