Frequently Asked Questions about VCC

What does your Worship Service look like?

While we lean more towards a traditional worship service, we do incorporate contemporary music, and we like to laugh at the occasional joke.  Traditional, yet informal might be a great way to describe who we are.  Click here for a sample of our weekly bulletin. The central focal point of our Worship is the Service of the Table.  Village Christian Church (and the Disciples of Christ denomination as a whole) celebrate Communion each and every week.  Communion is open to all – it is Christ that invites.  For an example of our invitation to The Table, listen to our Communion Meditation.

What do you folks wear to services?

Pretty much anything and everything.  Suits and ties are welcome, and so are jeans and tennis shoes, and you will see both at VCC on any given Sunday. During the summer, some of the golfers come ready to hit the links after Worship.  (We have standing tee times every Sunday at Patty Jewett)

What is your congregation like?

We have young and old, formal and informal, conservative and liberal.  We, like all groups, don’t always agree.  However, that is one of the beautiful things about our church family.  Like any family, we can have debate and discussion, and at the end of it all meet around the table and bask in the Grace offered by Christ.

Can I visit the church other than during Services?

Our office is open from 9 AM to 1PM Tuesdays through Fridays. Anyone is welcome to come by. If you would like to talk with the Pastor, have a tour of the church, or sit and pray in the Library or Sanctuary we would ask that you call in advance to set up an appointment. We want this church of God’s to be available to God’s people and seek to steward it in ways that allow for its use.  When weekday studies or special services are occurring we will post them on the website and we invite others to join us.  The entrance to the office is marked on the building, close to the round flower planter and is visible from Hancock.

Who can attend and receive Communion?

“Christ invites.” As a Disciples of Christ congregation Village Christian holds the belief that all who accept Jesus’ invitation are welcome at the table.  We have an “open table” meaning that we invite everyone to participate in communion (the symbolic broken body and shed blood of Jesus) for any reason.  The table represents and offers: forgiveness, Christ’s sacrifice, the unity of the body of Christ, the grace of God and the reconciliation of each person to God the Creator through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our communion table is a welcome table, come and receive; and if you can’t come, call the church office and our Elders will make every attempt to bring communion to you.

Is this a Bible Based church?

YES! We are a Bible-based congregation.  We seek life in the scriptures and we find it.  Every Sunday we take one scripture and we base our whole service on the theme, message and words of that text.  We look at what it is saying to us as individuals in our lives, and what it is saying to our congregational, local and global communities.  We want to be formed by the words of scripture and by the Word (Christ) that lives through the scripture and breathes wisdom into our hearts and minds.  As a Disciples of Christ congregation we find our home in the New Testament, which means that most of our Biblical study and sermon reflections come from the New Testament.  We also believe  in the worth of the Revised Common Lectionary; that by using the same scripture that other churches, across denominations and nationalities are using on any given Sunday we are participating in the unity of the Body of Christ in a small yet significant way.  In our Sunday School classes, small groups and Bible Studies we engage in earnest discussion and study of the Bible and talk about hard to discuss topics in respectful and enriching ways.  Through thoughtfulness, discussion, study and prayer we base our ministry on the Bible.

What about children during the service?  My new baby is a bit fussy.

The children of God of all ages, 2 days to 99 years old, are welcome in our congregation and in our worship in the ways that are most enriching for them.  We have a children’s room at the back of the sanctuary that is a good place for anyone to “wiggle”.  There is a speaker for you to hear the service and to move around with the little ones, whether they are fussy or not.  We provide a nursery during the service.  The nursery attendants are in worship with the little ones from the opening welcome through the Children’s Message portion, and then they all head off to the nursery.  Anyone is welcome to bring their little ones to the nursery.

I have a bit of trouble seeing small print or hearing. What help can you give me?

We use a screen/projector system that enables everyone in the congregation to see the words to hymns, the titles to various portions of the service and the announcements clearly displayed.  We also provide the hymn numbers for hymns so that people can use their hymnals if they would rather.  There are pew Bibles provided as well.  We strive to make the sound accessible for everyone.  We understand that it is difficult for persons who have hearing impairments and hearing aids to feel fully included in the service, so we do try very hard to adjust volume to meet the needs of everyone that we can.

I already have been baptized in another church. Would I have to be baptized again?

There is no requirement of re-baptism in our church.  If you have been baptized in another fashion, in another denomination we celebrate that baptism and welcome you into our congregation as a baptized member of the body of Christ.  We encourage our young people to be baptized by immersion after making a confession of faith around age 10-12.  We have re-baptized members of this congregation (one of them at age 89!)  upon their request in our baptistry, during the Sunday AM service; this was at their request after prayerful consideration on their part.

Do you allow gays and lesbians, divorces, single mothers, etc. to attend and become members?

We do.  Just as the communion table is Christ’s table, we understand the church to be Christ’s church.  From scripture we know that Christ welcomed everyone, so in that spirit of hospitality we welcome everyone.  Each one of us comes to church as we are; with our strengths and our weaknesses, with our varied abilities and our flaws.  We are people, formed in the image of God, seeking a deeper relationship with God in Jesus Christ.  So gay, straight or questioning, single, married, divorced, you are welcome in this congregation.

Can get a tape or something to hear your minister preach?

On the right-hand tab of the Home page there is a section entitled “Media”.  Here you will find recent sermons preached by Pastor Marlene listed by date.  We also have a tape of the entire service at the office.  Call 634-6139 to learn more.

I am getting married.  Can we use the church for the wedding and reception?

Yes.  You will need to call the VCC office to arrange a tour and a brief visit with the Pastor.  There is a minimal charge for the use of the facility and for the pre-wedding consultations and service provided by the Pastor.