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the EPISCOPAL CHURCH welcomes you |
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Church of the Good Shepherd |
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FAQ about the Sunday Service 1. I live a distance away, how do I get there? We’re in Lyndhurst, an eastern suburb of Cleveland. From the north, take 271 South, get off at the Cedar exit. Turn left onto Brainard and right on Cedar. The church is past Richmond Road and on the right side of the road. From the south, take 271 North and get off at Cedar. The exit ramp curves around until traffic merges with westbound traffic on Cedar. Cross Richmond and look for us on the right. Elsewhere on the website there is a map. 2. I live in the neighborhood. Where are you again? If you are familiar with Beachwood Place or Legacy Village, you can find us. Both shopping centers are at Richmond and Cedar. We’re further west, between Richmond and Green. A new synagogue is being built just to the east of our driveway. 3. Where may I park? We have ample space. There are handicapped spaces east of the main doors and guest spaces near a grassy island. 4. Is the building accessible for handicapped people? The sidewalk leading to the door is ramped. Most of the building is on the ground level. Only the Sunday School rooms and nursery are downstairs. There is an elevator to the lower level if needed. 5. I have children: Are there activities or childcare while I worship? There’s a nursery on the lower level of Naumann Hall. It’s staffed by a paid and certified child care worker. Preschool children begin church with their family and leave for a children’s service a few minutes later. Older children and youth leave for their class after communion. 6. When does church begin and what do I wear? Our Sunday service begins at 10 am. Wardrobe is comfortable. It ranges from Bermuda shorts and sandals to dresses and suits and ties. Your presence is more important than your clothing style. A person “looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1st Samuel 16:7b). 7. What happens when I come in the building? When you enter the building our greeters will welcome you in the lobby. The worship area is through the two sets of double doors on the right, just past the coatrooms. People will be standing at the doorway, passing out a bulletin with information about the day’s service. There are three sets of pews (seats). Sit wherever you like. 8. What if my children need a restroom? There are restrooms to the left as you enter the building. To find the other restrooms, proceed down the hall that is straight ahead. Then look toward the left in the Great Room, near the water fountain. See the diagram below on this page. 9. What is the church service like? The service is described in the bulletin. The Episcopal Church follows the liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer, meaning there are prayers, songs, and Bible readings that follow a certain order. The first part of the service is the Liturgy of the Word (Bible readings) and also includes the pastor’s sermon. The second half is the Eucharist and related prayers. We recall Jesus eating His final Passover meal with the disciples. Around the altar, we gather to eat bread and wine because he told us to remember Him this way. This ritual helps us to feel closer to God but also closer to each other. On some occasions, particularly if the pastor is on vacation, we may do a different service called Morning Prayer. It is traditional from the Book of Common Prayer as well; however, it does not include communion. Both services honor God and His Holy Word. The music ranges from classic hymns to modern praise music. A variety of musical instruments are used effectively. Warning: We like to have fun. We may clap to the music sometimes! Here’s another warning: the seating arrangement “in the round” inspires a friendly feeling because we can see each other during church. Because of that, sometimes there is more interaction between the pastor and congregation than one might expect. We even joke and laugh. We take God seriously, but we enjoy each other’s company like a healthy family. 10. What happens next? After the service is over, you can shake hands with the pastor in the lobby and meet some of the rest of us. Soon we move to the Great Room in Naumann Hall for coffee, snacks, and conversation. Join us! Next? Come back and visit us again next week! If you’d like to know more, talk to the pastor or any member. There are green cards in the pews. You can write down your contact information. We would mail you a greeting card or call to ask if you have any questions. If you’d like to join, we’d love to have you and would welcome the opportunity to get to know you better.
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