United Christian Church
Eastern shore of virginia
are yOu new to church?
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It can be intimidating entering into a new, unknown environment.
You wonder... "What is it going to be like?"
"What's going to happen?" "How will they treat me?" Fear can stop us from setting foot in the door.
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Walking up to a church can be an act of bravery. We respect your courage and want you to know what to expect.
So, let's shed some light on the situation.
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what to expect
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Do I have to pay to come to church? No. Church is FREE. You never have to pay to attend. Tithes & Offerings will be collected during the service, but you are under no obligation to contribute. It is perfectly fine if you put nothing in the collection plate. If you are self-conscious about not contributing, you can even grab an empty tithing envelope from the pew in front of you and drop that in the plate as it comes around. Of course, we welcome your contributions, but we are concerned about your soul, not your money.
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When should I show up? As a first timer, you will probably want to start with our regular Sunday morning service. The service starts at 11:00 am, but it is fine if you show up early, on time, or late. We will be happy to see you whenever you show up. If you want to show up early, we have fellowship and refreshments from 10:30am - 11:00am. If you show up late, you are still welcome. There is no requirement to show up on time and no one will be bothered by you showing up late. On the contrary, everyone will be delighted to see you.
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Do I just walk right in? Yes. When you get to church, just walk right through the front door. You'll be standing in our vestibule or entry hall. If you get there early, expect people to greet you and welcome you to church. If you don't see anyone, everyone may still be in the fellowship hall. Walk right through the sanctuary to the door at the front right. You'll find us there, eager to meet you. If you show up on time, or late, expect to be greeted and handed a bulletin of the day's service.
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Where should I sit? Sit wherever you want. You will find three rows of seven pews. There are no assigned seats, though people do tend to be creatures of habit and sit in the same general area repeatedly. Don't be worried about offending anyone with your choice of seat. Anyone would be glad to give up their seat just to have you there! So, find a place you are comfortable and settle in.
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How does the service go? We will open with prayer, then lead the congregation through a couple of songs. Stand for the songs if you are comfortable and able to do so, or you may remain seated if you are shy or physically unable.
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Then, we review the prayer list and ask the congregation if they have any additional prayer requests. If you feel comfortable doing so, you may raise your hand and ask for prayer for yourself or others. Then, a pastor will pray over the requests.
Next, it is time for announcements. We read through the announcements that are listed in the bulletin & share any additional information on the happenings of the church. Then, the church sings to anyone with a birthday or anniversary!
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Offering comes next. The plates will be passed around once or twice, depending on the week. The first collection is always the Tithes & Offering. On the first week of the month, we also collect for the benevolent fund. Then, on the third week of the month, the second collection is for the building fund. Remember, your contributions are appreciated, but you are under no obligation to give to either offering.
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After offering, Pastor Cathell sings a song relevant to the day's sermon. Then, a deacon reads the day's scripture. If needed, Pastor Cathell translates it into Spanish. Next, comes the morning's sermon. Either Pastor Taylor or Pastor Cathell will deliver the message. On the first Sunday of the month, we have a song service instead of a sermon.
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Afterwards, there will be an altar call. Those who need anything from the Lord are called forward. You are not required to participate. You may remain in your seat and be a spectator. However, if you wish, you may go forward. When you get to the pastors, whisper your request to them. If you want to keep your request private, you can tell them that you have an "Unspoken Request" and they will pray for you. We anoint with oil. So don't be surprised when the pastor dips his finger in olive oil and makes a cross on your forehead before praying for you.
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Next, church will be dismissed, unless it is the first Sunday of the month, in which case, Pastor Cathell will lead the congregation through Communion. You do not have to participate. Once again, you may remain a spectator. If you are comfortable and you want to participate, all you have to do is take the juice and wafer when they come around and follow the lead of the pastor as to when to consume them. Communion is dismissed with a song.
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After dismissal, expect people to come up to you again. Ours is a loving, friendly church. As such, we greet and say goodbye to each other as family. We typically follow service with refreshments and a few minutes of fellowship.
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How long does service last? About an hour to an hour and a half. We generally dismiss sometime between 12:00 & 12:30 pm.
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And that's it! Pretty straight forward. No expectations. No commitments. No pressure. No one trying to force you to say or do anything. Just a welcoming, friendly church, glad to have you there!
For more information, see also Regular Services
we hope to see you sunday!
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More Questions? See our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Still have more questions? Contact Us
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