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Worship is important to Christians. It is one of the most central acts of
our faith practice. In the Bible, Psalm 100 says,
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come into God's presence with singing.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is God that made us, and we are God's;
we are God's people, and the sheep of God's pasture.
Enter God's gates with thanksgiving,
and God's courts with praise.
Give thanks to God, bless God's name.
For the LORD is good;
God's steadfast love endures forever,
and God's faithfulness to all generations.
We prayerfully work to make worship an engaging and relevant experience each week. There are several people who serve
in different areas to make this happen. If you have questions about these ministry areas, please feel free to e-mail
the ministry area leader.
If you are new to worship
We understand that coming to a worship service can be intimidating. We
hope that the information that we give you here can help relieve some of your
concerns. If you have questions or concerns that do not get addressed here,
please feel free to e-mail Jon at jon@sulphurgrove.org
or stop by his office. It is located across from the locker rooms at the Huber Heights YMCA.
I'm not sure what to wear
Our worship services are very relaxed and dress is casual. We encourage you to dress comfortably.
I'm not sure where to go
Our worship services are held in the gymnasium. Every Sunday morning we
arrive early and work to transform the gym into a worship space. We roll out
carpet, set up chairs and plug in lights, sound, computer and other equipment.
We are intentional about making the YMCA ready for your presence
on Sunday morning. There are directional signs and people to assist you as soon as you arrive.
I'm not sure what to expect during 'worship'
We vary our worship gatherings so it is hard to explain what will happen on any given Sunday. These
elements of worship are usually present:
- Singing
- Prayer
- Bible readings
- Message
- Application of God's word to our world
- Offering
It is important to us to create an environment where you feel welcomed. You are encouraged to participate in worship
at whatever level you feel comfortable.
I'm not sure what will be expected of me
Frequently people fear feeling 'stupid' when they enter a church. That fear is normal anytime we go to experience
something new. To help relieve some of those fears, here are just of few things that we
do NOT expect of you:
We do not expect you to know anything about the Bible.
We do not expect you to stand up and introduce yourself to everyone who is there.
We do not expect you to give us any information about yourself although there will be a pad that we pass
around where you could give us contact information about yourself if you would like.
We do not expect you to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.
What we do expect is that you have come with a mind that is curious and maybe a heart that is searching. Although you
come with very natural reservations, we hope that you will be open to receive what we have to offer - help and direction
as you embark upon or continue on your spiritual journey.
I'm not sure what my children will experience
You and your children have a couple of different options available to you. If you would like to keep your children
with you throughout the worship experience, you are more than welcome to do so. We do not want you and your family
to feel uneasy about your Sunday morning worship experience so you are invited to use the resources we provide only
if you are comfortable doing so.
For infants and toddlers
We do have a nursery that is available for infants and toddlers with paid child care providers who have been trained
in First Aid and CPR and have passed background checks. This service is offered at no cost to you.
For older children
For older children we offer a Christian educational opportunity during part of the worship service. After
the singing time in worship, children will be invited to go to the YMCA's multi-purpose room where they will be
taught a Bible lesson through age appropriate crafts and activities.
I'm not sure who I will meet
The people who worship on Sunday mornings make up a variety of ages and life stages. You will see children; teenagers;
and people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. You will see students, college students, engineers, teachers, nurses,
business owners, white collar workers, blue collar workers, work at home moms, musicians, and lots of other people too!
You will see single people, couples, young families, couples without children, families with teenage children,
couples with grown children, and couples with grandchildren.
Most importantly, you will meet people who are like you, searching for meaning and direction as they try to live
faithful lives in a sometimes difficult and scary world.
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