We know that visiting a church for the first time can be a daunting thing. So we thought we’d try to ease your mind a little by letting you in on ten things that might help your first Hill-n-Dale experience to be a good one…
1. Where should I park?
There are parking lots on both side of the building on Hill-n-Dale Road. The parking lot to the left of the building is small but has a number of designated handicapped spots and an entrance without steps. All those who don’t need this accessibility are requested to park in the larger lot to the right of the building.
2. Where do I take my kids?
All children’s and youth classes (birth through high school at 9:15; birth through elementary at 10:30) meet downstairs. Please let the greeter at the door know that you are visiting, and he or she direct or take you right where you need to go. The children’s area is a secure environment, with a parent check-in/check-out system, and an in-service notification system if your child should need you while you are in the sanctuary.
3. Where are the restrooms?
There is a women’s restroom on the right side of the chapel/fellowship hall as you stand in the lobby facing away from the sanctuary, and a men’s restroom on the right. Additionally, there are both a men’s and women’s restroom downstairs at the entrance to the children’s and youth area.
4. Where do adults go?
Your first stop is in the lobby, where there is coffee available and sometimes some doughnuts. If you arrive at 9:15, we would love to have you join us for an Adult Bible Class (aka Sunday School). There is information on this website and in the lobby about that can help you discern which class might be best for you. At 10:30, we invite you to attend worship in the sanctuary, located on the main floor.
5. Where should I sit?
When you come into the sanctuary, you are welcome to sit anywhere you would like. There are no reserved seats at Hill-n-Dale Christian Church.
6. What should I expect during the service?
A typical worship service at Hill-n-Dale lasts about 75 minutes and includes three or four congregational worship songs, prayer, announcements, communion, offering, a sermon message, a time of invitation, and a closing prayer. Toward the beginning of the service, you will be encouraged to fill out and turn in an attendance card, which will accomplish three things: you can submit any prayer requests that you would like church leaders to confidentially pray for; you can make reservations for our upcoming Wednesday evening meal; and you will let us know that you are here and whether or not you’d like to be contacted.
7. What do I do at communion time?
You do not have to be a member of Hill-n-Dale to partake of communion; we encourage all believers to participate in a time of reflection on Jesus’ sacrifice and of self-examination. You are encouraged to receive and hold the emblems as they come by and then to partake when you are ready. A wafer of unleavened bread represents Christ’s body, and a cup of grape juice represents His blood, sacrificed to pay the price for our sins at the cross.
8. Do I need to put something into the offering plate?
We do not expect visitors to Hill-n-Dale to place anything in the offering plate; in fact, we hope you feel no pressure at all to do so. Only those members and regular attenders who understand and support the ministry of the church here are encouraged to make contributions and sacrifices for God’s work to be done here and in other parts of the world.
9. What should I do when the service ends?
After the service ends, we encourage you to stop by the corner of the lobby, sign our guestbook, and receive a gift from us, which includes information about small groups and other aspects of the church. While in the lobby, you are also encouraged to stop by and meet the senior minister. If applicable, don’t forget to pick up your children before you leave the church.
10. Will the church be contacting me?
If you leave us your information, we will send you a card or letter in the mail welcoming you, and we may call just to say thanks for worshiping with us. If you would like a call or a visit, please just indicate that on an attendance card or in our guestbook, as we would love to make that happen. We want to get to know you as you get to know the church–please let us know how we can best do that!