Visiting Central Pres.

No matter how friendly and welcoming a church is, visiting any church for the first time can be a little intimidating. You're probably wondering things like What's the church like? Are they friendly? Will I fit in?

Hopefully our website can answer many of your questions to help make your first visit with us more relaxing and enjoyable.

Coming to Central...

• Getting here is pretty easy. Check our directions and maps for help. Here are a few photos (more) to help you know what to look for.

• There is plenty of parking available. We have a number of guest spots marked with orange "Guest" cones that you can use. But you can park in any parking space since even the spaces marked reserved are available for church use on evenings and Sundays. (If you visit during Monday-Friday, please don't park in the lot we share with the office building next door, though you can park there on weekends.)

• The building is fully wheelchair-accessible via an elevator, curb ramps, and interior ramps. The ushers or members will be glad to assist you. We also have some other aids that might help.

• Finding your way around the church can be a bit tough for newcomers. To help, we have signs and maps of the church showing where things are and some of our elders wearing name tags. (though anyone would be glad to help you find your way). As you come in the concourse, you'll see our Welcome Desk where you can find maps, information and someone to answer any questions.

• If you come during the week, please check in at our office first.

• If you'd like to see more of what we're like, browse through our photo galleries.

• Everyone is welcome. We welcome people of all ages, races, nationalities, ethnic groups, and whatever your place in life. We are a church strongly committed to racial reconciliation.

If you come to Sunday morning worship...

• First, the times... we have three regular worship services (at 8:15am, 10:00 and 11:30am) with a wide variety of Sunday school classes for all ages. The Mosaic services at 8:15 and 11:30 have a contemporary style while the 10:00 service has a more traditional style.

• As the services start we have greeters at the entrance to the sanctuary and ushers to give you a bulletin and to help you find a seat. The ushers will also be able to help you with large print bulletins, headphones or if you need assistance getting in. (see Aids for the Handicapped)

• For our deaf visitors, an ASL interpreter is available by prior request.

• There is plenty of seating available in the sanctuary, either on the main floor or up in the balcony. Sit wherever you like, there aren't any reserved seats. (Though occasionally the ushers will rope off a pew or two when necessary. Please avoid those)

• Our worship services are easy to follow by using the bulletin and they last about an hour. The volunteer worship leaders and pastors will give any directions needed during the service. There is an explanation of worship on the inside front cover of our hymnbooks to help you understand why we do what we do.

• Guests are never singled out or embarrassed. We won't ask you to stand or wear a name tag or anything like that. If you choose, you may fill out a visitor card from the pew rack to let us know you came.

• You don't have to pay anything. We don't expect our guests to put anything in the offering plate, though you are certainly welcome to if you would like. Our members and regular attenders freely give to support our ministries.

• We have child care during all services with staffed nursery rooms for infants and toddlers. Generally older children (4 year olds - 2nd graders) go to the worship service and then are dismissed after the music and children's blessing to go to children's worship. 2 and 3 year olds generally remain in their rooms (they do not go into the sanctuary), but they do have a time of worship on their own level. However, if you prefer, you may certainly have your children remain with you in the sanctuary. Ask the ushers if you need help or directions.

Sunday morning classes and refreshments...

• Do you truly seek to grow in your faith, be better connected to others, and experience a deeper understanding of God's plan for your life and for the mission of the Church in the world? If so, you will find that Adult Christian Education classes are perfect places for fostering fellowship, learning more about the Bible, strengthening your faith, and developing a deeper, richer Christian worldview.

• Breakfast is available before the 8:15 service for anyone. We offer bagels, donuts, fruit and juices beginning at 7:45am and running until 8:10am. Save yourself some of the morning rush by eating breakfast with us.

• There is coffee, tea, juice and occasional other refreshments available between service in the concourse for all. No charge, just help yourself.

• Sunday school classes are also available for all ages. We have nursery care and children's classes, youth group (middle-school & high-school), plus adult classes for a variety of topics and age ranges. See the schedule to find out how classes fit in with the various worship services.

• Tip: the classes are a great way to get to meet people and make friends since they're smaller than the worship services and have lots of relaxed, open discussion.

What about Community?

We're glad you asked... Central is made up of a wide diversity of people, who enjoy learning, worshipping, serving and just being together in any combinations from small groups to mass events like all-church retreats. We're a friendly bunch, and we'd love to help you find where you'd fit in.

• If you are interested in groups or ministries of others your age... well, that's covered. CPC has active ministries of all sorts ranging from children, youth, college students and young adults, men, and women, through to seniors.

• If you have a heart for missions, you'll find that local and world outreach is one of our priorities for all ages from children's ministries through seniors.

• If you are a music lover, we have a variety of music ministries and opportunities ranging from concerts to worship teams, choir and even a bell choir.

• If you are interested in finding ways to serve others, you'll find that our members helping others in many ways from counseling, social action, home-building, feeding the hungry, and hospital visitation, to day-to-day personal help from deacons and our new care teams. There are always many opportunities to serve.

• And, especially if you want to find a place and a group of people who can help you learn and grow personally and in your relationship with Christ, you'll find that at CPC. Our missions statement says "Moving people toward Christ by being a community of faith which loves, encourages, and equips them in Christ, sending them out to serve." That's not just a nice thing to put on the stationary letterheads, it's our real focus.

If you can't make it right now...

• If you are out of visiting range, you might like to learn by exploring our website or by reading some transcripts of past sermons or listening to some of the audio sermon files. They're posted as MP3's, so download them to your MP3 player or burn them to a CD and listen as you enjoy your day.

• Or just plan to come visit another day.

Learning More about Central...

• The obvious ways to learn more are to continue to explore this website and to come visit us. While we're delighted that you're visiting our website, there's no such thing as "cyber-church." Behind everything you see here are real live flesh and blood human beings. That's what the Church -- and church -- is really all about. So... we hope you'll move from cyberspace to real space and drop in and be our guest sometime at worship or at any of the other activities that may have caught your interest. Our website may be nice, but the real heart and soul of Central still awaits your personal on-site visit. We believe you'll enjoy what you find here. Come... be our guest. Be as out-going or anonymous as you like. You're always welcome at Central.

• If you would like to meet with one of our pastors, please call our office to schedule an appointment.

• Another way to learn more about Central is our "Membership Exploration" class. This class is designed to give prospective members the chance to explore what it means to be a Christian, a Presbyterian, and a member of Central Church, Baltimore. Participating in the series carries no obligation or expectation that you will join Central Church. If you are interested, please contact the office to sign up.