What to Expect

I know – it’s not easy visiting a new church for the first time. Sometimes you feel like a nonmember visiting a country club. Do I belong here? Am I really welcome? Will the people be unfriendly, or too friendly? Will I be conspicuous? Will it be easy to leave if I don’t enjoy it? Will they ask me for money? Will my kids enjoy it? How should I dress? Am I welcome if I don’t believe?

As a pastor at The Journey, I want to make your visit an enjoyable experience, easy, stress-free, relaxing. We designed The Journey to be "user-friendly" for people, whatever their background, including those who have never been to church before. If I were visiting a new church for the first time, I’d like to know what to expect, so here’s a brief overview.

When you arrive at The Journey (at Loving Hands) for our 9:30 am service, you’ll park out front or wherever around the building you can park.  Meeting at a warehouse may make finding us a little more work but well worthy it.

Please come in the front door (it is a warehouse means you will walk in and someone will be there to greet you. If you have kids, there will be signs to our Journey Street Kids (our children’s church) someone will be there to help you register your children. We’ve developed a good security system so you’ll know your kids are safe and well cared for. If your kids are shy, they’re welcome to attend the adult service with you, but most kids really enjoy the kids´ programs for infants through 8th grade, available during the service. Amy and I have three kids, so we know how important it is for kids to enjoy church.

The children (except nursery) will remain with you during the singing of praise songs to God.  After the singing they will be dismissed to their teacher to go with them for Children's chruch.  If you desire for them to remain with you that works as well.

You’ll notice that everyone is dressed comfortably, in anything from "office casual" to jeans and sneakers. 

If you arrive early (and even if you don't), please help yourself to have a snack and/or a cup of coffee or tea (self-serve) located in the back of the warehouse. When you come in the warehouse you’ll find a copy of "The Program" on the table (we sit at round tables). It usually has an order of what we are doing on the front – a fill in the blank outline inside and upcoming events and other items throughout. You’ll notice gold welcome cards on the tables as well, which is an easy way for us to get better acquainted; you can ask for any kind of information or assistance using the card. If you fill out a card you will be getting a call or visit from someone who is a regular at the church to tell you it was great that you were there and to answer any questions you may have. You can throw these in the baskets near the door in the back.

The service usually begins with some upbeat music/singing, followed by a welcome and introduction to the theme of the day’s service. Then someone will offer a prayer and then give a question or idea to discuss at the tables (after meeting the others at your table) – there will be time for discussion - then I (or someone else) will begin the message. I usually speak for about 30 minutes, and I do my best to make the messages interesting, enjoyable, and relevant to daily life. The message will be based on the Bible, and I will often include stories, humor and many times a video of some sort. If I do my job right, you’ll hear solid Christian theology in intelligent, understandable, relevant terms. And hopefully, you’ll laugh at times and maybe feel a tug at your heart too.

If you are wondering about the offering, we have baskets by the doors (we do not pass it in front of your face – as it makes everyone uncomfortable). The offering is for our regular attenders who support the mission and vision of The Journey. We want you to feel welcome as our guest, with no pressure to give money (although we are not opposed to you supporting the ministry God has called us to at The Journey). We do hope you’ll put your filled out welcome card in the basket so we can send you any information you request and to get to know you a little better.

I’ll close the service about 75 minutes after it began (and believe it or not, the time will fly). I hope you’ll come up and introduce yourself to me afterward.

After the service, you’ll pick up your kids from their classrooms, and then we hope you’ll stay around, meet some people and enjoy some coffee and snacks. Church is about God and worship, but it’s also about doing it in community and friendship, so we hope people feel the presence of God through worship and community at The Journey.

That’s about it. I hope you’ll stop by this Sunday. And if you do, please come down and say ‘hi’, and tell me that you found out about The Journey on the Internet.

Blessings and thanks for your interest!