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Avon Lake |
YOU ARE WELCOME! On behalf of our church family, we extend a warm welcome to you. We invite you to worship with us, to take part in any of our church activities and to become a part of our church. The only requirement for membership in a Presbyterian church is belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and a willingness to follow Him in daily life. The Meaning of Membership sessions are held periodically throughout the year for those interested in joining our church. This part of of our web site is designed to acquaint you with our church's ministry and mission. If you have any questions about our church or are interested in membership, I will look forward to talking with you. Sincerely, Tom Robinson, Pastor Are you interested in church membership? We have new member conversations twice a year, usually during the months of September and February. The conversations, called MOM Seminars (for Meaning of Membership), are ways for people who are new to our church community to get to know one another. Participation in the conversations does not mean you have to join, but we are always open to new members bringing their own views and gifts to our fellowship. The conversations last four weeks, with the last week being a meeting at a member’s house, in which our main governing board, the Session, is in attendance. Members of the Session – Elders – are required to examine new members before they officially join. This ‘examination’ is a good time for us to learn about each other and how our journeys in the love and grace of Jesus Christ have brought us together. What is so special about the Presbyterian Church? The Presbyterian Church in this country has a long and rich history. Our story goes back to the 16th century, and the Swiss Reformer John Calvin, who sought to teach and invite all people to share the good news of Jesus in every part of their lives. The slogan of the Reformed movement – Reformed Church, always in the process of being reformed – has continued to guide the church into an awareness of ways that God’s Spirit speaks to us and changes us. Calvin’s stress for an educated clergy and an educated laity is also shown in our denomination’s emphasis on education for all of our members. What kind of Presbyterian Church is this? We are part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the largest Presbyterian denomination in this country, with about 2.6 million members. There are over 11,000 PC(USA) churches, and our denomination supports 65 colleges, seven secondary schools, and 11 theological seminaries. Please see our worship pages for more information. Are you interested in having a child baptized? Baptism is one of the two sacraments of the Presbyterian/Reformed tradition (communion being the other). Baptism is a special and joyous occasion, as a person is blessed with the signs and seals of God’s promise. Because there are promises made by the parents and the congregation, it is important for at least one of the parents to be a member of the church in which the child is baptized. How often do you celebrate communion? We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month. In addition, our pastors, along with representatives of the Session, periodically serve communion to shut-ins. What programs are available for our youth? For our children? Our Associate Pastor, Nicholas Yoda, leads the Youth Net activities with Bible study on Wednesday nights, at 6 p.m. for middle school students and 7:30 for high school students. In addition, there is a Confirmation Class for ninth grade students on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. There is also a Sunday School class for both high school and middle school students, beginning at 11 a.m. Our Director of Christian Education, Arlene Strauch, has put together an exciting Sunday School program for our younger members. We have Sunday School classes for all ages during the 11 a.m. worship time. What about activities for older members? We have an active Small Group ministry, which has groups for different activities from couples to family support to people who come to church alone to those who seek to hear what the Bible makes of tough issues. Included in our small group ministry is an extensive Women’s Circle program, with several opportunities to grow in fellowship and education. Also, there is a Men’s Lunch Group that meets the fourth Tuesday of every month. This group, consisting of retired men, meets at the church and travels to an area restaurant for fellowship and sharing. How can I join one of the choirs? We have two choirs – the Chancel Choir and the Bell Choir. The only requirement for joining the Chancel Choir is that you enjoy music. Those who are interested in the Bell Choir will need to be able to read music. Both choirs practice on Wednesday evening; the Bell Choir practices at 6:45 p.m., and the Chancel Choir begins at 8 p.m. Church membership is not a requirement for joining either choir. If you are interested, call our Music director, Muriel Homer, for more information. For further information please contact either Rev. Tom Robinson or Dr. K. Nicholas Yoda.
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© 2005 Avon Lake Presbyterian Church. All rights reserved.
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