What To Expect
Walking into a sanctuary full of people you don’t know can be very intimidating. We can relate. Hopefully the information below will help to ease some of your concerns.
What is your worship service like?
As far as our music is concerned, we are broadly contemporary with a heavy dose of those hymns and choruses that have stood the test of time. Most of our music is done with contemporary instrumentation (guitar, bass, drums) but we still have some very traditional elements in many of our services (such as choir and pipe organ). It is not uncommon in a single worship service for us to sing songs written hundreds of years ago to traditional music as well as choruses written within the past few years. There are times of silence and reverence, and times of joy and celebration. We craft our service so that it encourages participation, but it is also a comfortable place to sit back and observe if you are new to a Christian worship service. Moreover, we strive to make our teaching engaging, intellectually stimulating, and relevant to your everyday struggles.
What do you have for kids?
There are a lot of opportunities for children at North Avenue Alliance. Click here for more information about our kids’ ministries.
What should I wear?
Formal dress is not required, especially in Vermont. Wear whatever is comfortable. Some of our regular attenders dress very casual while others prefer a sport coat and a tie.
Will you single me out as a guest?
Absolutely. We require all our first-time guests to come to the front of the church and do a special “visitor dance.” Just kidding. You can expect to be casually greeted by a few folks before and after the service, but we will not single you out at all. We understand that it can be hard to visit a new church. If you are looking for a church to connect with we want to help you do that in whatever way works best for you, but at your own pace. You are welcome to slip in and out and remain anonymous, but we also give you the opportunity to hang out with our congregation after the service over coffee and donuts in the foyer.
Do I have to believe everything you believe in?
Not at all. While we are thoughtful about what we believe and are always seeking to understand God more fully and to live faithfully, we are a community that welcomes the maturing that happens when we wrestle through important issues together. In fact, if you visit us on the second Sunday of the month, you can participate in a Question & Answer session after the service.
