About Your Worship Services -
How long do they last?
The Sunday worship services are held at 9:30 and 11:00 AM during the program year. Both services are about one hour. Our 9:30 service is more contemporary and casual while the 11:00 AM service is more traditional. During the summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and occasionally on other special Sundays, only one service is held at 10:00 AM.
What do people wear? Do I have to dress up?
It’s pretty much up to you. You will see both casual clothes and folks dressed-up at both services.
Can I sit anywhere?
Certainly. If you are uncertain, just ask one of the ushers to help you.
Can we bring the children to worship services?
Certainly; however, we have crib and toddler nurseries for younger children at all services. There is a point in the 9:30 AM service where children are invited to leave the service and go to a church school class for their age and grade level in other rooms. This is a formal learning environment where children learn about the Bible, the Church, and so on.
During the 11:00 AM service, children may stay with their parents.
What Christian Education opportunities are there on Sunday mornings?
The education hour is from 9:45 to 10:45 AM for children, youth, and adults. For adults there is Faith-Trek, a book-discussion group; Thoughtful Christians, a discussion forum that addresses various topics; and an In-Depth Bible Study. Check out our Christian Education page for more information on current offerings.
Do I have to believe in a certain creed to come to your worship services?
Not at all. We would hope that you are seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ, even if you don’t know Him very well. But we are all seekers. What’s important to Christ is that we all seek to make him Lord of our lives. He knows our hearts without having to necessarily listen to what we profess.
Do I have to stand and say anything?
Relax. You won’t be called on to stand up by yourselves. Out of respect for our Lord, we do stand together at certain points in the service to say what we believe and to sing. But neither of those is mandatory.
Do you kneel?
No.
What are your customs with communion (Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper)?
We celebrate communion several times a year. Anyone who has been baptized may partake of the bread and cup; you don’t have to be a member of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church or even a Presbyterian. Out of respect for visitors and members who may have an allergy to alcohol, we use grape juice instead of wine. During the first service, the congregation is asked to come forward and take the bread and wine at the altar. During the second service, trays with the bread cut into small pieces are passed along with separate trays filled with tiny cups of grape juice. We eat the bread and drink the cup as we are served. No one is required to partake.
Do you take up a collection (and how much should I give)?
Each service includes free will offering - a time when we can give back to the Lord just a small portion of what he has given us. You are the sole judge of how much to give. Most members make an annual pledge and honor it each week.
Do you expect your members to come every Sunday?
Strange as it may seem to people who don’t go to church very often, churches like us don’t have quotas, standards and guidelines. We do have an attendance pad which we ask everyone to sign, but if you want to remain anonymous you are free to pass it on. But there is another strange thing among those who do go to church fairly often: the more they go, the closer they seem to grow to God and to the love and power of Jesus Christ; and the more they seem to want to be there. All we ask of our members is what God asks of all us - be faithful.
About visiting the church –
Where do I park?
There is adequate parking along the streets by the church. The Wachovia Bank just south of the church has graciously made its parking lot available to us on Sundays.
Are you so big that I’ll feel lost?
We certainly don’t think so. While many people worship each Sunday, you’ll find that we are really interested in each other as individuals. There is a part of the service where we take time out to greet each other. We have a fellowship hour immediately after the service where you can talk to people.
Will somebody call on me, or on us, after we visit?
If you sign the attendance pad during the service and request someone to call, we will be glad to visit you or call you.
How do I find out more about the church?
Just stop in. One of the best ways is to come to one of the Sunday morning services and visit during the fellowship hour. You will find our ushers and members will be glad to answer your questions.
How would I join the church?
If you are curious about Church Membership, speak to a pastor after the service. An Inquirer’s Class is held on a Sunday afternoon four times a year. You can attend to learn more about church membership without making a commitment or you can choose to join.
About Presbyterians –
What does the word Presbyterian mean?
Presbyterian comes from the Greek word presbyter which literally translated means elder. It refers to the way we govern ourselves. People like you are elected by the congregation to help the pastors guide and direct the spiritual life of the congregation. They are the presbyters or the elders and deacons of the church.
Are there other Presbyterian Denominations?
Yes. There are several. We are part of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA). We are the oldest and the largest of the Presbyterian denominations, but others have split from us over matters of belief and practice. For example, the Presbyterian Church in America, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Westminister Presbyterian Church and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church are known as Presbyterian churches, but we believe differently about some key issues. We believe that we are the more inclusive of the Presbyterian denominations. We believe in allowing a wide range of opinions on various issues, and we decide where God is leading us through the study of the Bible and open discussion of these issues. Click here for PCUSA Beliefs
What sets Presbyterians apart?
Probably our diversity. Our Book of Confessions includes eleven different expressions of the Christian faith or Creeds from eleven different periods of history. Our heritage is Scottish and Irish in the Reformed tradition from the Reformation in the 16th century. However, we encompass a wide range of beliefs and opinions. Some have described us as “a thinking person’s church.” We move forward in the creative tension that Jesus Christ is Lord and reveals his will for our lives through our dialogue with the Bible and each other. Click here to examine PCUSA Creeds.
Why should I be interested in becoming a Presbyterian?
We would rather you be interested first in a living faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Presbyterian is simply one expression of a faith in Christ that can make a difference in your life. Becoming a Presbyterian or part of the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church simply means that these are the people and this is the place where you can live out the implications of that faith in worship and service.