It’s not easy visiting a new church for the first time. Sometimes you feel like a non-member visiting a country club. Do I belong here? Am I really welcome? Will the people be unfriendly, or too friendly? Will I be conspicuous? Will it be easy to leave if I don’t enjoy it? Will they ask me for money? Will my kids enjoy it? How should I dress? Am I welcome if I don’t believe?

It is our goal to make your visit an enjoyable experience, easy, stress-free, and relaxing. We want UCC to be "user-friendly", for everyone; whatever their background or current or past lifestyle, including those who have never been to church before. If we were visiting a new church for the first time, we’d like to know what to expect, so here’s a brief overview:
 

• What To Expect
• What Do I Wear?
• The Front Door
• The Service
• Afterwards
• Other FAQs

If you'd like to read about our different services times, which have different worship styles, click here to find out more.

 

What To Expect

When you arrive at University Covenant Church for our 8, 9:30, or 11 am service, you’ll park in the the parking lot (we have spots set aside and labeled for guests) and use the main entrance. Don't worry; you'll easily find your way!

At the front door, there should be some friendly people (we call them "greeters") to say hello, answer any questions you have, and direct you to the Worship Center. If you have kids, they can point you to the Kidzone Welcome Desk and help you register your children. If your kids are shy, they’re welcome to attend the adult service with you, but most kids really enjoy the kids´ programs for infants through 6th grade, available during the contemporary services @ 9:30 and 11 am.
 

What do I wear?

Since God doesn't have a dress code neither do we. We encourage you to come as you are comfortable. The people you will see on any given Sunday @ UCC will be dressed in everything from T-shirt, shorts & flip-flops to shirt & tie or a dress (and anything in between)! If you arrive early, you’re welcome to join us for a fresh-baked cookie and cup of coffee on the back patio. Members usually spend a few minutes before or after services to greet each other. Our church staff and volunteers wear name tags to help identify themselves to guests, so feel comfortable introducing yourself to our staff and they will help you find your way.
 

The Front Door

When you enter through the main doors of the Worship Center, you’ll be given a copy of the program, which has the week’s announcements and some information about today’s service, as well as a Connection Card. When we collect the offering, you can drop your Connection Card into the basket (if you fill it out, which we hope you will do!). If you choose to give us your name and email address, we will send you information about the church the following week. We won't add you to a mailing list (unless you check that box) or give your information out. Please don't ever obligated to give money during the service, unless you want to. The offering is for those who consider UCC their church home.
 

The Service

The service usually begins with some upbeat music. The words are projected in the front of the worship center, and followed by a welcome and introduction to the day’s service. After an extended time of worship through music led by the band (or traditional instruments in the Classic service), some key announcements are usually shared. The pastors or guest speaker usually speaks for about 30 minutes and does his/her best to make the messages interesting, enjoyable, and relevant to daily life. We try to make each message something you can actually use and that makes sense to what you’re actually going through. The message will be based on the Bible, and we will often refer to and open it to read along. If we do our job right, you’ll hear solid Christian theology in intelligent, understandable, relevant terms. And hopefully, you’ll laugh at times and maybe feel a tug at your heart, too.

We’ll close the service about 75 minutes after it began. We hope you’ll come up and introduce yourself to us afterwards. Our Information Center, located in the lobby, has a brochure about the church and various ministries. Please stop by and say hello.
 

Afterwards

After the service, you’ll pick up your kids from their classrooms, and then we hope you’ll stay around, meet some people and enjoy some more coffee and another fresh-baked cookie. Church is about God and worship, but it’s also about community and friendship, so we hope people really experience warmth and friendliness at UCC.

That’s about it. If you don't yet have a church home, we hope you’ll stop by this Sunday. And if you do, please come and say hi, and tell us that you found out about UCC on the Internet.

Thanks for your interest!

AT A GLANCE

• Dress casual
• If you have kids, please arrive 10 or 15 minutes early to allow time for first time check-in.