Your First Visit

Before You Visit St. Andrew's

Please know that we have been praying for you even before you set foot in our parking lot. It is our desire that you feel welcomed at St. Andrew's U.M.C. and hope you will quickly consider us an extension of your family.

WORSHIP

We offer two worship services each Sunday morning.

8:30 a.m. CONTEMPORARY SERVICE

Our contemporary service is music driven with the Praise Team leading much of the service. The team includes electric and acoustic guitars, drums, and keyboards, and our Praise Team singers.

Both services include a special Children's Message. Following the Children's Message, all children Kindegarten through 2nd Grade are invited to one of our classrooms for Children's Church. They are brought back into the sanctuary before the close of worship. We provide a loving nursery for children younger than Kindegarten.

11:00 a.m. TRADITIONAL SERVICE

This service is more formal in feel, with our Chancel choir and piantist providing special music.

We want you to feel comfortable regardless of which service you attend. There is no office "dress code" for St. Andrew's. Some people prefer to come wearing jeans and casual shirts. Others prefer to dress more formally. It's completely up to you.

Getting to the Church

We're located in Shenandoah Subdivision across from St. Michael the Archangel High School. If you're not familiar with the neighborhood, here are more detailed directions.

Parking

We gladly provide special parking just for our guests right next to the doors of our Sanctuary (Worship center). In the East Parking Lot there are signs that read: "Reserved Visitor Parking Between Signs." In the West Parking lot they say "Reserved for Guests."

Getting Oriented

If you've parked in the west parking lot, the building with the bell tower is the Sanctuary or Worship Center. It's the heart of our campus and the

easiest way to get oriented. If you're in the east parking lot you may not be able to see the bell tower, so just follow the crowd. Both worship services are held in the sanctuary.

A Special Note to Parents: Babies and children of all ages are welcome in our worship services, and rocking chairs are available for parents with children of rocking age. We also have two professionally staffed nurseries during all worship services; one for babies and one for toddlers. When you leave your child in our nursery you'll get a silent pager similar to what you'd recieve when waiting for a table at a restaurant. If the nursery staff needs you for any reason, they will be able to let you know immediately.

As you walk into the building you'll be in the Narthex, often referred to as the Foyer or the Lobby. The restrooms are right next to the Choir Room stairs, and the main doors open up to the Sanctuary. Grab a cup of coffee and a munchie if you'd like. (They're free!) There will be ushers at each door with bulletins (guides to our worship services). The ushers are ready and willing to answer any questions you may have, and to help you find a seat. Please note that our Sanctuary Building has recently been remodeled. We're trying to hold on to that New Sanctuary Smell, so please leave all foods and drinks (other than plain water, in a bottle with a lid on it) outside.

Welcoming visitors is important to us; so important that we've got a member whose sole job is keeping track of visitors, welcoming them, and making sure everyone feels at home. Donna Leggett is our Hospitality Coordinator, and she can help you with any questions you may have that aren't answered here. She's usually standing by her desk in the Narthex. She has a small gift to welcome you to St. Andrew's. Don't be afraid to ask for her if you don't see her, or just tell anyone you see that you're visiting.

If you're at the Early Service, turn the bulletin over to see the Order of Worship. If you're in the Late Service, open the bulletin up and the Order of Worship will be inside.

Special Events

Communion

On the first Sunday of every month, and on some special days like Easter, we take Communion. United Methodists practice what's known as Open Communion. You don't have to be United Methodist to take communion with us, or be baptized, or go through a preparatory class; you just have to be someone who yearns for a closer relationship with Christ. The pastor always gives instructions for those who are taking communion for the first time.

We use grape juice instead of wine in the United Methodist Church. Did you know the inventor of Welch's Grape Juice was a Methodist? He invented grape juice during the temperance movement specifically so that Communion could be non-alcoholic.

Change To Make A Change

On the third Sunday of every month we take up a special offering using white baskets with pastel gingham liners. These special offerings are given to community mission projects, usually not directly related to our church or the United Methodist Church. Some past projects include the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, G.R.A.C.E. Camp (a camping experience for children with one or more parents who are or were incarcerated), Youth Oasis, and local programs for the homeless and mentally ill.