THE PEOPLE
At Hopewell you'll meet all kinds of people. Most are dressed casually; some wear jeans & a nicer shirt. Some will wear a tie and jacket. All we ask is that those who attend be respectful in their attire.
You will also be surrounded by kids--lots of them. Approximately half of the congregation is under the age of 18. The kids sit in the service and participate as much as possible. So there will be your occasional squawk and a good deal of shuffling noises from the toddlers. We don't mind them and encourage family integration during our services.
If you have a child that needs to wiggle, there is plenty of room behind the seating area for them to stretch out and move quietly. This will allow the parent who is supervising to remain engaged in the service (and the child, too, to some degree!).
Nursing mothers are also welcome to utilize the "cry room" in the back if they would have need of more privacy.
At Hopewell you'll meet all kinds of people. Most are dressed casually; some wear jeans & a nicer shirt. Some will wear a tie and jacket. All we ask is that those who attend be respectful in their attire.
You will also be surrounded by kids--lots of them. Approximately half of the congregation is under the age of 18. The kids sit in the service and participate as much as possible. So there will be your occasional squawk and a good deal of shuffling noises from the toddlers. We don't mind them and encourage family integration during our services.
If you have a child that needs to wiggle, there is plenty of room behind the seating area for them to stretch out and move quietly. This will allow the parent who is supervising to remain engaged in the service (and the child, too, to some degree!).
Nursing mothers are also welcome to utilize the "cry room" in the back if they would have need of more privacy.
THE WORSHIP SERVICE
Hopewell's worship service lasts a little longer than most other church services. An average service typically runs from 10:30-12:00.
The services are designed to be reverent & focused on God's Word. That means a good deal of listening. However, we enjoy songs that are upbeat and occasionally accompanied by clapping.
Our music, which is led by our young people, is a mix of contemporary worship songs, classic hymns, & lyrical psalms. As you sing, you will be accompanied by a variety of instruments, which typically includes a piano, guitar, and violin.
You will find that we follow a formal order in our worship. It is designed to be interactive in that we hear God speak (through the Bible) and then respond with song. During our congregational prayer we take requests and testimonies of grace. Most of all, we join together in weekly communion.
Hopewell's worship service lasts a little longer than most other church services. An average service typically runs from 10:30-12:00.
The services are designed to be reverent & focused on God's Word. That means a good deal of listening. However, we enjoy songs that are upbeat and occasionally accompanied by clapping.
Our music, which is led by our young people, is a mix of contemporary worship songs, classic hymns, & lyrical psalms. As you sing, you will be accompanied by a variety of instruments, which typically includes a piano, guitar, and violin.
You will find that we follow a formal order in our worship. It is designed to be interactive in that we hear God speak (through the Bible) and then respond with song. During our congregational prayer we take requests and testimonies of grace. Most of all, we join together in weekly communion.
THE COMMUNION SERVICE
We do things a little differently when observing the Lord's Supper. We invite a representative from the family to come forward, get the elements (bread, wine/grape juice), and then return to the seats to serve any who are members in good standing of an evangelical church. You will hear us say that we permit anyone who is baptized and has made a public profession of faith to participate in the sacrament.
If you are impaired or uncomfortable going forward to receive the elements, please know that an elder will be happy to serve you.
We do things a little differently when observing the Lord's Supper. We invite a representative from the family to come forward, get the elements (bread, wine/grape juice), and then return to the seats to serve any who are members in good standing of an evangelical church. You will hear us say that we permit anyone who is baptized and has made a public profession of faith to participate in the sacrament.
If you are impaired or uncomfortable going forward to receive the elements, please know that an elder will be happy to serve you.