First Visit Answers for Common Questions You May Have

What to expect

We get that walking into a new place for the first time can be a little intimidating, and maybe church seems especially intimidating to you. Rest assured that you’ll discover a warm, friendly community in a beautiful historic building where practical, Biblical teaching and the pursuit of a relationship with God is present. 

Where to enter the building

Enter through the front doors near the corner of Sunnyside and Drake Avenues. Make your way up the stairs just inside the front doors to the find the entrance to the sanctuary. You'll be greeted by a friendly face and handed a paper with the order of service, announcements, and a connection/prayer card. Help yourself to some coffee or water located in the back of the sanctuary and sit wherever you'd like. 

What To Wear

Come as you are. Everyone at our church dresses differently. Some wear jeans or shorts, while others dress up. Your outfit is completely up to you and won't make you stick out unless you come in a costume, then we might compliment your sense of humor!

Worship Style

Our worship service is considered comtemporary. Pastor does not wear a robe, screens are used to follow the service, and a band replaces the organ. While this isn't the traditional Lutheran format, you’ll find important shared Biblical elements from traditional forms of service in our contemporary worship. 

Worship Order

After a welcome from our pastor, the worship leader begins service with prayer and ushers us into songs of celebration and reflection that enhance our understanding of the topic for the week. In the Lutheran tradition there is a time of collective confession and forgiveness, a reading from the Bible, and the confirmation of our faith in the words of the Apostles or Nicene Creeds. Pastor will deliver a relevant sermon teaching from the Bible built on God’s Word, not the pastor's ideas. 

Children Are Welcome In Worship

We love having children in worship! Please don't let those sometimes busy and noisy little bodies keep you from attending church. We've all been there, and we understand. If your kids need to get their wiggles out during the service, we have a space at the back of the sanctuary with quiet toys, blocks, and coloring pages for them. We just ask that you pull up a chair and supervise your kiddos while participating in service.

Connection Card

You'll be handed a connection card on your way in to service. Please share your contact info to your comfortability level, and we'll get in touch with you. The connection card can be placed in the offering plate or handed to Pastor on the way out of church.

Not A Christian

You are welcome at Tabor. You may have lots of questions or you may doubt if there is a God. Many of us have been there, and we believe that there is no better place to wrestle with these questions and thoughts than in a community of believers. Jesus wants a relationship with all of his children, and we'd love to encourage you in your transformational relationship with God. If it is a communion Sunday, you may stay seated or come to the altar to receive a blessing, but please refrain from taking the wine and bread until you have talked with Pastor and understand what communion is.

Non-member Christian

You're welcome to attend! We do ask that you read the communion statement and determine whether you're in full aggreement with it before participating in communion. If you decide you would like to join our church or just want to know more, we offer classes that explain the Lutheran perspective. Contact Pastor if you'd like to learn more.

Restrooms 

As you enter from the front doors, head left. There is a restroom upstairs by the sanctuary and downstairs on the way to the fellowship hall.

Sermon Teaching

Pastor organizes thematic sermon series throughout the year. You'll hear sound expository preaching that is built around the selected Biblical texts for the series.

Biblical Teaching

We place a high priority on the preaching and teaching of God's Word. Worship service and Bible Study are times for us to come together as a community to learn, be encouraged and to be challenged by God's Word. Other opportunities exist beyond the Sunday worship service where members have a chance to grow, fellowship, or otherwise be a part of a church family that lives out their faith together.

Our Core Beliefs

Bible

We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of God.

• That the 66 books of the Old and New Testament were inspired by the Spirit of God as originally written
• That the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct ·  2 Timothy 3:16

God

We believe in one God, Creator of all, holy, sovereign, eternal, existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ

We believe in the absolute and essential deity of our Lord Jesus Christ

• In His eternal existence, with the Father in pre-incarnate glory
• In His work of creation, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death and bodily resurrection
• In His triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return

The Holy Spirit

We believe in the absolute and essential deity, and in the personality of the Holy Spirit

• Who convinces of sin, of righteousness and of judgment
• Who regenerates, indwells, seals, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ
• Who baptizes believers at conversion into the Body of Christ and bestows upon them His gifts sovereignly as He wills and fills those yielded to Him

Mankind

We believe that we were divinely created in the image of God

• That by the sin of disobedience we fell from the perfect
• That all his posterity inherited spiritual depravity and defilement
• That all men therefore are guilty before God and condemned to physical and spiritual death

Salvation

We believe that salvation is by the sovereign grace of God

• That by the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a propitiatory death
• That justification is by faith alone in the all-sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
• That those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and ultimately perfected in the image of the Lord

Additional in-depth Information

About God… God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14 About Us… We are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. Mankind is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although we have tremendous potential for good, we are marred by our disobedience toward God in thought, word and actions, called “sin.” This attitude separates us from God. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2 About Jesus Christ… Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13 About the Holy Spirit… The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make us aware of our need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian, gives us the gift of saving faith in Jesus Christ, and provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under His control daily. 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1 About Salvation… Salvation is a gift from God to us. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can we be saved from sin’s penalty. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1 About Eternity… We were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence. John 3:16; John 2:25; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; 1 John 5:11-12; Matthew 25:31-46 About the Bible… The Bible is God’s word to all people. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160; 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

Having a plan is helpful

Arrival time

It's a good idea to arrive about 10 minutes before the worship service or event so that you have time to park and make your way into the building.

Parking

You'll most likely find street parking in front of the church on Sunnyside or  Drake Avenues. If you have trouble finding parking we have a small, fenced parking lot behind the church off of the alley.

Service

Our service is an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes long.

Fellowship

Stick around after worship and chat with us in the back of the sanctuary. We'd love to connect with you.

What to Bring

We have Bibles available, but feel free to bring you own. Bring a notebook if you like to take notes during the teaching.

Please call or email with Additional Questions.