Church FAQs 

What time are services, and how long do they last?
Services are Sundays at 10am and last about an hour with coffee time following the service. Many weeks there is also a Bible study with one of our elders, Bob Robbins, if you want to attend!

What should I wear?
Whatever you like. We aren't picky. Some people dress in their Sunday best, others wear jeans and tee shirts. Women are welcome to wear pants if they prefer to, we don't police your wardrobe. There is no specific dress code other than please be appropriate and not wear clothing with rude slogans and such. 

Where do I park, and is the building ADA accessible?
Yes, our building is accessible. There are ramps up onto the curb in several locations, dedicated disability parking (though we need new signs), and we have an elevator for moving between floors. Wheelchair users have spots they can sit with spaces made for them. Our bathrooms are single-stall and have rails beside the toilets. Parking is in the adjacent parking lot.

Do you have programs for children and youth during service?
No. Children are welcome in our service, and we have some books and toys and coloring pages they are welcome to use during the service if they need to get out some of their energy. There is also a quiet room if needed, but you are not expected to keep your children silent. We do, however, have a pre-k and full service daycare facility associated with our church if you're in need of that! 

Can I watch a service online before attending?
Absolutely! We have our services live streamed each week. You can find links to those in the footer of each page of the website. They are live both on Facebook and on YouTube.

Are LGBTQIA+ people welcome?
Yes. Welcome, beloved, embraced. You are a fearfully and wonderfully made child of God. 

What is the Presbyterian Church (USA)?
PCUSA is a reformed Christian denomination that emphasizes God's grace, the authority of Scripture, and shared leadership. For more information, check out our "What We Believe" page here on the website.

Do I have to be Presbyterian to attend?
No. PC(USA) practices an "open table." You are welcome to join us whatever your faith walk is, and we turn nobody away from communion. You do not need to be Presbyterian in order to join us and worship at our church. All are welcome here. There is no asterisk. 

Who may take communion?
Everyone. All are welcome at the Lord's Table if they choose to sit at it. Baptism is a gift of God to us, and we do not police who God calls to partake. 

Do you baptize infants?
Yes. We baptize infants as a sign of God's promise to the child. We also baptize adults who seek to join that intimate relationship with God and with the church universal. 

What do Presbyterians believe about the Bible?
The Bible is our authority for faith and life. We read it with prayer, study, and reason. Our pastors are required to have master's degrees that include Biblical languages, and we take Christian education very seriously. Understanding the word of God in context and through the Holy Spirit is of paramount importance to us. 

Who can be a pastor, elder, or deacon?
Anybody the church calls. We ordaine men, women, and LGBTQIA+ people. If God calls you, you may serve in the PC(USA). 

Do you accept people of different cultures?
Yes. Please join us. You are welcome, and diversity only deepens our relationship to God and the world God has created. We celebrate all who join with us.

How do I officially become a member?
"Membership" can be defined many ways. If you worship with us, you are a part of our community. However, if you are seeking to pursue ordination as an elder or deacon and want to vote in official church meetings (such as our annual meeting), you will meet with Session (our leadership body) and with a pastor to help you understand how our denomination operates (how meetings are run, etc.). Following that, you will be welcomed to the church in a special part of our service, and we will celebrate you!

How do I connect with the church?
We have several groups who are doing different things in the church. The worship team is always happy to encourage folks to try out and see if they are a good fit for us. We also have S.A.L.T. which is a monthly gathering who meets at a restaurant to share fellowship. There is also the Hand-In-Hand grief support group run by Linda Harvey, a certified grief educator and coach. Please let us know if you would like to connect with us and if you have a need we can meet!

Do you offer pastoral care, weddings, funerals, or baptisms for people outside the church?
While we would hesitate to baptize someone who has no connection to our congregation (part of our congregational vows is that we, as a community, will participate in the life in Christ this person has), please contact us if you would like to discuss this. Weddings, funerals, and other sacraments are welcomed discussions. Pastoral care may be negotiated as need is brought to us. If you have such a need, please let us know. We will do what we can. 

How do I give, and where does the money go?
Donations go to support both the church and to missions of our church as well as to the PC(USA)'s missions. We are a small congregation, so most of our donations go directly back into maintaining our building, supporting our work in the church, and into ministries we are conducting (such as Kids by the Common). Our parking lot has a donation bin for the Epilepsy Foundation here in southern, NH, and if you would like to donate gently used clothing and shoes to that, you would be most welcome to! We have also been collecting soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald house charities.