What To Expect…
When are your services?
During the school year, at 9:30 AM – Kid Connection, our Children’s Ministry, starts at 9:30 with singing and games for younger children. Teens and adults each have their own Bible study group as well.
11:00 AM – Worship Service ~ Childcare is available during Sunday morning worship.
What are the services like?
Our 11:00 AM service is a somewhat traditional service with occasional contemporary elements. We place a lot of emphasis on the Word working among us, so we’re likely to recite Scripture together, read it collectively, and study it during the sermon. We like to sing; we’ll usually have 4 songs; we occasionally have additional musical instruments to go along with the piano, guitar, and organ. During the school year, we often have music offered by our choir, and at various times of the year, we’ll have Children’s choir, instrumental ensembles, and special music.
After the Service
Coffee and treats are available after the service in the Fellowship Hall (located across from the sanctuary). This is a friendly bunch of people, so be prepared to relax and enjoy one another’s company for a while.
Prayer
Prayer is an important part of each service and is usually led by a church member and our pastor. Small groups meet for prayer throughout the week as well. You may choose to participate or pray silently on your own. Choose whatever method is most comfortable for you.
Will you ask me for money?
There is an offering. If you are a guest, please do not feel obligated to give. The people who call WCC home support this church and its ministries.
Do you celebrate communion?
WCC usually celebrates communion on the first Sunday of each month. Communion is a special celebration of the relationship Christians have with God. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ is welcome to participate. You don’t need to be a member of our church. Please feel free to pass the bread and juice if you choose not to participate.
Will I have to say anything, or be singled out in any way?
No. We want to get to know you, but more importantly, we want you to be comfortable. We won’t ask you to wear a visitor badge or stand up and introduce yourself. We want you to remain as anonymous as you prefer.
We do have a Visitor Card in every pew. During the service, everyone has the opportunity to fill one out. The Visitor Card helps us get to know guests. If you are interested in knowing more about WCC, connect with the greeters in the lobby or check off the box on the Visitor Card requesting more information about the church.
What should I wear?
We’re a pretty casual bunch; wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. People who attend WCC wear everything from jeans to occasional casual business wear.
What do you have for my children?
Infant and toddler nursery service for children under the age of 2 is available. All of our childcare workers have completed a screening with reference checks and a background check prior to working with children. We also have a private viewing room where you can see the worship service, if your child is not comfortable apart from you.
We have a Children’s Sermon that is tied to the sermon topic for the day. We encourage our children to be involved in worship at their level; singing and learning to pray are activities that we can model for children from an early age.
What do you have for my teenagers?
Our congregation integrates activities and spiritual development opportunities for junior high teens (grades 6-8) and senior high teens (grades 9-12). During the school year, they have their own Bible study time at 9:30 AM Sunday mornings, and they are involved in the life of the church in other ways: we have teens singing in the choir, participating in helping with Children’s Church, and enjoying life together on activities like our winter caroling hayride.
What We Believe…
We believe that Jesus Christ alone is the head of His Church; that the Holy Spirit can speak directly to and can act through each member without having to use a priest, a bishop, or a denominational structure to tell them what to do or how to believe. Our church exists based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
We accept that all followers of Jesus are one under God, regardless of their denominational background.
We live as if Christian character and conduct matter.
We believe that reading and studying the Bible helps us order our internal lives, and gives us strength for daily living.
We believe that every Christian possesses full liberty of conscience in interpreting the Gospel.
We believe that every sincere conviction that exalts Jesus Christ in honorable.
>We believe that to be a church member is to give strength and encouragement to others through Common worship, prayer, study, and service.
Jesus provides a free and simple way to salvation but it has never been known to be easy or cheap. The freedom that Christ offers is not to be thought of as freedom to do or to believe whatever one wishes, but rather as the opportunity to be the kind of person God intended one to be.
Sacraments and Rites
Our congregation observe two sacraments – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Baptism is the visible sign of entrance into the new life of God’s Kingdom; in our church, baptism can be given to those who make a public confession of their own faith (often called “believer’s baptism), or can be offered to children or infants of believing parents. This kind of baptism restates the spiritual connection between child, parent, and church family; we all participate in the spiritual growth of one another.
The Lord’s Supper (also known as Communion, or in some churches, the Eucharist) is a recognition that Jesus Christ is present with us as we celebrate; when we gather together, and share in the Lord’s Supper, Christ Himself is mysteriously here among us. We practice what is called “open communion” which means that all who love Jesus Christ and seek forgiveness for their sins, are welcome to the Lord’s Supper.
Our Way of Life
Members speak of our own local Congregational Church as the “gathered” church, made up of individual Christians in a given geographical area assembled by Christ through their common love for Him. We’re a self-governing church, with duties and responsibilities shared equally by all members.
We work together in local, state and national groups of the National Association of Christian Congregationalist Churches (you could call them our “denomination”); meeting for fellowship and for consideration of matters of general interest and common responsibility. These associations, however, have no jurisdiction over our individual church or us as members. The greatest blessing of being a part of something larger than our local congregation is the shared knowledge that we can do much more together in the Spirit of Christian love than we can alone.
Warden Community Church Covenant
Acknowledging Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord, and accepting the Holy Scriptures as our rule of faith and practice, and recognizing the privilege and duty of uniting ourselves for Christian fellowship, the enjoyment of Christian ordinances, the public worship of God, and the advancement of His kingdom in the world, we do now, in the sight of God and invoking His blessing, solemnly covenant and agree with each other to associate ourselves to be a church of the Lord Jesus Christ, as warranted by the Word of God.
We agree to maintain the institutions of the Gospel, to submit ourselves to the orderly administration of the affairs of the church, and to walk together in brotherly love. We agree to support the church with gifts of time, talent, and treasure.
And this we do depending upon the aid of our heavenly Father, who so loved the world that he gave his holy begotten Son fo our salvation, and of Jesus Christ who hath redeemed us, and of the Holy Spirit our Comforter and Guide.
Music…
Worship is one of the main purposes of the church, and music is one of the main forms of worship. We understand that different styles of music speak to different people; our goal in music we use is to find the essence of worship that enables us to connect to the Living God, with one sound of the heart. We use more traditional forms of music with an organ and piano; we also use guitar, bass, synthesizer, and other instruments to enhance our musical expressions. We have a wonderful choir that meets on Wednesday nights at 7:00 P.M., and the youth use their instrumental talents in an Advent Ensemble every year. Our goal is to use our musical talents and interests to lift our spirits as we celebrate the presence of Christ among us.
Warden Community Church 