8:30am Chapel Service at the Rocky River Campus
19414 Detroit Rd. Rocky River, OH 44116 (directions)
Planning your first visit to RRUMC?
It’s PERFECTLY OK if you have never been to church. If so, we are excited to be your first! Here are some tips to alleviate your anxieties before you come:
Arrival. It only takes a few minutes to get situated and ready for worship. If you arrive about 15 minutes early, this should give you time to park and find a seat.
Parking? Parking is actually behind the church. Please make use of the spots just for visitors lining the rear of the building. Don’t be bashful, they are meant just for you!
Have kids? Our 8:30am Chapel Service is our only service at RRUMC during which there is no children’s programming. The 10:00am and 11:30am services will be a better fit if you want your children to attend Sunday school. However, we are delighted to have children in the mix at our Chapel Service so please don’t let this discourage you from trying it out. Also, those with children age infant to three are invited to drop them off in the church nursery when you arrive for the Chapel Service. A member of our hospitality team will be happy to direct you, although our superb directional signage located around the building is a great back up. Our nursery staff is top notch, but as an added layer of comfort, you will be given a pager to carry with you to worship through which the nursery team can contact you if your child is in need of you for any reason. Click here to visit the children’s ministry page for more information about opportunities for children at Rocky River UMC. ***Your child’s safety is incredibly important to us! Please know that all adult volunteers are background checked and thoroughly screened before working in children’s ministries.
Then What? As you make your way to the Chapel, please keep an eye out for the welcome signs with our church logo and a QR code. Scanning these with your cell phone camera will open a link that will equip you with a wealth of information about your worship experience at the church, particularly as a first time guest. You will then find a seat in our beautiful and intimate Chapel setting. Once you get settled into your seat, your work is done and the rest is on us. Worship will begin with a warm welcome from one of the pastors. As a first-time guest, you’ll be encouraged to greet the pastors following the service so they can make your acquaintance, as well as provide you a “welcome packet”. These packets include information about the ministries of the church as well as a small gift card to treat yourself to a coffee or an ice cream (depending on the season) at a nearby establishment on your way home. Worship music will then commence to help you settle into the service. You’ll be led through a time of prayer, listen to Scripture and a message, and then a bit more worship music before we wrap up (click here to sample one of our pastors’ recent messages). Occasionally, on special Sundays, other worship elements will be mixed in. In total, though, the Chapel Service lasts roughly forty-five minutes. We like to call our Chapel Service a casual traditional service. You will experience a traditional worship style, including music, but in a casual and intimate setting.
What about giving? Giving is important. No church would (or at least should) tell you otherwise. We believe it’s a natural response to God’s love and provision for us, and part of our relationship with God. As a natural, heartfelt response, however, we don’t pressure anyone to give. In fact, you don’t even have to worry about that awkward “pass the plate” moment. You can simply drop a gift in the plate on the way out, or take a minute to give electronically via text or through the “giving” tab on our website. Ultimately, though, know that you are our guest and giving is not expected. Our hope for our guests is simply that you would feel the love of God and our church family and grow in your faith during your time with us.
Come as you are. No, really! Casual, dressy, however you’re most comfortable. You will find a relaxed, family-like atmosphere, with many unique and special individuals who love Jesus and love having fun worshipping and serving the Lord together!