GET TO KNOW US!

New Here?   ...A Worship Overview at Living Stones

Going anywhere for the first time can be a bit of an uncertain experience.  Especially to a new church.  To help avoid any worries, here's a quick summary of what you can expect at the Living Stones Church.

Living Stones Church gives you an opportunity to discover more about God in a place that’s very down-to-earth, friendly and casual. You won’t have to meet big expectations; grab a cup of coffee and take advantage of opportunities to explore God at your own pace.

When to arrive?

We feature two identical services that begin at 9:30 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m.  If it's your first time then it's probably best to arrive around 9:25am/11:25am to our Worship Gathering.

What should I wear?

We dress casually.  Outside of common sense modesty, we have no dress code.  Come as you are.  If you like to wear a dress to worship, wear a dress.  If you prefer blue jeans and a t-shirt, feel free!  We will dress in many different ways, from business casual to shorts and sandals, and we encourage everyone to dress as they feel comfortable. God cares far more about what is on your inside then what is on your outside.  You will be welcomed no matter what you are wearing!

What can my children expect?

There are 11,811 kids who live on the south side of South Bend (give or take a few).  For this reason, we place a high priority on the children's ministry at Living Stones Church.  It is our desire to provide a safe and loving environment that is fun and facilitates growth for children of all ages.

For people who have young children their first stop is checking the little ones in with our wonderful Kids Kanyon children's ministry volunteers in our newly remodeled and themed children's wing when you enter.  The entrance to the Children's Wing is to the right after entering the double doors from the parking lot.

KidsKanyon is the name of our children's ministry.  Classes are designed for age’s birth through fourth grade. While in the themed areas of KidsKanyon, your child will experience engaging, age-appropriate teaching, worship and activities developed to point your child toward a daily relationship with Christ.   

Our Children's Ministry volunteer staff is trained, capable, and must complete a background check.  Our children are in good hands and enjoy an age-appropriate experience of Bible stories, crafts, games, and fun in our kid's KidsKanyon section of the building.  If you are a first time guest, you are welcome to decide whether you want your children to be with you, or to take advantage of our children’s classes.  It is up to you and the particular personality and comfort level of your child. 

We also feature the littleTHEATRE, for parents that may be struggling with a noisy or inconsolable child during the service. In the littleTHEATRE you will find a quiet and private area for you and your child. Here, you can continue to participate in the service via closed circuit TV which shows the worship gathering live. 

What does your worship look like?

Our time of worship is informal, casual, and contemporary.  Our time of praise centers on God and is led by an outstanding worship team.  While there is variety in style and order, our worship team – of guitars, keyboard, vocals, drums, bass guitar, etc. – leads the church in thematically driven worship that attempts to draw the heart towards the throne of God!  We aren’t against hymns.  In fact, we include them in our worship.  But they usually have a contemporary twist.  This allows us to keep continuity between today’s community of faith and the long Christian tradition in which we stand.  All the words are on a big screen and easy to see. So join in, or sit back and enjoy, but either way open your heart to experience the power and love of Jesus Christ.  Drama, video clips, a testimony of God’s power, readings from God’s Word, special prayers, weekly communion, an opportunity to give an offering to God, as well as a biblical and powerfully relevant message are all a part of our weekly worship time.

Can I take communion?

The answer is “yes.”  We celebrate an “open” communion that invites everyone to Jesus’ table.  While we respect and understand the practice of other church’s that differ from us, we believe that Jesus’ own teachings about inviting everyone to his banquet table (Matthew 22:1-10) is especially relevant for us.  We know that communion will take on different meanings and importance depending on people’s experience and background, but you are welcome to participate.  Your children are also free to participate with your consent.  We leave it up to each family to decide whether they want their children to take communion or to wait until a more mature time. 

While there are a variety of ways in which we may take communion, the norm is a tray that is passed down each row that contains bread and a small cup that contains juice.  When the bread comes by, break a piece off, eat it, and pass the tray to the person next to you.  When the juice comes by, take the mini-cup (and it is mini) drink, and place the empty cup back into the tray and pass to the person next to you. 

How long does your service last?

We aim to end our service at 10:45 (1st service) and 12:45 (2nd service).  We want to honor your time by giving you a fair expectation of when we conclude.  So, you can expect our worship to conclude at that time.  We do confess that at times we might go slightly over, and sometimes we go slightly under, but we attempt to conclude our service at the above listed times to respect your time.

Do you ask for money?

We do take up an offering every week.  It is based on Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 16:1 in which, as a matter of pragmatics, he encourages the church to set aside on the first day of the week an offering for the sake of ministry.  So, every week, as an act of worship, we give to the Lord a tithe and/or offering.  You are welcome to participate, but as a guest, you are not expected to.  No one will think anything (nor should they be watching) if you pass the tray as it comes by your row.  We would encourage you to fill out a “connection card” from the bulletin and place it in the tray as it comes by.

If I come for the first time, are you going to single me out?

Nope - not at all.  You will be welcomed and greeted by those around you.  I’m sure that friendly people will introduce themselves to you.  But as far as the whole church is concerned, you will not be asked to stand, introduce yourself, or be singled out in any way.  If you want to be anonymous and simply “check us out” we understand that.  We have all been there and done that when searching for a community of faith.  Should you have any questions, feel free to ask anyone around you.  But relax and know that no one will draw special attention to your presence among us!  Really!

Can anyone come to your worship?

Absolutely!  Anyone – no matter who they are, what they believe, or what they are in to.  We won't ask you questions of lifestyle, habit, or conviction as you walk through the door.  Jesus had a habit of welcoming all that came to him.  Since we are trying to be like him – we want to do the same.  You are welcome – just as you are.   And remember, all of us were new to Living Stones Church at one time!

Is it just Sundays?

Absolutely not!  A relationship with God is not something that we just do or talk about on Sunday mornings.  We believe our spiritual life is an integral part of everything we do from work to family. 

The lifeblood of our church are our small focused Growth Groups that meet throughout the week for Bible study, prayer, accountability, and service. These groups are Christ-centered communities that experience authentic relationships while traveling through the many crossings of life. 

Our REEF ministry is a further outreach of Living Stones Church to participate in as you grow with us.  With REEF we are composed of small groups that scatter throughout the area, experiencing community and impacting South Bend's south side neighborhoods, subdivisions, the city, and the world Reaching Everyone, Evangelizing Freely!

What do you mean by "ALL IN"?

Once you have been hanging out with us for a while, you are probably thinking 'now what'?  On a monthly basis we feature our Discovery Class.  This is a great way for us to get to know each other more informally, to share our story, and to share the direction we are heading in as a church and, God willing, with you!   We encourage you to come join Sam and other leaders for the infamous "cheap pizza" in one of these monthly Discovery Classes.  Discovery Classes are typically held one evening a month from 6:00-8:00 pm.    This is a great time for you to ask ANY questions you may have about the church, Sam, Jesus, or pretty much anything else as you get to know us.    

From there you will have a pretty good feel for what we are about and how Living Stones may be a good fit for you and your personal growth as well.   We will also provide you with more information on how to call Living Stones "my church".    We feel that once you are to the point that you speak to others about Living Stones Church, you may notice yourself talking to others about it as "my church"  (It happens more often than you may think.)   At this point, you are probably "all in".   To find out more about the Discovery Class and upcoming events, simply check the Connection Card in the bulletin when you arrive or contact us!