Frequently Asked Questions
You may be wondering what to expect when you visit our church. Besides the love and power of the gospel, here's what a typical Sunday looks like.
Variety … that’s what you’ll find when you visit our services. But one thing you should expect is a personal, uplifting worship experience. Our services are geared for participation. We typically worship as we live, with enthusiasm.
Fill out the Visitor Card: Please complete a visitor card and turn it in by placing it in the offering plate or by handing it to an Usher. The Visitor’s card is inside your Welcome Packet, which the Greeter should give you on arrival.
Don't Be Shy: If you have a question or a need, our ushers and greeters are happy to assist you in any way!
Relax: You can rest assured that you will never be put on the spot, singled out, or embarrassed.
Casual Dress: Although some people do dress up a little, you don’t have to.
Non-judgmental Attitude: At this church, we’re all pretty open about the fact that none of us are perfect or has all the answers. We’re all in different stages of spiritual growth, and so we accept one another with love like Christ loves us.
Kid Loving Atmosphere: Your children are welcome here! We LOVE kids! They are our present and future, and we support them and nurture their growth through all of our children’s ministries. Our children’s ministry provides an exciting, quality experience for your children. Classes are separated by age and provide a fun, Christian-based, learning environment. All of our teachers have their Child Abuse Clearances on file. An usher or greeter will be happy to escort you to our classrooms.
Music: Music is a major feature of our worship, before, during and even after the service itself. Instruments range from piano and organ to guitars, horns and drums. Inspired singing will be found in each service and may include traditional hymns, hand-clapping gospel songs, contemporary compositions or reverent worshipful choruses. Music will include both congregational and special ministries — solos, duets, ensembles. Music is more than a performance; it’s the music of worship.
Worship Experience: The service may include quiet times of waiting in God’s presence, spiritually savoring the sacred atmosphere. Other times may be vocal with collective praise as worshippers are invited to spontaneously express love and adoration to God. In everything, a flow of worship should be evident and, despite the spontaneity and excitement, a certain properness and order.
Worship styles will reflect the spectrum of personalities. Some are quiet and reserved; some shout with joy; others are simply tender and openly emotional during times of praise or preaching.
No sincere worshipper need feel out of place in a Church of God church. And each expression will blend without disruption into the flow of worship.
Prayer: A special time in the service is devoted to prayer. Needs from inside and outside the church family frequently are made known. The congregation prays together. All may pray aloud but conclude with a single voice, the worship leader or other designated person praying in behalf of all.
Ministry to the Sick: As in the New Testament, specific prayer may be offered for the sick. They will be invited forward to be anointed with oil (James 5:13-16) and/or have the ministers, leaders or other believers lay hands on them and pray (Mark 16:18).
Giving: During the service, tithes and offerings will be received. More than a collection to pay church bills, this too is worship. Our members feel giving the tithe (the first tenth of income) and offerings declares that God comes first. It recognizes His blessing, expresses faith and seeks His guidance in every matter in life. The ministries of the local church and globe-encircling work of the Church of God are supported solely by free-will giving. However, visitors need not feel obligated to give.
Spiritual Gifts: An interesting aspect of Pentecostal worship is the operation of spiritual gifts. The planned service order may be suspended as individuals speak or share as prompted by the Holy Spirit, under the supervision of the pastor (1 Corinthians 12-14).
One may speak out in an unknown tongue, a Spirit-guided language other than that of the congregation. Another individual, or perhaps the same one, will then give the interpretation.
On occasion, the Spirit may prompt someone to speak out, to prophesy, in the language of the congregation. The gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation, and other spiritual gifts bring the church immediate challenge and confirm Bible truths.
Challenging Messages: The climax of the service comes with the preaching of God’s Word, the Bible, and an invitation for hearers to respond. The messages are fervent, inspiring and practical. The pastor or speaker may close with an invitation for those who need forgiveness in their lives to come forward and accept Christ as Savior. Those who feel a need to rededicate their lives to Christ or to pray about other concerns are also invited to come. Believers are urged to ask God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit to further empower them for Christian service. Often everyone is invited to come pray during the altar service.
Deep emotion and excitement may or may not be demonstrated at the altars, but everyone who calls on God in faith receives something.
If you’ve wondered what a Pentecostal service is like, we invite you to observe and experience God’s joy and peace that defy description. And when you visit again, come expecting. Expect a move of God not only in the service, but also in your life. We think you’ll agree that the comfort, help and strength He gives are better experienced than explained.
Variety … that’s what you’ll find when you visit our services. But one thing you should expect is a personal, uplifting worship experience. Our services are geared for participation. We typically worship as we live, with enthusiasm.
Fill out the Visitor Card: Please complete a visitor card and turn it in by placing it in the offering plate or by handing it to an Usher. The Visitor’s card is inside your Welcome Packet, which the Greeter should give you on arrival.
Don't Be Shy: If you have a question or a need, our ushers and greeters are happy to assist you in any way!
Relax: You can rest assured that you will never be put on the spot, singled out, or embarrassed.
Casual Dress: Although some people do dress up a little, you don’t have to.
Non-judgmental Attitude: At this church, we’re all pretty open about the fact that none of us are perfect or has all the answers. We’re all in different stages of spiritual growth, and so we accept one another with love like Christ loves us.
Kid Loving Atmosphere: Your children are welcome here! We LOVE kids! They are our present and future, and we support them and nurture their growth through all of our children’s ministries. Our children’s ministry provides an exciting, quality experience for your children. Classes are separated by age and provide a fun, Christian-based, learning environment. All of our teachers have their Child Abuse Clearances on file. An usher or greeter will be happy to escort you to our classrooms.
- Sunday School: Personalized classes divided by age, grade and interests serving individuals from toddlers through senior adults. Sunday morning at 9:30am.
- Children’s Church: Bible-oriented activities are provided for preschool and elementary-age children. At this level, young children are taught to sing, pray, memorize Scripture and learn important Bible truths. They are instructed and led in worship at their own levels. Children’s Church is held during the 10:30 am Sunday Morning Worship service.
- Family Training Hour: Personalized classes divided by age, grade and interests serving individuals from toddlers through senior adults. Wednesday Evening 7-8pm
Music: Music is a major feature of our worship, before, during and even after the service itself. Instruments range from piano and organ to guitars, horns and drums. Inspired singing will be found in each service and may include traditional hymns, hand-clapping gospel songs, contemporary compositions or reverent worshipful choruses. Music will include both congregational and special ministries — solos, duets, ensembles. Music is more than a performance; it’s the music of worship.
Worship Experience: The service may include quiet times of waiting in God’s presence, spiritually savoring the sacred atmosphere. Other times may be vocal with collective praise as worshippers are invited to spontaneously express love and adoration to God. In everything, a flow of worship should be evident and, despite the spontaneity and excitement, a certain properness and order.
Worship styles will reflect the spectrum of personalities. Some are quiet and reserved; some shout with joy; others are simply tender and openly emotional during times of praise or preaching.
No sincere worshipper need feel out of place in a Church of God church. And each expression will blend without disruption into the flow of worship.
Prayer: A special time in the service is devoted to prayer. Needs from inside and outside the church family frequently are made known. The congregation prays together. All may pray aloud but conclude with a single voice, the worship leader or other designated person praying in behalf of all.
Ministry to the Sick: As in the New Testament, specific prayer may be offered for the sick. They will be invited forward to be anointed with oil (James 5:13-16) and/or have the ministers, leaders or other believers lay hands on them and pray (Mark 16:18).
Giving: During the service, tithes and offerings will be received. More than a collection to pay church bills, this too is worship. Our members feel giving the tithe (the first tenth of income) and offerings declares that God comes first. It recognizes His blessing, expresses faith and seeks His guidance in every matter in life. The ministries of the local church and globe-encircling work of the Church of God are supported solely by free-will giving. However, visitors need not feel obligated to give.
Spiritual Gifts: An interesting aspect of Pentecostal worship is the operation of spiritual gifts. The planned service order may be suspended as individuals speak or share as prompted by the Holy Spirit, under the supervision of the pastor (1 Corinthians 12-14).
One may speak out in an unknown tongue, a Spirit-guided language other than that of the congregation. Another individual, or perhaps the same one, will then give the interpretation.
On occasion, the Spirit may prompt someone to speak out, to prophesy, in the language of the congregation. The gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation, and other spiritual gifts bring the church immediate challenge and confirm Bible truths.
Challenging Messages: The climax of the service comes with the preaching of God’s Word, the Bible, and an invitation for hearers to respond. The messages are fervent, inspiring and practical. The pastor or speaker may close with an invitation for those who need forgiveness in their lives to come forward and accept Christ as Savior. Those who feel a need to rededicate their lives to Christ or to pray about other concerns are also invited to come. Believers are urged to ask God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit to further empower them for Christian service. Often everyone is invited to come pray during the altar service.
Deep emotion and excitement may or may not be demonstrated at the altars, but everyone who calls on God in faith receives something.
If you’ve wondered what a Pentecostal service is like, we invite you to observe and experience God’s joy and peace that defy description. And when you visit again, come expecting. Expect a move of God not only in the service, but also in your life. We think you’ll agree that the comfort, help and strength He gives are better experienced than explained.
What We Believe
We Believe:
Church of God State & International Offices
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www.churchofgod.org
- In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
- In one God eternally existing in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
- That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
- That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
- That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost.
- Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people.
- In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
- In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
- In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
- Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
- In the Lord's Supper and washing of the saints' feet.
- In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
- In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Church of God State & International Offices
www.cogpa.org
www.churchofgod.org