When You Visit…

We’re glad you’re thinking about visiting us. If you have a background in our tradition, most of what you see will be familiar and comfortable for you. If your visiting for the first time, we’re especially happy to welcome you and want to tell you about what you can expect in our assemblies.

Parking

Our facilities are served by a main parking lot located in the front of our auditorium (far right in picture above) and Family Life Center buildings (center and far left in picture above). In addition, there are parking spaces to the right of our auditorium and a small parking lot in the back of our auditorium.

Seating

When you join us for one of our Sunday AM assemblies, please feel free to enter our auditorium and take a seat wherever you wish. There are no special sections or reserved seating except for the first row, which is mostly taken up by people who will be officiating during the assembly. If you arrive a little late, no worries, there will be ushers available to help you find seating.

Exciting One Another Toward the Good Works of Love That God Has Prepared in Advance for Us To Do

If you visit, you will be our guest. We hope you will meet some of the people and benefit from assembling with us. You may be asked to fill out one of our attendance cards (found in the brochure given to visitors). If you are comfortable doing this, we will use the information to respond appropriately to your visit. Do you have any questions? Ask any of the members of the congregation and they will help you or introduce you to someone who can. All of our elders are available before and after services to help with any questions. Our minister will also be happy to talk with you at your convenience.

Prayer

There will be several prayers lead during our assembly. These will be spoken from the heart by men of the congregation. During prayer, we usually stand or sit quietly with heads bowed. You may hear members of the congregation assent to thoughts in prayers or at the close of the prayer by saying “Amen” or something to that affect.

Singing

Churches of Christ are known for singing acapella, which has come to mean “without musical instruments,” although that term originally meant “in choir or chapel style”. Randolph continues in the tradition of not using instrumental instruments for a number of reasons: Among other things, acapella singing …

• Helps ensure those who stand before the congregation in worship do so because of their character and commitment to the congregation rather than simply their musical talent.
• Is consistent with the Bible and connects us experientially with our roots in the first-century church.
• Encourages emphasis on music from the heart rather than instrumental performances. It is what comes from our hearts and what we say to God and one another that matters.
• Highlights our view of the church as a “contrast community” over against the disordered values of the world.
• Avoids a host of costs, concerns, complications, and conflicts inherent in using musical instruments.
• Is a subject upon which we at Randolph have a unity of mind.

All of the above fit within the arena of corporate faith and are matters of wisdom that should not prevent fellowship with those who think otherwise, hence we do not insist you reach the same conclusions as we, but we do ask you to understand our reasons. We believe you will find our singing to be inspirational and spiritually uplifting.

Communion

In most Churches of Christ, we have communion — the Lord’s Supper — every Sunday.  We use the prefilled and hermetically sealed Fellowship Cups consisting of a 1/2” piece of unleavened bread (that is, bread baked with no yeast) and grape juice. These Fellowship Cups are available for the taking in the foyer as you enter our auditorium building.

Communion is a tradition instituted by Jesus before his death in which believers look back on the death and resurrection of Jesus and look forward to his return. It is a memorial in which believers manifest the corporate body of Christ to the world and their participation in it. Our only request of visitors is they be respectful regardless of whether they choose to partake.

Communion begins with a preparatory song followed by the communion leader finding his place behind the pulpit. The communion leader will usually make some short comments leading into Jesus’ “words of institution”. At that point, the leader will offer a prayer for the bread, and all those participating will open the bread side of the Fellowship Cup and partake of the bread at the same time, reminding us all of the broken body of Christ.

Communion begins with a preparatory song followed by the communion leader finding his place behind the pulpit. The communion leader will usually make some short comments leading into Jesus’ “words of institution”. At that point, the leader will offer a prayer for the bread, and all those participating will open the bread side of the Fellowship Cup and partake of the bread at the same time, reminding us all of the broken body of Christ.

At this point, all those participating place the empty Fellowship Cups back into the small zip lock bags provided and there will be young men coming around to pick them up.

Offering

Our offering reflects three principles: (1) fellowship, (2) cheerfulness, and (3) preparedness. We have a deposit box mounted on a wall in the foyer of our auditorium for which members can make their contributions. Some may opt to use our online giving or set up a direct deposit. We normally have a prayer led immediately after the Lord’s Supper asking God to bless our contributions and thanking Him for our continued existence here at Randolph. In doing that, we “realize” (make real) the fellowship expressed in the Lord’s Supper in a practical way by participating in the material support and progress of God’s Kingdom via a particular congregation of God’s people. At the same time, it is a unity of mind toward that end that allows us to give cheerfully. Lastly, we don’t manipulate or pressure members into giving. Rather we expect them to come prepared. Since none of this necessarily applies to visitors, we ask that as our guests, please do not feel obligated to make an offering.

Preaching

Usually a portion or our assembly will be devoted to preaching from the Bible. At Randolph, we strive to make these sermons interesting and relevant to the lives of the audience. At the end of the sermon, one of our elders will commend the sermon to the congregation and offer an opportunity for people to come forward to the front of the auditorium to express any need they have for the special attention of the church.

There may be no response, or some may ask for prayers for special circumstances in their lives. Often this is a time when people let it be known that they wish to be identified as members of this congregation. Also, this is a time when people may confess their faith and be baptized into Christ to become a part of his body … to become a Christian. We look forward to your visit.

What To Expect in Our Sunday Evening Bible Classes

At our weekly Bible classes, adults assemble in the Family Life Center and children go directly to their class. Members stand ready to assist visitors in finding the right classes for their children.

Children’s classes center on the Bible using age-appropriate material.

The adult class opens with a song and a prayer. Communion is available for those who were not present at the morning’s worship. The teacher then presents the material for the day.

Bible Class Content

Bible classes center around Scripture. At Randolph, we strive to make our Bible classes interesting and relevant to the lives of participants.