Your First Visit
Q: How Should I Dress?
A: What you wear is not important; it’s the fact that you’re present to worship God. Some put on their best dress clothes, and others go the casual route. In any given service, you may see running shoes and heels, jeans and suits, open collars and ties, and even some Vikings gear.
Q: What’s Going to Happen When I Walk Through the Front Door?
A: You will most likely be greeted by a few of the church members. There are restrooms down the hall to the left of the entrance as well as in the fellowship hall. There is a cry room for parents with little children also in the fellowship hall. As you enter the church, the entrance to the sanctuary is just in front of you.
Q: How Will I Know Where to Go and What To Do When I Get There?
A: As you get to the sanctuary, one of the ushers will hand you a service bulletin, and you are encouraged to use this as a tool to help you follow along so you know what to expect throughout the service. The bulletin includes a list of the music, prayers, and other parts of the service, along with page numbers for where you can find each of them in the hymnals (blue books located under the seats in church). All of the Bible readings are fully printed out for you in the bulletin as well. Bibles are available in the pews if you would like to follow along that way. However, you are welcome to bring along your own Bible if you prefer. If you need any more help, just ask any of the other people in church. They will be more than willing to help you!
Q: Can I Just Come and Watch the Service?
A: Yes. We will not embarrass you! We do not ask our visitors to stand up and introduce themselves or anything, although our ushers and others may greet you while you are with us. We know that many people want to check out the church and be “anonymous” for a while – and that’s fine with us! Come in and see if this is the church for you. Whether you are looking for a church home, or simply want to see what our worship is all about, you are welcome to join us!
Q: What About My Young Children?
A: Bring them along! Kids quickly pick up on the way we worship and we think that there’s nothing better than that. We know it can be a little daunting bringing kids to church, so there are “busy bags” that include crayons, paper, books, and toys for little ones to stay occupied with during the service. We also have a parent’s room off the fellowship hall to the right of the sanctuary. There is a television set up in that room so that you can continue to listen to the service if your little one needs a moment to burn off some energy.
Q: What About the Offering?
A: When the offering plate is passed around the church, it provides the members of Abiding Savior with an opportunity to give a monetary gift out of their love for Jesus. As a guest, you are not expected to contribute, and it is okay to pass the plate without putting anything into it.
Q: What If I Do Not Know That Much About the Bible?
A: You can learn along with the rest of us! Attending worship services and Bible classes are great ways to grow in your knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. During Bible classes, you are welcome to ask questions, and you won’t have to answer any that you don’t want to answer. You are also welcome to ask the pastor questions as they come up.
SCRIP PROGRAM
Q: What is Scrip?
A: Our scrip program is a way for our church to earn money through our members’ regular shopping. You buy gift cards for your favorite retailers to use for your normal purchases. Abiding Savior earns money with every gift card purchase. Scrip gift cards are the same gift cards that you would buy from the retailer directly. Our Scrip Coordinator orders the scrip you want from Great Lakes Scrip Center at a discount, and you pay normal face value for your cards. The difference is an instant rebate earned for Abiding Savior. You’re purchasing what you would spend anyway, and we’re earning money without the need to sell flowers, wrapping paper, coupon books, or cookie dough!
Q: What’s the Selection Like?
A: There are currently over 700 retailers participating in the program, so it’s a pretty safe bet that you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s grocery and department stores, restaurants, gas stations, hotels and airlines, and specialty or online retailers. To see the full list of retailers, you can click here.
Q: Where Can I Find Out More?
A: If you’re interested in learning more about our scrip program, there are a number of options. You can always contact our scrip coordinator, Michelle Venema, if you’ve got some questions or would like someone to run you through the program. If you’d prefer to do a little research on your own, you can check out the ShopWithScrip Facebook page, or watch some of their videos on their YouTube Channel.