WHAT TO EXPECT
Sunday mornings at the Paxtonville United Methodist Church start at 8:00AM with a brief “Service” of prayer and testimony in the 24-hour prayer chapel. Between 8:30AM and 9:00AM, coffee, tea, juice, and conversation are available in the Fellowship Hall as folks arrive for Sunday School. Sunday School classes for adults and SMASH (Students Meeting and Serving Him) for children (Pre-K to 12th grade) begins at 9:00AM and runs until 10:00AM. These classes meet in various rooms throughout the building. Please be sure to ask the door attendant for directions, if needed. The main worship service takes place in the sanctuary. It begins at 10:30, and usually ends between 11:30 and 11:45. Regardless of what time you arrive, hospitality team members will greet you at the door and help direct you wherever you need to go. Our goal is to help you feel welcome and loved while you worship and grow with us.
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN
All of God’s children (regardless of age) are welcome in the sanctuary during the main worship service. Pastor Ryan has a “Children’s Word” during worship where the children may gather on the steps toward the front. To help parents of children feel more comfortable we have “Busy Bags” available at the welcome center in the hallway outside the sanctuary. Busy Bags contain children’s coloring and activity books. Please feel free to take one on your way into the sanctuary. We also have a seating area on the other side of the sanctuary hallway windows with a few chairs and some quiet toys. Please feel free to use this area at your convenience.
WHAT TO WEAR
1 Samuel 16:7 says: “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” At Paxtonville United Methodist Church, there is no dress code. We believe God is calling us to come worship together, dressed “as we are.” It’s not unusual to see someone in jeans and a t-shirt sitting next to a woman in a dress or a man in a suit. Please come dressed in what is both comfortable and appropriate to you for worship.
WHAT TO BRING
When you come to the Paxtonville United Methodist Church, all you will NEED to bring is a heart for God and neighbor, and an open mind for what God wants you to receive. Some things you may WANT to bring with you include a Bible or e-reader to follow the Scripture, a notepad to jot down whatever touches your heart during the service or your smart phone to quietly post new insights to Twitter or Facebook. If you happen to forget your Bible, we have some in the pews for your use. An offering is taken during the worship service, so if God lays it on your heart to bring an offering, we encourage you to do so. As an aside, budgets and expense reports are produced regularly, so if you want to know what the offering supports, just ask! We will be happy to tell you about all our missions and ministries at Paxtonville United Methodist Church.
YOU MAY BE WONDERING
“Am I good enough to go to church?” The real answer: none of us are good enough to live without regular worship and a relationship with God. We are all sinners in need of salvation. We go to church not because we are worthy but because we know this is where we can meet Jesus and be made spiritually well. Remember:
The Word became flesh and made his home among us.”
JOHN 1:14A (CEB)