What to Expect

  • What You’ll See

    You’ll find a sprawling church off the beaten path, nestled in the midst of a lovely residential neighborhood. A team of parking attendants and greeters will help you find your way to our worship services, for adults, youth and children. They’re pretty friendly types, so don’t hesitate to ask them anything.

  • Where do I go?

    While adults worship in the Worship Center, kids from birth through Grade 12 will experience our full slate of ministry – designed with each age group in mind.

    If you have children, newborns through 6th grade, you will be directed by our friendly and knowledgeable greeters to the Children’s Welcome area – the home of Pier 22:6, our children’s ministry.  There you will check your child into our computerized check-in system (for their safety and security) and the lifeguards will direct you and your child to the appropriate room – “Seaside” for birth to 2 years, the “North Shore” for 3 years through kindergarten, the “Boardwalk” for your 1st through 4th graders and “Dock 56” for 5th and 6th graders.   Make sure you keep the “ticket” you receive when you check-in – it’s the only way you can pick up your child.

    Our 7th through 12th graders do not need to check in, and can make a beeline to The Upper Room - accessible by a staircase right inside the main entrance. They have their large-group gathering at 11:00 a.m., which is a worship service led by the youth worship team and adult leaders. During the 9:00 a.m. service, youth participate in a fun, interactive Bible study or can attend a service with their parents.

    Saturday 5:00 p.m. (which meets in the Discipleship Wing) does not presently have children’s ministry. Sunday at 6:00 features ministry for newborns through 6th grade.

    For 6:00 p.m. services: Our Portuguese Service meets in the Discipleship Wing. Our English-language 6:00 modern service meets in the Upper Room. Children attending either service will check in through the kiosk system.

  • What will I hear?

    Over our five different services, we run the gamut, musically. If you want slightly more rockin', or even some experimental-style praise music, Sunday at 6:00 p.m. has that. If you prefer slightly more laid-back treatments of contemporary choruses with the occasional hymn (with full-band treatment, and frequently a choir), our 9:00 and 11:00 services are your best bet. If you love all-hymn worship, come to the 8:00 a.m. service. Saturday 5:00 p.m. is safely described as "worship-unplugged" and often features a lone worship-leader.

    Typically, our service lasts about 75 minutes, and includes time for music, announcements, sermon, prayer, offertory, and any special elements such as a dramatic sketch, communion, new member welcome, or baby dedications.

  • How should I dress?

    Dress is fairly casual; you’ll see everything from jeans to business casual or even a Sunday best. We want you to feel comfortable while still honoring the God of the universe.

  • What about Communion?

    In most of Walnut Hill’s services, we celebrate the sacrament of Communion once a month, as a symbolic remembrance of what Christ did at the Last Supper.

    At our 8:00 a.m. traditional service, Communion is celebrated every week.

    We have an "open table' - inviting all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ to celebrate with us.

  • What about Baptism?

    Believers here emulate Jesus Christ and engage in a full-immersion style of baptism as a public declaration of our faith. Throughout the year, we make frequent use of a baptistery in our Worship Center during our regular services.

    We do not practice infant baptism at Walnut Hill. Instead, we "dedicate" children to the Lord, with the expectancy that the child will be drawn to the Lord by our prayers and our actions.

  • Do I need to bring a Bible?

    Because we are a church based on the foundational truths of the Bible, we encourage you to bring your own, or we can provide one for you. In most cases, however, Scripture being studied is displayed on our large screens. The same holds true for words to the songs we sing (at all but the 8:00 a.m. service). We're (mostly) a no-hymnal-required church!

News

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