What To Expect
Northminster Presbyterian
New to us?
Welcome! We are excited to meet you
When, where, and how do we worship?
What should I expect for my first visit?
What childcare options are available?
What is the Presbyterian Church (USA)?
Our Vision Statement
How We See Our Community
Here, in this place, the presence, the promise and the power of God’s amazing love compels us to live joyfully, allows us to question, doubt, explore and discover, renews us to serve God’s world, and propels us forth to share all that nourishes our souls with all those we encounter after the manner of Jesus of Nazareth.
As people of faith, we accept the challenge and responsibility to become more like Jesus in our daily lives. As a community, we covenant together to uphold one another in this endeavor.
We offer our energies and ourselves to God, that through the transforming power of the Spirit working in us, this vision shall become a reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Things You Might Be Wondering About
Is an offering taken during the service?
Because of our focus on God’s grace, it is important that we have an opportunity
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in every service for the gathered congregation to respond with gratitude. We believe offerings can come in many forms: prayers, music, renewed commitments, time, and treasure. Those who wish to make financial offerings can give online or place offerings in baskets in the sanctuary at the end of the service.
What’s involved in taking communion?
We generally celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month, and
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everyone is welcome at Christ’s table. We offer bread (including a gluten-free option) and wine or grape juice. Everyone who would like to participate is invited to come forward to receive the bread and dip it in the cup/choose a small individual cup. Those who are unable to come forward may have communion brought to them.
What instruments are used during worship? Secular music? Type of music?
We try to incorporate a variety of music in our worship that reflects the diversity of
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traditions and cultures within and beyond our community. We sing hymns, songs, and spirituals from the Glory to God hymnal, and our talented choir and soloists offer a variety of music styles. Our singing is accompanied by grand piano, upright bass, and sometimes acoustic guitar or djembe.
Am I welcome / Will I be accepted / Is the church affirming?
Yes! At Northminster, we celebrate the beautiful uniqueness and diversity of all
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of God’s people. No matter who you are, who you love, the color of your skin, what you believe/what you don’t believe, what your pronouns are, what your family looks like… you are welcome here.
Is the church fully accessible?
The church building is all on one level. There is one entrance that is fully
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accessible to those with wheelchairs, strollers, or requiring other assistance. We have one single-stall bathroom for all genders that is also wheelchair accessible and has a changing table for family use.
Do you have any sample sermons or videos available?
Yes! You can watch all or part of any of our recent services on our YouTube page here.
How will I know that my family will be welcomed?
We know that families come in all shapes, sizes, and configurations, and we
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welcome and celebrate them unconditionally.
What if I'm already a member of another Christian tradition?
You’re in good company! A significant number of the people who have become
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part of our church community have come from traditions other than the PC(USA). For those who are interested in learning more about us or possibly becoming a member, we offer Presbyterian 101 classes to give you a chance to learn more about our theology, history, position on social issues, what it means to be a member and more.
What if I'm an Atheist or Agnostic? Will I really be welcome?
Yes! We take seriously the part of our vision statement that we are a place
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where people are free to “question, doubt, explore, and discover”. We don’t promise to have easy answers, but we are a place where we can all live out our questions in the community.
What are some activities you do as a church community?
We love to gather together for worship each week - to sing together, share our
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prayers, laugh, and cry together. We have a weekly Bible study that meets on Zoom. We offer opportunities for study, conversation, and service projects within the church and the community. We also love to eat - sharing weekly time of snacks and conversation after worship, quarterly potluck meals, cookouts, and occasional Friday night meals and game nights.
Do you have a youth group?
As the majority of our current families have younger children, we do not have a
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youth group at this time, but we would love to start one!
Can I talk with someone before I visit?
Certainly! You can reach out to our pastor, Laura here.
Can I be an active member of the community if I don't / can't come to services regularly?
Of course! We know life is busy and complicated. There are many ways to
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stay involved in the life of Northminster, even if you can’t be here every Sunday for worship.
If I like the church and want to join, what is the process?
If you are new to the Presbyterian Church (USA), we invite you to be part of
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one of our Presbyterian 101 classes, to learn a bit more about our theology and history, and to get to know more about Northminster. Then, if you make the decision to become a member, you will meet with our Session, which is the council of the church made up of leaders from within the congregation. Each person seeking to join is asked to share a statement of belonging - sharing briefly how they have experienced community and belonging at Northminster and what it means for them to live out this season of their life of faith with us. Then, Session officially receives you as a member. If you are already a member of another PC(USA), you can join by letter of transfer, where our clerk of Session notifies your previous congregation that you are becoming a member of Northminster. If you have never been baptized, we will also baptize you as part of the process of becoming a new member.
What part of town do most of the community members come from?
Northminster began as a neighborhood church in the 1960s, mostly serving
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those residents who moved to what was then a new suburb of Chattanooga. Now, we are proud to be a community church that brings in people from all over Hamilton County, parts of Bradley County, and North Georgia. People come to Northminster because they are seeking the kind of unique community we offer, so they find it’s worth a drive.
How are decisions made? Who is eligible for leadership positions?
Presbyterians make most decisions through a governing council called the
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Session, which is made up of 9 elders elected from within the congregation (3 classes of 3 elders, each elected for 3-year terms) along with the pastor. The Session meets monthly to discern where God is at work in the world and through the church in order to make decisions including worship and education plans, mission/service opportunities, administration of property/budget/personnel, and more. Any member of the church is eligible to be nominated to serve on Session. The congregation as a whole makes decisions about the pastor’s terms of call, electing elders to serve on Session, and decisions about selling or acquiring church property.