Coming to a church for the first time can be a bit intimidating. Since we want to make your first visit as comfortable as possible, we want to give you an idea of what to expect.
Building
The building is located on the corner of Main Street and Maple (Highway 2), across from the museum and the Daily Iowegian newspaper, and one block off the Centerville Square. Parking is available on both sides of Main Street. The main entrance is located on Main Street. We're the church with the chimes. Perhaps you've heard them at 9am, 5pm, and 9pm every day.
When you come through the door, you're in the entrance way. To the left is the sanctuary and to the right is the fellowship hall, which includes a bathroom and the pastor's and secretary's offices. The stairway to go downstairs is at the west of the fellowship hall. More bathrooms are located downstairs. At 9am during the school year we have children's Sunday school in the room above the pastor's study and the choir practices in the sanctuary.
Worship
When you come for worship at 10am, an usher will greet you and hand you a bulletin. We have large print bulletins, large print Bibles, hearing aids, and copies of the sermon for those with hearing or sight problems, available upon request. We also have children's bulletins.
Generally we have a traditional Presbyterian service of worship. At times we use video clips, graphics, dramatic readings, visual anthems, and movement. We sing traditional hymns with an organ accompaniment along with some contemporary praise songs, Taize songs, and newer hymns.
The order of service includes a call to worship, opening prayer, prayer of confession, anthem, children's message, scripture, sermon, prayers of the people, offering, and closing.
Children
Children of all ages are welcome at First Presbyterian Church! During the school year we have children's Sunday school at 9am. Near the beginning of the worship service we have a special children's message done by the pastor. After the children's message, church members take younger children downstairs for activities. Children are welcome to go downstairs or stay upstairs with their parents in church.
Sermon
In Presbyterian worship, the sermon is often the heart of the worship service. Suzanne's sermons usually last about 15 minutes. She strives to make the ancient texts speak to us today. The sermons will be available as .mp3 files to listen to, or .pdf files to print off and read. We encourage you to sample some to see if her preaching style speaks to you.
Offering
On the first Sunday of the month we have the First Sunday Collection, where we collect food, personal care items, baby items, and money for the Lord's Cupboard (food bank), SIEDA (Southern Iowa Economic Development Association), and Angel's Hands (thrift store). The children participate by collecting the items during the Children's Message.
We believe that returning to God a portion of all that God has given us is an important part of our discipleship, so every Sunday we give back to God through the offering. As a first-time worshiper, please don't feel obligated to give. The service is our gift to you.
Fellowship Time
After the service, we gather in the fellowship hall to enjoy cookies, coffee and juice. Nearly everyone stays and enjoys the conversation after the service. Don't worry about finding someone to talk to. No one sits alone for long.
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