Gatherings for study and worship

If you were raised in church or are a church attender, you are already quite familiar with typical church meetings. But for those of you who are new to this whole idea of church-going, we hope this section proves useful.

Sunday morning

As with many churches, two different activities happen at Central each Sunday morning. You may attend either or both, though most first-time visitors attend the worship service. Whatever you choose, you will find the people at Central to be exceptionally friendly and welcoming to you.

Bible Study

Sunday morning Bible study (Sunday School) consists of small groups that meet to study passages from the Bible and apply them to everyday life today. Some groups listen to a lecture from a teacher, while others tend toward wide-ranging discussion among the class members.

There are groups for everyone from children to senior adults. Adults may pick among several groups; while each group generally attracts a particular age range, there is much overlap. There is also nursery care for infants. Since Bible study consists of small groups, this is the place you can really get to know people.

Worship

Most people probably think of "worship" as the main Sunday morning event. This intent of this gathering—as its name implies—is to lead people in the worship of God. It happens in the auditorium (known as the "sanctuary" in church speak).

The worship service at Central is traditional in format. This basically means that there is a combination of music, readings, scripture from the Bible, and prayers. Then there is a sermon from the pastor in which he "uses few words to say much" in applying Bible truths. The music tends toward hymns and traditional gospel songs, accompanied by pipe organ and piano.

Some would say that the Central worship service resembles a combination of elements from Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal traditions. Dresswise, you will find that most men choose to wear a suit, jacket, or tie.

Wednesday Evening

Wednesday evening is a casual time of family activities, beginning with a fellowship supper. Serving begins at 5:30 pm and continues until 6:15 pm. This dinner is in the fellowship hall, which takes up much of the bottom floor of the church. Against the backdrop of the dinner, various activities for all ages take place. Here is the full schedule.

Children’s Choirs—5:30 pm
Youth Bible Study/Small Groups—6:30 pm
Children’s Missions—6:45 pm
Prayer Meeting—6:45 pm
Chancel Choir Rehearsal—7:30 pm