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FAQ
Welcome to Porterfield Memorial United Methodist Church! We are glad that you have found this web page, and hope that if you have questions about the church you will find the answers on this site. Of course, you may also feel free to call or email any Staff member.
How many worship services are there? When and where are they? There are three worship services every Sunday morning. Traditional worship is in the Sanctuary at 8:30 and 11:10 a.m. Contemporary worship is in the Ministry Center (opposite end of the Sanctuary) at 9:15 a.m. We encourage you to worship at each service to see what style of worship best fits your spiritual needs. The same minister preaches at each service; only the style of music and liturgy change.
What should I wear? Generally, the attire for the services in the Sanctuary could be considered “traditional” church attire. In the Contemporary Service you are encouraged to dress casually. You should know, however, that we think it is of very little importance what you wear on the “outside”, since we believe that God is interested on the “inside”. (First Samuel 16:7b - "for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.") We are a lot more interested in you than in what you wear.
Where should I park? There is parking available in the front, side and back of the church. In the small parking area on Dawson Road, in front of the Sanctuary, there are specific parking spaces for visitors. The larger parking areas are on the side and back of the church.
Is the church handicap accessible? There are stairs at every entrance directly into the Sanctuary. If it is difficult or impossible for you to navigate those stairs, you will want to park in the back parking lot and enter the church through that entrance, as there is a ramp there. There is still a bit of a walk to get to the Sanctuary. If that is difficult or impossible for you, there are wheelchairs just inside that back entrance, and you are welcome to use one of them. If you need assistance, please call the church office during office hours Monday through Friday, and someone will meet you on Sunday morning to assist you.
The Ministry Center is completely accessible through the back door of the church or the side door of the Ministry Center. (facing Corner Café)
Going to church is not something I am accustomed to doing. How will I know what to say or do during the service? We have made our 8:30 and 11:10 worship bulletins as user friendly as possible. For example, if we are praying the Lord's Prayer or saying the Apostle's Creed, those will be printed in the bulletin. If we are celebrating Holy Communion, the pastor will give instructions. If we are singing a hymn, the page number will be in your bulletin. If the congregation is supposed to stand, there will be an asterisk (*) in the bulletin. At the 9:15 Contemporary service, all of the songs and/or responses will be on one of the screens. You will never be called on, introduced, or in any way singled out as a visitor. We want you to know that you are welcome, but we also want you to be comfortable and worship without worry!
Should my children come with me into the service? If not, where should they go? All children are welcome in worship, but our experience has been that young children are sometimes more comfortable in the care of our fine Nursery.
Do you have programs and policies in place that will make me comfortable leaving my children out of my sight? Absolutely. We take the safety of all children very seriously, and we have a comprehensive "Safe Sanctuaries" policy. No child is ever in the company of just one adult, and all staff members have had criminal background checks. No volunteer who has not had such a background check is ever alone with children. You are welcome to have a copy of our Safe Sanctuaries policy. Just ask any of the ministers or the Director of Children's Ministries, Carol Bowe.
I'm interested in finding a Sunday School Class. How do I do that? You can find a list of adult classes by clicking here, youth classes by clicking here, and children's classes by clicking here. You may also contact our Director of Christian Education, Kaye McIsaac.
What is the best way to get to know other people in the church? Simply put, get involved. Come to church night supper on Wednesday, join a small group or Sunday School class, attend a membership class, volunteer for a ministry, participate in a study. Any Staff member will be glad to help you get involved without becoming overwhelmed. You might want to start by meeting with our Associate Minister, Jason Dillard. He can help you find "your place" at Porterfield!
What do I need to do in order to come to a Wednesday night supper? Wouldn't it be awful if we didn't have enough food? That would be a Southerner's worst nightmare! In order to avoid that situation, we ask that everyone make reservations for our Wednesday night supper. You may do so by calling the church at 436-6336, or by emailing Barbara Ivey. Please make your reservation the Monday prior to the Wednesday Night Supper. You may also make a standing reservation, but we do ask that you cancel it if you find that you won't be able to be present on a Wednesday evening.
What do you do on Wednesday evenings other than eat? There are separate programs for our children and youth on Wednesday evenings after supper. For the adults, we sometimes offer programs in the Fellowship Hall, but at other times offer classes such as book or Bible studies.
Where can I read about what United Methodists believe? Click here!
How can I learn more about what membership means? Click here to learn more about membership. Also feel free to contact any of our ministers.
I hope some of your questions have been answered. If you have more questions, call us, email us, come to see us! I hope to see you in worship soon. Please introduce yourself to me!
Blessings,
Leigh Ann