Are you looking for a church that...

• Is committed to Christ and to loving one another? (Mark 12:30-31)
• Seeks to restore New Testament Christianity without all the denominational tradition & baggage? (1 Corinthians 1:10; John 17:20-21)
• Carefully follows God's Word and emphasizes "book, chapter, and verse"? (Matthew 28:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Has a strong emphasis on Bible preaching which carefully explains the scriptures and stresses practical applications? (Nehemiah 8:8; 2 Timothy 4:1-2)
• Makes everyone feel welcome - regardless of social status, education, economic standing, or background? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; James 2:1-5)
• Works together with a cooperative spirit encouraging one another to use the talents given to them by God? (Romans 12:5-8)
• Is unified with a genuine loving atmosphere toward all members - whether they have attended for many years or only since last Sunday? (1 Peter 1:22)
• Helps families fulfill their God-given mission to nurture life-long marital relationships and rear Godly children? (Ephesians 5:23-6:4)
• Has a worldwide vision for taking the gospel to those near & far? (Mark 16:15-16)

Well, you have come to the right place!  You are cordially invited to visit & attend the services of the Sylvester Church of Christ.

Most people are a little apprehensive about visiting a new church.  We hope a few words will help set your mind at ease about visiting the Sylvester Church if Christ.

Maybe you've realized there's a void in your life, like something's missing - you're not alone!  This is a perfect time to visit us and find opportunities to connect with Christians in this area.

We are a diverse congregation that reflects the fact that God’s church is for all people. We welcome individuals of all ages & backgrounds.  Churches of Christ are diversified - people of all races and nationalities worship & work together as God’s children (Acts 10:34-35).  What unites us all is our love for the Lord and our obedience to His gospel.

Every effort is made to allow visitors to feel comfortable.  We welcome you as an honored guest and want you to feel at ease in our services.  You will not be singled out during the service in any way.  You will not be asked to make a "love offering."  In fact, no collections will be taken at all, except during the Sunday worship services when our members make their weekly contribution as an act of worship.  Visitors are not expected or solicited to participate.

We sincerely seek to follow only the Biblical example for our worship as revealed to us in the New Testament.  We want to worship God in the way that honors His name & pleases Him.  Our worship services generally open with a brief welcome from one of the members who will also present some brief announcements.  The song leader then leads the congregation in a couple of songs.  An opening prayer is offered, followed by another song, and then the preacher delivers a sermon from the Bible.  All are encouraged to bring their Bibles and follow along as he leads the study (2 Timothy 2:15).  At the sermon’s end, the Lord’s invitation is offered (Matthew 11:28-30) for any who want to become Christians or rededicate their lives to God.  There is no coercion.  During the Sunday morning service, the communion is observed by partaking of unleavened bread & fruit of the vine (1 Corinthians 11:23-29).  Members make a financial offering to further the work of the church in benevolence, spreading the gospel, and edification (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  Guests are not expected to give but you may if you choose.  The service lasts about 60-70 minutes and concludes with a song & prayer.  Guests may sit silently in the service, or they may participate.

Friendly
The church of Christ strives to be a "visitor-friendly" church.  Since many of our members were at one time visitors themselves, we know how it feels on a first visit.  We make it our goal to be the friendliest church you have ever visited.  We aim to treat others the way we want to be treated, like Jesus said (Matthew 7:12).  You’ll receive a warm greeting and find assistance to locate your class (or your children’s class), the restroom, and/or a comfortable seat in the worship service.  You will not be singled out, made to stand, encouraged to give any ‘testimony,’ or in any other way made to feel embarrassed.  The services are simple, reverent, practical, and meaningful.

Bible-Based, Christ-Centered, Heaven-Bound
When you visit, you will meet people who, just like you, sincerely want to follow the teachings of the Bible and please God with their lives.  Have you noticed some preaching these days barely mentions any scripture and mostly contains jokes & storytelling?  Or maybe you have sat through a lesson that seemed to ramble on forever without a real point?  Not here!  You’ll find that every sermon & class is based upon the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  In fact, members & visitors are urged to bring their own Bibles and follow along.  You can even ask questions during class or after services if there's anything you don't understand.  We are gladly willing to explain the "reason of the hope" that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and welcome your questions so that we may "reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).  We still strive to do Bible things in Bible ways, and to call Bible things by Bible names - nothing more or nothing less.  We seek to exalt Christ in our songs, prayers, sermons, and lives (Colossians 1:18), speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) as we make practical application of the Word of God in our daily lives.  An air of hope fills the church as we think of the beautiful promise of heaven for God’s faithful children (Revelation 21:1).

Lord’s Supper Observed Each Sunday
The church of Christ has communion every week, just as they did in New Testament times (Acts 20:7).  It is a highlight of the week to commemorate Christ’s death, remember His sacrifice, and celebrate His promised return.

Beautiful Singing
The whole congregation sings acappella (without mechanical instruments), just as they did in New Testament times (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).  Visitors may sing along or simply listen.  Some first-time visitors comment on how beautiful & nice the singing is with the whole congregation singing together.  Some say they find it easier to focus on the song’s meaning since the words are more easily understood than with musical accompaniment.

A Place for Everyone
Christ’s church is made up of all kinds of people (1 Corinthians 12; Galatians 3:27-28).  You will find members of all races, educational backgrounds, and economic levels feel comfortable in our services.  We mean it when we say, "Everybody is welcome!"

FREE Materials
You will find FREE booklets, pamphlets, tracts, publications, and even DVD's displayed in the entrance area.  These are FREE to any member or guest.  Often there will be study materials distributed during Bible classes & worship services.  A personal home Bible study (either in-person or by mail) is available for those who want to know more about God's word.

Emphasis on Family & Bible School
The church of Christ places a great emphasis on Bible school.  We feel that children are important, and that our God-given responsibility is to assist parents in teaching them about their origin, purpose, and destiny.  They should come to know their Creator, Redeemer, Lord, and Savior early in life (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Matthew 19:14).  They have been born into a mixed-up world, so we try to ground them in the simple truth so they will know right from wrong.

Our "Simple-Seven" Service Promise to You:
1.  You will be warmly greeted.
2.  You will be treated with courtesy & respect.
3.  You will not be put on the spot.
4.  You will not be asked for money.
5.  The service you attend will be simple & scriptural.
6.  The lesson will be thoughtfully prepared & lovingly presented in plain language.
7.  You will be able to ask questions about anything before you leave.

So, why not check us out?  Bring your Bible and come for that visit you’ve been thinking about.  We look forward to seeing you.  We’ll save you a seat.

[Portions of this page were adapted from the writings of Allen Webster, Curtis Cates, & John Allan]