Coming to a new church can be intimidating. We want to make it easier for you to know what to expect. Here are a few common questions people normally have. If your question is not answer feel free to reach out to us on Facebook.
We gather for Worship every Saturday morning. At 10 am we have a Bible study class that we call Sabbath School. In the main church building we have a class for adults. Down Stairs we have classes for the children from birth through teen
We have short break from 10:45-11:00 am then begin our church service. During the service we have a time for music, prayer, a children's story, offering and a sermon. All of this takes about 90 minutes. Most weeks we are out by 12:30
We tend to dress little formal. Some will have on suits and dresses; others, casual slacks and shirts. Still others will wear jeans and a t-shirt. Wear what is comfortable for you. We are just glad you are here!
Our church service starts at 11:00 with a welcome by one of our elders then a short video that shares what is happening in around the World in the Seventh-day Adventist church. Next we have a report from one of our ministries on what is happening here locally. Then one of elders will make some announcements following a time of greeting. This takes about five minutes where our members will go around greeting each other and our visitors.
Next we will sing together. Some weeks we will sing traditional hymns, others we will have a praise team leading in more contemporary Christian music and some weeks we have a blend of the two styles.
As mentioned earlier, we do take up an offering. Please do not feel obligated to put anything in the offering plate. As our guest, we want you to relax and simply enjoy the service. The offering is for members and those who are committed to the Manchester Seventh-day Adventist Church as the primary place they receive their spiritual nourishment.
At this time we ask our children to come forward and as they do they collect our offering before listening to a story just for them. The money collect is put into a scholarship fund that helps kids attend Appalachian Christian Academy, a K-8 school operated by our local church.
We now get into the Word with someone reading the scripture and our sermon time. Our pastor also preaches at the Richmond Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is normally here on the first and third Sabbaths of the month. When he is not here we have a guest speaker. It is just a talk, designed around a relevant topic using biblical references with practical application. The talk might incorporate a creative element such as drama or multi-media.
A prayer will follow the sermon and there is usually music while people exit after the service.
Four times a year we take communion together and the pastor will guide us on how to do this from the front, so just follow directions.
Yes! Twice a month our Manchester Adventist Community Services opens (it is the gray building across the parking lot from the church). On the second and third Tuesdays of the month we give out food boxes starting at 9am going until around 1pm.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant church with approximately 20 million members worldwide, including more than one million members in North America. The Seventh-day Adventist Church seeks to enhance quality of life for people everywhere and to let people know that Jesus is coming again soon.
Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—make up one God. They made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone.
When He returned to heaven following the resurrection, Jesus left the Holy Spirit to serve as our Comforter and Counselor. He promised to return to earth a second time to complete His plan of salvation and take His people to heaven. Adventists are among the believers who look forward to that day.
Adventists believe that God is concerned with the quality of human life, and that everything—the way we live, eat, speak, think, treat each other, and care for the world around us—is part of His plan. Our families, our children, our jobs, our talents, our money, and our time are all important to Him.