Who We Are
We are a fellowship of Christians, bound together by our mutual faith in Jesus Christ, and respect for one another. We are not limited by any denomination, not responsible to any authority but God, and not obligated to promote anyone but Christ.

We are a Bible-centered church. We are aware that we are not perfect, but we strive to please God by "fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2). We believe that God expects us to demonstrate the Christian life through love, purity of life and commitment to others.

We respect the freedom of opinion of individual Christians, recognizing that there will be honest differences in all of us. We look to the Scriptures as our only doctrinal authority, and where those Scriptures are silent, we honor the wisdom of God by refusing to bind human opinions as creed.

-Batsell Barrett Baxter

The Setting
None of the seats in our auditorium are reserved, so feel free to sit anywhere you choose.

Worship Service
Our worship assemblies are not led by clergy, but by our members. The prayers offered, the songs sung, and communion shared are for all of us, as members of the Lord's church.

Sermon
The sermon is usually delivered by one of our ministers. However, at times guest speakers or other members of this church will present the message.

Prayer
There will be several prayers during the service. And, there may be prayers offered for specific needs and/or requests.

Music
There will be several songs. It may seem a little different, because we sing without the accompaniment of musical instruments. This practice is in harmony with the word of God and highlights the beauty of the human voice, and draws attention to the words being sung. Song books are located in the book rack on the pew in front of you. When the song leader announces a number, you can turn to that number in the hymn book and find the words and music. We pray that you will find the song service meaningful. You are invited, but not required to participate.

Invitation
At the close of the sermon, the speaker will offer an invitation. This is simply a convenient time for anyone to obey the gospel by making a commitment to serve Jesus as the Lord of their life. Some may request prayer support. The speaker will ask those who wish to respond to come to the front of the auditorium while the congregation sings a hymn. Don't feel ill-at-ease during this invitation. You will not be singled out in any way. There may be several who respond, or none. Some may respond to confess sins, and/or to ask for prayer for a specific need.

Baptism
Some may respond, asking to be baptized. If anyone does, they will be baptized by immersion (Acts 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-4) and it will be for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38).

Communion
We follow the example of the Biblical church by celebrating communion every Sunday (Acts 20:7). We offer full-fellowship communion, and all Christians are welcome to join with us in this act of Worship. We ask only that people examine themselves to make sure that the experience is reverent and Christ-centered (1 Corinthians 1:28).

During this memorial, plates containing pieces of unleavened bread will be passed throughout the congregation. The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-35). Each participating person will break off a piece of the bread and eat it. Next, trays filled with small cups will be distributed. These cups will contain grape juice, symbolizing the blood of Jesus. Each participant will drink the the contents of one of the cups.

If you choose not to participate, don't be embarrassed. Feel free to pass the tray to the person next to you.

Offering
If you are visiting on a Sunday morning, containers will be passed to collect the weekly financial offering (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). As our guest, you are not expected to make a donation. Feel perfectly comfortable in just passing the collection plate.

What Will Be Expected of You
Nothing at all! You are welcome to participate, but don't feel obligated. Just observe if that is your choice. You may be asked to fill out a "Guest Card." Supply the information if you feel comfortable doing so. But feel free to decline this request if you prefer. Or, you can communicate your personal need or desire on the guest card. You may also contact one of the Elders, Deacons or Ministers at your convenience by calling the church office.

The People Here
What kind of people can you expect to find at Newland Street Church of Christ? Pretty much the entire spectrum, as in any group. You get the picture. We're a diverse group, coming from varied backgrounds, and at different stages of knowledge and spiritual growth.

We don't know everything, and we may not do everything right. We haven't arrived, we're just on the journey. You see, we aren't brought together by any illusion of our perfection or of our own righteousness, but rather, the recognition that we are sinners and need the cleansing of Jesus (Romans 5 & 1 John 1). That is the reason we can worship together, and with God's help accomplish the things that make a difference. You won't have to look very far to find our failures. But the bottom line is, you will find people here that love Jesus and love the Bible.

For seekers of God's grace and truth who are not yet at the point of commitment, we offer personal Bible study and spiritual guidance in making faith real and expressing that faith in obedience (Hebrews 11:6).

We are a congregation that is here to serve families. There are classes for all ages and spiritual maturity levels, starting at six months of age. We also provide an attended nursery for children 3 years of age and under, during the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday mornings. There is also a "Children's Worship" during that time for children 2-5 years old.