If you are viewing this page, we hope that means you are considering joining us. The first thing wish for you to know, is that You Are Welcome. We welcome you to attend any of our scheduled meetings and to feel the fellowship we share as we remember the Lord, study His Word, encourage each other from the scriptures, and pray together. We hope you will feel the genuine brotherly and sisterly love we share for the body of believers and for all those who diligently seek him.
SUNDAY SERVICES
When you enter our meeting room on a Lord’s Day (Sunday) morning, you will see us gathered around a table upon which is a loaf of bread and a container of wine. There are no presiding clergymen, elders or human beings in charge. If you ask what the program is, the reply will be that there is none. If you inquire as to who will dispense the bread and wine, you will be told that any brother in good standing in the assembly may do so. If you ask if anyone will preach, the answer may be that they have not come together to hear a sermon, but to bring praise and worship to the Lord and to remember Him in His death.
We own and practice the spiritual presidency of the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Spirit of God divides “to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11 ), and as such, any brother not under any discipline may name a hymn to be sung by all, lead in prayer, read Scripture and give thanks for the bread and cup in participation of the Lord’s supper. In obedience to the divine injunction, “Let your women keep silence in the churches,” sisters do not lead the congregation in any audible part. They also cover their heads in recognition of God’s order as to headship (1 Corinthians 11:3-13, 1 Corinthians 14:34 ).
The purpose of this service is to fulfill the request of the Savior on the night of His betrayal, “This do in remembrance of me” and to carry out the instructions given by the revelation to the apostle Paul as to the observing the Lord’s supper (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ). We seek to follow the example of the early Christians who “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and prayers”.
OFFERING/COLLECTION/TITHING
At the meeting for the remembrance of the Lord in His death and worship, an offering is received from those who participate as known Christians. As the sacrifice of praise and the sacrifice of giving of our substance are associated together in Hebrews 13:15-16 , the only collection of the assembly for its expenses, giving to servants of the Lord and His work and the needy, is, generally speaking, taken at this service. This is also in accordance with instructions as to collection for the saints upon the first day of the week as given in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.
We do not solicit an offering from those who are visiting with us, but will not prevent you from giving if you feel led to do so.
GOSPEL/MINISTRY
While our primary purpose in gathering on a Lord's Day morning is not to hear a sermon, we have a time set aside for the preaching of the Word of God, after we have fulfilled the Lord's instruction to remember Him. At approximately 11:15AM, a brother with share an exercise from the scripture as prompted by the Holy Spirit. Typically, a gospel message will be shared, showing those who have not yet accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, why and how they may do so. We preach the gospel in response to the Lord's instruction to "go into the World and preach the Gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15) and the Great Commission to "go and create disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:16-20).
SUNDAY SCHOOL
A service for children, commonly called “Sunday School,” is held each Lord’s Day afternoon. Bible classes are conducted for various ages groups, up to and including grown adults. It is a time for being taught basic, foundational principles from the scripture, so that we can all "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Our Sunday School session begins at 12:15PM and typically lasts for about an hour. It includes a time for singing choruses together, often led by a young brother, followed by the acknowledgement and welcoming of any visitors who may be joining us. We celebrate birthdays with those who the Lord has blessed with another year. Our young children typically recite memory verses they have learned during the course of the week, and then we break into our classes for a short study from the Word, typically following a theme for the year.
Our Sunday School sessions typically culminate in an "anniversary" program at the end of the Spring where each class gives a presentation centered around what they have be studying together over the course of the year.
COMMUNION
“Upon the first day of the week…[they] come together to break bread” (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7 ). In reception to the privilege of partaking in the Lord’s supper, the practice is not an “open” or a “closed” communion, but a “guarded” table of the Lord in responsibility to the holy character of Him whose death is commemorated.
This means that the bread and wine will probably not be passed to you. This is not a judgment of your faith, spirituality, or worthiness. Rather, it is because the Bible teaches the following:
- The breaking of the bread is not an isolated act. It involves fellowship with others. In I Corinthians 10:16, we read, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?" Communion has the thought of fellowship, of sharing together. When you break bread with us, you are not only remembering the Lord with us but you are also expressing fellowship with us in the teaching and position of gathering out to the Lord alone, apart from man-made denominations and gatherings. It would not be right for you to express fellowship with us in the breaking of the bread unless you are convinced that the way we gather and what we teach is according to the Bible and you are willing to walk in that way.
- Although the breaking of bread is the privilege of every Christian, it is very clear that this privilege can be forfeited by sin in a believer's life or by association with anything contrary to the Word of God. The Christians gathered at Corinth were told to excommunicate a brother who was living in sin (I Corinthians 5:11-13). We are told in I Timothy 5:22 to "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partakers of other men's sins." The laying on of hands is an expression of fellowship. If we were to accept someone into fellowship with us whom we did not know very well, we could easily associate ourselves with sin ("Know ye not that a little leaven leaventh the whole lump?" I Corinthians 5:6). For fellowship to be genuine, you must be well known by the assembly and vice-versa.
- In the local assembly, the brothers and sisters are responsible to care for each other (I Corinthians 12:25). If someone is habitually absent from the gathering or falls into sin, the Bible teaches that the assembly is to seek to restore such a one to the Lord (Galatians 6:1, II Corinthians 2:7-8). In order to restore someone to fellowship with the Lord and with the Lord's people, the assembly is to take steps of correction depending on the individuals case (I Thessalonians 5:14, I Corinthians 5:11). It would be impossible to practice this truth of Godly care and discipline if a Christian breaks bread with us one Lord's day and then goes to a denomination or some other group to break bread on another Lord's day then, sometime later, come back to break bread with us.
- It is the assembly which receives or excommunicates (Matthew 18:15-20). If you feel led by the Word of God to identify yourself with us in the breaking of the bread, then you should express your desire to someone in the assembly. A short time would then be allowed for any in the assembly to visit with you. Providing that there is nothing in your life and association that would prevent you from breaking bread with us, you would gladly be received to break bread with us each Lord's day. Of course, you would also be received to break bread in any of the assemblies associated with us in various places by a letter of commendation (II Corinthians 3:1).
MID-WEEK SERVICES
During the week, mid-week services are held for prayer and study of the Bible. In both meetings, each brother has a similar freedom for participation as was evident in the Lord’s day morning service.
PRAYER MEETING
We meet for prayer each Tuesday evening at 8PM. The meeting opens with a hymn from the Spiritual Songs book which helps to set the tone for the hour. After the hymn, we typically share the most recent or most pressing needs the Spirit has impressed upon our hearts and thoughts, before going down on our knees to speak to the Lord as the Spirit moves us with words of thanks to God, and petitions and interceding on behalf of our brothers and sisters and the world at large. The meeting last for one hour, and is often followed by a half-hour of ministry from the Word of God, to encourage the hearts of the saints.
BIBLE READING
We meet for the Bible Reading every Thursday at 8PM, except for the first of each month, which is set aside for a dedicated ministry. This meeting also begins with a hymn selected from the Spiritual Songs book, which sets the tone for the study to come. The study is typically an examination of a portion of scripture that was collectively decided upon; usually a book of the Bible, but it could also be topical. As before, any brother is permitted to share their thoughts and explanations of the scriptures, and answer questions that may arise. Emphasis is placed on understanding the scriptures, and making practical applications to our current lives. We devote an hour and a half to the study.
YOUTH MEETINGS/GROUPS
Meetings for youth, teens, and special meetings for women may be held periodically.
A welcome is extended to anyone interested in hearing the Gospel of God’s saving grace and ministry of the Word of God to attend any of these meetings. The answer of the Lord Jesus Christ to perplexed and questioning souls was-“COME AND SEE” (John 1:39).
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