At Community, our services are a joyful encounter with our great God and Savior. We come each Sunday to be refreshed by the proclamation of the Gospel, and would love to have you experience this with us. Read below to learn more about what you can expect when you join us!
Worship
Our worship services are a divine dialogue—that is, when we come together on Sundays for worship it is to have a conversation with God. This understanding informs what we do in our services and the way we do it. God is the initiator in this conversation: He speaks to us in the call to worship, the reading of the law, the declaration of pardon, the preaching of His Word, the administration of sacraments (Lord’s Supper and baptism), and the benediction. Primarily we come to hear from Him. Our part in this divine dialogue is always responsive in nature: we respond to God in our prayers, confession of faith, giving of our offerings, and singing (we sing both ancient and contemporary hymns of the faith, as well the psalms of Scripture).
A Place for Everyone
In our church you will find people of all ages: newborns, children playing together, teens, college age young adults, singles and families of all ages. Not only that, our congregation is made up of people from all sorts of background. Some of us are born and raised in Kalamazoo, others come from different countries! Some of us have grown up in the church, while others came to faith later in life, and still some are just checking us out and looking to learn more. We have no requirements that you must meet to come and visit with us. However, our sincere hope is that you are looking for a fuller knowledge of God, a deeper relationship with His Son, and an authentic community of friends. That is exactly what we offer you if you come!
Coming In
Our services begin at 10AM and 6PM, and we would suggest getting there a few minutes early just to get settled and prepare yourself for worship. When you enter the sanctuary expect to be greeted by one of our ushers, who will offer a handshake and a warm smile. You will also be given a bulletin, which is helpful to keep with you as it guides you through the different portions of our service. Feel free to find your own seat, wherever you are comfortable. If you are late (it’s okay!), one of our ushers will gladly direct you to a seat.
Children
Jesus instructed his followers, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14). Therefore we believe that children belong in the service, and we encourage families to worship together as much as possible. If needed, we happily provide a staffed nursery during the AM and PM services.
Fellowship Meal
Every quarter, on the second Sunday of the month, we enjoy a time together around the table as a church family. You are most warmly welcome to join us! Don’t worry about bringing any dishes, just bring yourself. We meet downstairs in the fellowship hall after morning worship service, in place of Sunday School. Our quarterly meals are in January, March, June, and October.
Your Part
The worship service has several moments where the congregation is involved, and we would love your participation as well. This would include things like singing from the hymnal or praying out loud the corporate prayers printed in the bulletin. If this is new and you don’t feel comfortable, we encourage you just to watch and listen to the people of God worship. You can learn a lot, and prepare for next time! Expect to never be singled out, put on the spot, or asked to interact in conversation with others during the actual worship service.
Sunday School
We offer Sunday School for all ages. After the morning service, we have a time of refreshments and fellowship until 11:30, with Sunday School following until 12:15.
The Lord’s Supper
We celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper once a month in the mornings, on the second Sunday, and quarterly in the evening when there are five Sundays in the month. This is a meal from Christ and for His church, therefore we require participants to be baptized and professing members of a congregation that believes in the Bible and preaches the Gospel. If this is true for you, then you are most welcome to the Table with us.