What to Expect
Whether you've attended church your whole life or never stepped foot in one before, we know it’s not easy visiting a church for the first time. You’re not quite sure what to expect. You probably have a lot of questions. What does a weekend service look like? How should I dress? How long does it last? What about my kids?
Great questions! Here’s some information that should help:
What time are the services?
We have four services each weekend. Saturday at 5:00pm and Sunday mornings at 8:00am, 9:35am and 11:10am. Each service lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. We’d encourage you to arrive 15 minutes early, especially if you have young children. That will give you plenty of time to get your children checked in at the Learning Center prior to the service.
How should I dress?
Fellowship is a "come as you are" church. We want you to feel comfortable. After all, we are thrilled that you're joining us and we want you to be more focused on who you’re worshiping than what you're wearing. In the summertime, it's not uncommon to see people wearing sandals, shorts, and a t-shirt. Most people dress casual though a few still prefer to put on their "Sunday best," and that's fine too! We think you'll fit in no matter how you dress.
What are the messages like?
The most important thing we could say is, we aim to teach the Bible in a way that is engaging, understandable and applicable. Transformation is inseparable from application, so you will find the teaching here always ends in “how does this truth challenge, encourage or guide me right where I am?” Most messages are biblical exposition; that is, a verse-by-verse study of God’s Word, a “balanced diet” of the whole counsel of God. In addition, our focus is on God’s Word, not the teacher. Three teaching pastors rotate in the pulpit.
What about the music?
Music and singing is just one of the many ways that we worship. At Fellowship, we are led by a team of musicians and vocalists. Four leaders rotate each weekend in what we hope is authentic, creative, Christ centered and God exalting worship. We sing original songs, historic hymns and many current worship songs.
What's available for my kids?
Fellowship Children’s Ministries (FCM) is a fun, interactive, and stimulating environment intended to fill children with the wonder of knowing God, loving Him, and serving others. Every child, birth through 6th grade, is considered unique and special. Each receives individual, focused attention and is treated to a smorgasbord of sights and sounds intended to stimulate and equip them toward growth in Christ.
In a warm, secure and loving environment, infants through 6th graders receive biblical instruction consistent with their age. Our teachers go "all out” to make their weekend time a vibrant, creative, Christ-centered experience. Truth is communicated “hands-on,” stimulating kids to experience the realities of the Bible and the Christian life for themselves.
The children meet in our Learning Center, which is attached by a breezeway to the north entrance of our Worship Center.
Our 2nd-6th grade themed classrooms provide a highly creative and interactive environment that engages your child in the stories and truths of Scripture. Whether your child sets sail on the “HMS Gospel” (2nd grade), boards the Starship Redeemer (3rd grade), takes an archaeological expedition of the Holy Land (4th grade), enters Covenant Castle as a Knight of the Cross (5th grade), or explores the traps of adolescence in Yukon Ho! (6th grade), he or she will experience the truth of Scripture as never before!
Do you have something for students?
Building upon the foundations established through Fellowship Children, Fellowship Student Ministries (FSM) is a place for 7th-12th grade students to feel welcomed, embraced, encouraged and equipped.
“Relational, high energy, engaging, interactive, and biblically relevant,” would be a few words to describe our ministry with students. In environments where they can have fun and engage with the truth, our aim is to help students make their faith their own. FSM is a safe place to wrestle with hard questions…and a challenging place where a student’s faith is developed, strengthened, and stretched.
The Mix: Our ministry to 7th and 8th graders. The Mix meets on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30pm in The Barn for a time of fellowship, laughter, worship and connection to Mix leaders. In addition, students hear a message from one of our student pastors. This venue is a great opportunity for visitors to get a taste of our middle school ministry and to get plugged into a 242 Group (small group).
The Foundry: Our ministry to high school students. The Foundry is our main gathering for high schoolers and meets in the Worship Center on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30pm. Students experience worship, skits, videos, etc., and hear a message from one of our Student Ministries pastors. After the message, students spend time intersecting the message and their lives in 242 groups (grade specific breakout groups).
Will I be asked to give money?
If you are a guest, please do not feel any obligation to give. We believe giving is an act of worship wherein those who have a personal relationship with God through Christ, give regularly and generously in response to God’s gracious gifts.
