LOVE GROWS HERE
SUNDAY MORNING Q&A
When is church?
Sunday School (Pre-K through Adults): 9am – 10am
Sunday Worship: 10:25am
How formal is the service?
Our worship is best described as a ‘blended’ service. We follow a predictable format, we sing both hymns and contemporary music, we have both pre-written prayers and informal prayer time, and we read from a variety of bible translations. The atmosphere is, overall, very informal.
What should I wear?
Our service is casual and comfortable. Many choose to wear what’s most comfortable to them: jeans, t-shirts, shorts, etc. Some choose to dress up. Whatever you wear, you won’t be out of place here–we have no dress code and no assigned seats. Come as you are and sit where you like.
How will I know what to do in the service?
When you arrive, our greeting team will welcome you and give you a bulletin, which contains the service order for the day.
Most of the time, we give pretty clear directions when to stand and sit. Our services usually include some prayers that we say together, and some call-and-response portions, too. In all of those circumstances, the part said by the pastor or the liturgist (reader) is printed in normal text, and the congregational response is in bold type.
At the end of the Prayers of the People, the pastor leads us into the Lord’s Prayer, which is also printed in the bulletin each week. Presbyterians typically say “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” But, if you grew up saying “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” or “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” say either one. Pray as you are comfortable.
Is there anything I’m not supposed to do, or any part of the service I shouldn’t participate in if I’m not Presbyterian?
There is nothing that happens during a worship service that visitors are not welcome to do with us. In fact, we hope you will join us in every aspect! We hope you’ll sing with us, pray with us, laugh with us – and after the service – eat with us.
A lot of times, this question comes up because some churches limit participation in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper (also called Communion or The Eucharist). At HPC, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of every month. We truly believe this supper belongs to Christ, and therefore absolutely everyone is welcome to participate as they feel comfortable. The opportunity to eat and drink with Christ is not a right bestowed upon the worthy, but a privilege given to all who come in faith and love.
Is childcare available? Is my child welcome in worship?
Our congregation is blessed with many young children, and we are a community that loves the presence of youth in our church. We welcome children of all ages, including infants and toddlers – and the joyful noises they make to the Lord – in the pews.
We encourage all ages to stay within the worship service. For elementary aged children, we have a front pew dedicated for them with quiet activities and supervision by our beloved Erin Fee. For children up to kindergarten who are struggling, and need a little little more room to wiggle or be rocked, may be accompanied by their parents or guardian in the Toddler Chapel which is fully equipped with audio of the service.