A Welcoming Place
Open and Affirming to EVERYONE. We mean it! No matter who you are or what your story might be, we welcome you in the name of Jesus – who welcomes each and every one of us with unconditional love. As a result, you can expect the gathered community to differ in age, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, socio-economic status, and life experience, as God works wonders in our midst.
Our Worship Service
Diverse worship experiences offer meaningful expressions to a diverse faith community. We have a 10:30 a.m. blended service with a mixture of traditional and contemporary music. Central to every worship service is the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. We practice weekly communion and believe that all are welcome to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Faith Formation (formerly known as “Christian Education”)
We provide special age-appropriate opportunities from childcare to children’s classes, and from middle school to high school youth. With each developmental stage for children and youth in mind.
Meanwhile, we strive to provide support to young children who worship with their parents. We have an opportunity after the Children’s Moment in worship for children to leave the adult worship service and go to our Montessori based program entitled “Worship and Wonder.”
Children’s Ministries in the 21st century have taken on new identities. They now implement new language, embrace new technologies, and above all, take the focus from education-based programming to a holistic faith formation approach.
“Faith formation is understood and perceived as an engaged process of learning and practice integrated throughout all aspects of congregational and daily life.” This definition allows for the combining of “head” and “heart” knowledge into a more holistic understanding and embodiment [of faith], rather than creating a dichotomy between these two areas.” Children Worship & Wonder is an essential part of this holistic faith formation approach and subscribes to the understanding that churches are creating lifelong disciples.
Who We Are
We are a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We are often referred to as a “bridge” church because people from different denominational backgrounds, and people who have never been in church, feel welcomed here. We hope that you will feel the same way.
Fellowship Time
Each Sunday immediately after the 10:30 worship service, refreshments are served in Fellowship Hall. This is a time in which we, as a group, can gather to catch up on one another’s lives and the happenings at our church and in the community. This time is entirely optional if you have other obligations.
What to Wear
You will find that dress for our worship services will run from jeans to dresses and suits. You are welcome to wear whatever you are most comfortable wearing to worship. The most important thing is not what you are wearing, but the fact that you are here!
If you have additional questions, just ask us! Call us at 317-846-5033 or email us at carmelchristian@sbcglobal.net.