10:00am Sanctuary 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! Also, in a pinch, you are welcome to use the parking garage at the rear of our property for overflow parking.
Have kids? If you have kids, arriving that 15 minutes early will give you and your kids time to check out the worship and children’s spaces. Our director of children’s ministry, Quinn Bennett, would love to meet you and your child as well. Children ages 3 through 5th grade are released to attend Sunday school following a brief children’s sermon (object lesson based on the day’s theme) early in the service. No worries, adult volunteers safely accompany the children. Parents pick up their children from the children’s wing (rooms 212 and 214) down the hall, near the Chapel, directly after the service. The only exception to this is on the first Sunday of each month, when children are invited to remain in worship with their families so they can participate together in communion. Your little ones age infant to three years old are important to us too! You’re invited to drop them off in the church nursery when you arrive. 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. Of course, if your child prefers remaining in worship with you, or perhaps you’re more comfortable keeping them close by on your first visit, that is just fine! Fidget bags, to keep their little hands busy while allowing their hearts to be engaged, are available at the entrance to the worship space. And whether you’re looking to check out the children’s spaces before worship, or drop off or pick up a child before or after, our hospitality staff is always there to direct or escort you. Our superb directional signage located around the building is a great back up as well. Click here to visit the children’s ministry page for more information about Sunday school and other 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 Sanctuary, 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. Once you find a seat in our beautiful sanctuary, your work is done and the rest is on us. The service will begin promptly at 10:00am. Worship will open 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. Following the welcome, worship music will commence to help you get settled into the service. You’ll be led through a time of prayer, be blessed by additional music offerings by our talented church musicians, 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 service lasts roughly one hour. As far as style goes, the Sanctuary Service is our most traditional service, with each element uniquely meaningful and Spirit-filled, all in the traditional style of worship.
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. Giving can be done through the “giving” tab on our website, or you may follow instructions provided to give electronically via text. You are welcome to drop a gift in the plate when the offering is collected, but by no means are you expected to. Ultimately, 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 encounter a unique array of individuals in worship who dress anywhere from casual to formal. You will be welcome and fit in just fine regardless of where you fall on that spectrum. The focus is on worshipping Jesus together, not wardrobe preferences!
On your way out. Please take time to stop by our welcome station in the Gathering Area near the first floor main entrance, in the rear of the church. Our welcome attendants are friendly and resourceful if you have questions. And if for any reason you missed receiving a welcome packet from one of the pastors, they will be happy to provide you one.