Gordon United Church - Tips for getting to church

Been meaning to get to church for ages, but just haven’t made it yet? Here are some tips on how to get yourself out the door on Sunday morning.

1. Research the church in advance. What time are the services? What sort of clothing do people wear? Do I know how to get there? How long will it take me? How long is the service? Is there time for socializing afterward?

2. Set a Sunday mood on Saturday night:: set out your clothes (and your kids’ clothes), spend some quiet time with your Bible or in prayer, read your children a Bible story, plan breakfast in advance, check the bus schedule, put gas in the car or arrange a taxi in advance.

3. Make a commitment that requires you to be there: join the choir, offer to usher once a month, volunteer to read Scripture or a prayer, offer to tell the children a story in worship, volunteer to be a Sunday School helper, offer someone a ride to church, arrange to meet another church-goer for coffee or lunch after the service.

4. Have a church-buddy: someone you will go with or meet there. If this is your spouse, great! Did you know that both parents attending church is the single largest indicator of whether a child will attend church in adulthood?

5. If you just can’t get there on Sunday morning (you’re working or have other commitments), find a service that’s held at a different time, or let the church you want to attend know that you’d be interested in such a service. In the meantime, "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy". Find a way to fit quiet time for God into your week. Our spirits get thirsty and our bodies get tired: we need the rest and refreshment of Sabbath time!

From Ministry Beyond Our Walls

"We want to deepen our connection with our God, our neighbour and ourselves; expanding our capacity to love as taught and embodied by Jesus."

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About the United Church of Canada

From the United Church of Canada's website:

The United Church of Canada is a Protestant denomination within Christianity. We believe in God, who created everything and continues to create in the present. We believe God sent Jesus to us to heal and change us for good. We want to share the story of his life and teachings, how he died yet mysteriously overcame death and continues to touch hearts today.

God's presence is always with us and acts in us through the Spirit. We believe we have a responsibility to become a creative force within the world

to care for one another and our planet
to resist evil and work for justice

Our spiritual head is an elected Moderator, a position held by a man or a woman. Decisions are made with much consultation among a broad base of representatives—women, men, children, and young people—from all regions of Canada.

Sometimes we disagree with one another, but we seek to do so with respect. The struggle has led us to pay particular attention to those who are often overlooked: poor people, women and children, and people of diverse races, cultures, and sexual orientations.