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Visiting a church for the first time can be a little unsettling for some. Sometimes, one hears the expression, "We are going to Church" or "We are going to worship". We believe that "worship" is something that a follower of Christ does 24/7. It is neither an event nor something that starts and stops at a certain time. A believer's life should be a worship service to God. Here are a few characteristics of our family worship time together.
"What if I don't know what to do? Will I be singled out?"
You can be assured that you won’t ever be singled out or embarrassed at West Orange. Our Sunday Gathering is informal and simple. We gather collectively to continue our individual worship to God and encourage each other. Everyone is welcome! You will be greeted as you enter the building by friendly people who will let you know that we are glad you're with us.
Singing
We sing praises to God from the heart. You’ll notice that we sing a variety of songs, from traditional to contemporary. The words will be projected on the screen in the front of the auditorium. There are also hymn books in the racks in front of your seat if you prefer.
Prayers
We are led in prayer several times during the service. If you have a special prayer request, write it on the provided card and put it into the collection plate after Communion.
Communion / The Lord's Supper
We celebrate the Lord's Supper, also called Communion, every week. This is a reflective time when we connect with Jesus, remembering his death, burial and resurrection. We do this to follow the command of Jesus found in Luke 22:19-20:"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Bible Teaching / Sermon
Each week, our Teaching Minister presents a lesson designed to help us connect with God's word in a practical way. Scripture quotations will be projected on the screen so you can easily follow along. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask the Minister or one of our Elders after the gathering, or if you prefer write your question down on one of the cards in the back of the pew and hand it to one of our Elders. We believe questions are healthy! Ultimately, we all are pursuing truth. Questioning one's beliefs is healthy in that the information received will either reinforce it or change it.
Giving
After Communion, a collection plate is passed for those desiring to give back to the Lord in a monetary way. If you wish to give, that's fine, but please don't feel obligated to. We believe that giving is a commandment, but what you give and how you give is between you and God.
Bible Communities
After the Gathering, we then join together in Bible Communities (Sunday School), for an additional time of Bible study and fellowship. There will be multiple communities to choose from with different topics of discussion. This is a great time to get to know each other on a more personal level, dig deeper into scripture, and ask any questions that you may have. It is our belief that both the Gathering and Bible Communities are of equal importance, and we hope that you will join us for both.
Wednesday Devotions
We all can use a mid-week rejuvenation, which is why we meet on Wednesday nights for fellowship and devotional time. Starting at 7:00ish, we have multiple classes/studies available to help us dive a little deeper into the word and challenge us in our Christian walk.