|
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? How should I dress? Will they ask me for money? Will
my kids enjoy it?
As the pastor at Jordan Creek Church, I want to make your visit
an enjoyable experience, easy, stress-free, and relaxing. We
designed Jordan Creek to be "user-friendly" for people, whatever
their background, including those who have never been to church
before. In fact, some of the people here were not regular church
attenders before starting at Jordan Creek. So you’re in a great
place when you visit!
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.
Visiting for the First Time
If you are visiting with us this morning for the first time, we are
so glad you are here! We believe that you are not here by accident,
but that God has brought you here for a reason.
When you Arrive
When you arrive at Jordan Creek Church for our 10:30 am services,
you’ll park and use the main entrance. There is good signage to help
you find your way. We are in the first phase of our three phase
building plan, we meet in our Family Life Center …plenty of parking
on our 10 acre site.
Visitor and Handicap Parking
Visitor and handicap parking is located near the front door. Spots
are clearly marked with signs.
Dress
You’ll notice that everyone is dressed comfortably, in anything from
"office casual" to jeans and sneakers. You might even spot someone
with a tie.
Coffee and Donuts
As part of our ongoing effort to provide a reason for exercise,
Krispy Kreme donut or cup of Caribou Coffee will be available before
and after services. Stick around and have a donut and a cup of
coffee on us. This is a great place to meet new friends or meet up
with people you already know.
Greeters
Our goal is to be the friendliest church in the Des Moines area and
beyond. We also want to be very user friendly. We have greeters
positioned at the main entrances to greet you and answer your
questions. They will probably reach out to shake your hand and
welcome you. Their entire purpose on Sunday is to serve you. Please
do not hesitate to ask them a question or request their assistance.
Prayer & Ministry Cards
Prayer & Ministry Cards can be found on your seat. We have prayed
for everyone here today! Feel free to complete a Prayer & Ministry
Card and place it in the offering plate or with Pastor.
along the south wall.
Rest rooms are located in the back of this main room
meeting area (sanctuary) in the south east corner.
Nursery care is available for children birth through 18
months and for children 18-36 months. The nursery area is located to
the left rear (SW corner) of this main meeting room area.
Do you and your baby need a room for a private moment? A special
room with rocker and changing table is located directly in back of
this main room meeting area (sanctuary) in the south east corner.
Nametags
After a first visit, you can request a nametag. The sign up sheet is
in the entry way on the welcome table…there are usually people there
to help you…you sign up and next week the tag is there! Amazing!
(Many people like to wear a nametag to make it easier to meet new
friends.)
If You Have Kids
If you have kids, they are welcome to attend the worship with you. –
Kids Matter at Jordan Creek Church!
Children’s Church—PB&J (Prayer, Bible & Jesus) is
available for children ages 3-6
years. Children’s Church begins immediately after the Children's
Message. (NW Corner).
We know how important it is for kids to enjoy church, whether
they’re toddlers or teens, infants or young adults.
Activity pages with clip boards and crayons for children older
than age 3 are available
When the service begins
When you come in the auditorium, you’ll be given a copy of “The
Bulletin" which has the week’s announcements and an agenda for the
day’s service. At the beginning of the service the Media show on
the screen will time down to the beginning of the service, the
absolutely awesome Praise Band will begin…and we are off and
worshipping!
At the beginning of the Service, a grey Welcome Folder will be
passed. For first time visitors, there is a special section at the
top…please fill it out…it will ask for things like address and
email! We use the email to communicate with you and your address to
send you a “mug” as a Thank You for your visit.
We have a large screen with a projection system. All the words to
the songs we will sing are projected onto the screens. We have
comfortable padded seating. The worship service will last about 60
minutes.
The service usually begins with some upbeat music, followed by a
welcome and introduction to the theme of the day’s service. Often,
there will be a drama or multimedia presentation to further explore
that theme. Then someone will read scripture.
The Praise Band Worship Team
The Worship Team does a great job leading musically, with a
contemporary feel (drums, guitars, keyboards, vocalists). You’ll
have some new tunes to hum all week long.
I hope you’ll come up and introduce yourself to me afterwards.
Offering
We want you to feel welcome as our guest, with no pressure to give.
Our regular attendees will put their contributions in the offering
plates which will be passed.
Worship Style
The message you will hear will be relevant to your daily life. It
will contain solid Christian theology based upon the Bible and I
will often include video clips. I do my best to make the messages
interesting, enjoyable, intelligent, and understandable relevant to
daily life…passionate and helpful through the week…I also have an
outline of the message and some discussion questions that you can
take with you. Sometimes it will be humorous and sometimes it will
tug at your heart.
We “pod-cast” the sermons each week at:
http://www.jordancreekumc.org/worship_messages.htm
After the Service
After the service, we hope you’ll stay around, meet some people
(that’s when the name tags come in handy) and enjoy some coffee, and
donuts. People simply mill around afterwards…very informal…Church is
about God and worship, but it’s also about community and friendship,
so we hope people really experience warmth and friendliness at
Jordan Creek.
That’s about it
That’s about it. People constantly tell me that they really felt
comfortable - "at home" are the words I hear most frequently. I hope
you’ll stop by this Sunday. And if you do, please come down and say
hi! I love to meet new people!
Join us again…the 3 more times
Our guests have told us that they really needed to come 3 times to
Jordan Creek Church to get a full experience of all we have here. We
pass that along to you and invite you to drop by 3 more times to get
a full picture of Jordan Creek Church …and perhaps writing yourself
into the Jordan Creek story. No stress…no pressure…come and try us
out!
What about Membership
Membership comes when you are ready…we hold membership classes the 2
and 3rd and 4th Sundays of each month from 9:15 to 10 AM in our
conference room off of the Chapel. (Designed to fit your personally
changing schedule.) Take your time…and ask us about it…even if you
have never been a part of a Church before…we can help you!
Communion – Each Sunday
We celebrate Communion usually every Sunday. We celebrate OPEN
COMMUNION so anyone can receive communion...members or no
members...anyone! You’re welcome to share in it! If not, you are
free to listen to the music!
Special Children (and Youth) Programs
Sunday School — 9:15 -10:15 am Classes for: Ages 2-3; Ages
4-5 (Pre-K-K); Grades 1-3; Grades 4-6. Faith Weaver—Weaving Faith
into the Life of Children. Classrooms are labeled. No need to
sign-up...just come! Please contact Alice Burress at 537-5262 or
alice@jordancreekchurch.org.
Wednesday Nights — It’s a Super 24/7 Kid’s Club! Kids ages
2 through 6th Grade! Supper beginning at 6 pm and the program
continuing until 7:45 pm. No need to sign-up...just come! Please
contact Alice Burress at 537-5262 or
alice@jordancreekchurch.org or Becky Sjurson at 225-8693 or
beckysjurson@mchsi.com.
Youth (7-12th grade) — Sundays from 9:15 - 10:15 am and 5:00-7:00
pm—Youth Room (NW corner) to the front right of our main meeting
area. Please contact Alice Burress at 537-5262 or
alice@jordancreekchurch.org.
|
