What should you expect when you visit?
The following are a few pointers to make your visit to SBCRC comfortable. While we would love to greet you personally, we also want you to feel free to be as anonymous as you’d like. We’re happy to have you slip in and out or stay and chat as you feel comfortable.
Arriving at SBCRC (map here)
If you approach SBCRC driving north on Hickory past Movies 14 you will notice a driveway on your left just before you reach the corner of Hickory and Hepler. Turn there and you can park either on the south side and enter the south door, or continue on around to the larger parking lot on the west side of the church. If it’s raining, feel free to pull under the portico to drop off your family. If you approach SBCRC driving east on Hepler, turn into the driveway on your right just past the Tarkington School parking lot. You will be in the lot on the west side of the church. Persons with disabilities will find clearly marked parking spaces close to the entrance doors on the east side near the portico and on the west side of the church.
After entering either the west or south doors you will find greeters waiting to welcome you and guide you to the sanctuary. In good weather the greeters may be outside. They are there simply to welcome you, but are happy to answer any questions you might have. They can point you to the nurseries or guide you to the welcome table where you can pick up informational brochures. There are also signs clearly posted to guide you around our facility.
Children
Young families with infants or toddlers can leave their little ones in the infant or toddler nurseries, where we take special precautions to ensure their safety. You will be asked to sign in your child and you will be given a pager so you can be discretely notified during the worship service in case the nursery staff needs your assistance. You are of course welcome to keep your children with you in the service.
Older children (ages three through first grade) stay with their parents for the first part of the worship service. Part way through the service, children are invited to come forward to sit on the platform steps for a children’s message. After that, they are dismissed to children’s worship. Children's worship is provided for two age groups: The Little Children (TLC) is for ages three through Preschool and meets in rooms 8 & 9. The Children’s Worship Center (CWC) is for ages Kindergarten through First Grade and meets in rooms 4 & 5. Please pick up your children from TLC or CWC after the service. We invite you to encourage your children to participate or stay with you as you and they feel comfortable. You are also welcome to go with your children and observe.
Liturgy
Our liturgy is printed in the morning bulletin and often projected on screens at the front as well. Points of congregational participation are clearly indicated. During the offertory the liturgist will invite the congregation to pass welcome pads found at the end of each pew. We would love to know that you worshiped with us, and by leaving your address we can send you more information about our church. You may also simply sign your name or pass the pad along. We take two offerings every Sunday morning, the first for the life and ministry of our congregation, the second for various outreach programs with a specific one designated for each Sunday. We do not expect our guests to contribute. Simply pass along the container when it reaches you.
Fellowship Time
After the service we serve coffee and snacks in the atrium. This is a lively place and people love to linger and visit after the service. We would love to meet you there, so please join us. Our greeters and hospitality team are always on the lookout to assist visitors after the service. We want to personally welcome you, answer any questions you might have, and introduce you to others. At the same time we recognize that some visitors prefer to slip out anonymously. Feel free to do that if you prefer. For our part, we recognize that at times we miss people. Often there will be one of us lingering near the information table, and if you approach the table during the fellowship time one of us will almost certainly find you and assist you.
Communion
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of every month. If you visit on that day, know that all Christians are welcome to celebrate the sacrament with us.  Typically congregants are invited forward to receive the bread and the cup (grape juice).  Each seating section comes to the front in the aisle on their right and returns in the left aisle. Extend one or both hands out to receive the bread, eat it, then move along to be served the cup. Any who do not wish to receive communion, including young children, are encouraged to come forward for a blessing. Simply cross your arms across your chest and the server will know to extend a blessing rather than offer the sacrament. This is a common practice in our church, especially for children, who find it particularly meaningful. Those who do not wish to come forward may simply remain in their seats.
Weekday Visits
If you are stopping by SBCRC during the week, please note that our office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Enter the front drive off of Hickory and park under the portico on the east side of the church. Enter the door on the far right (as you face the doorway). If it is locked please ring the doorbell just to the right of the door. Proceed through the library on the right to the main office area.
Whenever you choose to visit us, we hope that you will feel the love of Christ among us. Know that you are always welcome to return.