What to Expect

We hope that before long you will honor us by coming to one of our Worship Services or Bible Classes. However, we realize that visiting a church for the first time can be an intimidating experience, so we want to give you

some idea of what to expect when you come.

A Warm and Friendly Welcome

No matter who you are or what your circumstances, you will be warmly welcomed by our members. Everyone stands on level ground at the foot of the cross of Christ, so all are equally welcomed. We will let you know just

how glad we are that you are here, but at no time will you be singled out or embarrassed in any way. We have no "dress code." Some choose to come casually dressed. Others dress in a more formal manner. However you choose to come, we’ll be glad to see you. 

Christ-centered and Bible-based Teaching

Because we are the church "of Christ," He is the focal point of all that we do. You will find Jesus and the salvation that He offers to be the main topic of our classes and worship services. The Bible is our text-book for learning about Jesus, about His church, and about how He would have us to live. So you will find us studying and teaching it every time we meet. Paul declared all Scripture to be "inspired of God," and we believe that. So we think it's important to let God speak to us through His word. From our Cradle Roll class through our adult

classes, and always in our worship, you will find the Bible as the basis of all that we do.

What is worship like?

Church services tend to come in all flavors, so we’d like to give you some idea of what to expect in one of ours. 

First, you should understand that worship is vital to all that we are and do. We believe that we were created to worship and serve God, and we try to make that evident when we come together to praise and thank Him. We do not engage in empty or humanly-devised rituals; rather, we offer up the worship that Scripture teaches us to offer. Because of this, our worship is simple and heart-felt.

Because Christ and His cross are at the center of our faith, the Lord’s Supper is at the center of our worship.  Every Sunday we participate in this symbolic meal together as a reminder of what Christ has done for us by His death on the cross, and of the reality that He still lives because of His resurrection from the dead.

As the apostle Paul wrote, when we eat the Supper, “we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). As the bread and the cup are passed among the congregation, everyone is invited to participate in the Supper. It is intended for believers in Christ, but it is up to you to decide whether or not to

participate. No one is excluded, and you will not be singled out if you choose to participate in it or if you don’t.

Singing is another important aspect of our worship. We sing without instrumental accompaniment, as did the earliest Christians, so everyone has the opportunity to participate. Rather than viewing singing as a medium of

entertainment, we see it as an enjoyable way to express our praise to God. Singing is our way of expressing our joy and gratitude to the Lord, and we use a variety of music both old and new to convey to God what is in our

hearts.

We believe in prayer, both private and collective, so when we come together to worship we offer prayer to God as a means of praise, and also as a way of making requests. At various points in the service, prayers will be led

that convey to God our thanks for His blessings, as well as those seeking His blessings. It is a joy and a comfort to be able to ask God’s help for those who are hurting in various ways.

Most of our services (especially on Sunday mornings) include a sermon of about one-half hour. The goal of these messages is to teach God’s word and to encourage living as Christ teaches us to live. At the conclusion of the

sermon, an opportunity will be afforded for those who are ready to follow Christ to say so publicly and to be baptized (immersed) into Christ. We do this because worshiping God also involves giving to Him as a reflection

of His many gifts and blessings to us. So at each Sunday morning service, collection baskets are passed to give us the opportunity to express our gratitude to God in a very tangible way. Giving is expected of all of our members.

Whether or not you choose to participate as a guest is up to you. Because the Owatonna Church of Christ is an independent congregation, all of the funds collected are used to further the work of the church, to engage in

mission work as we want everyone to follow Jesus, but this is a personal decision, and you will not be coerced to do so in any way. Our giving is utilized to support the work of the church here in the Owatonna area, to aid many efforts in various parts of the world, and to help people who are in need.