Frequently Asked Questions

First Time Joining Us?

We know that walking into a new church for the first time can be a bit daunting and we want to do everything we can to make visitors feel welcome. Our hope is that you will find us to be a warm friendly family of Gods people, and one where you want to come back again and again.

The best way to know what we are about as a church is to come along and join us on a Sunday. Nothing beats that! But here are some answers to some of the regular questions that visitors might have.

What Can I Expect?

Firstly, you can access our church via the pavements from Monagan Town centre.

It’s about a 15 min walk from the centre of town. If you come via car then there is a good-sized carpark for you to safely park up.

As you come into the church you will likely be greeted by some of our church members – and if you come early there will be time to enjoy a cuppa before the start of the service (I’d say aim to arrive for 11:45am). Our building has lots of pews but there are no assigned seats so just sit wherever you feel comfortable. If you spot someone you know then feel free to slip in beside them sure.
The service itself will begin around 12noon. (Rev. Jeff has an earlier service in Glennan at 10:30 so you might not see him about much before the service starts).

There is normally a welcome and a few announcements before the service starts.

The service will follow a conversational pattern; hearing God speak and then responding together – with God having the first and last word in the service. There
will be bible reading, prayer, hymns and a sermon and depending on the Sunday there might also be a baptism or communion.

After the service ends, people are welcome to stay and mingle before heading home for lunch.

Do I need to Dress up?

In Ballyalbany we are a pretty relaxed church family and so people wear whatever they feel most comfortable in as they gather together for worship – and as you will see that leaves plenty of room for variety. If it’s your first time coming ‘smart casual’ is a pretty safe option.

How long will it last?

Generally, our services will be just over an hour – with people heading home from 13:15ish. Sometimes it is a little longer depending on what’s happening within the service, for example – a baptism or communion.

What about the kids?

Children of all ages are welcome throughout our service and we’d encourage you to bring them right from the off and to at least try to be all together for part of the service. They are really welcome to stay throughout the entire service and we know that some parents will be really keen for that – so it’s up to you. Don’t worry about a little bit of noise. As a church family we are used to that. If they get really noisy you can pop into the vestibule until they calm down and then feel free to slip back in.

Halfway through the service there is usually a kids talk (where the message of the passage being preached is applied specifically to the children). After this part of the service some of the children leave for Sunday School and creche. If parents are keen then they are really welcome to go to this. If you haven’t been before you can take them over to the hall for this when you see everyone leave and the teachers there will be able to find the correct class for them to join. Creche will run at the same time and it’s over in the hall too. Just ask someone if you can’t find it. You can leave younger babies and children there with those serving in the creche and then
return to the service. Don’t forget to pick them up after though!

Access

If you need special arrangements made with regards to where you sit then please do mention to one of those welcoming at the door and we will do our very best so that you can be able to join us for our worship service.

Toilets

The toilets are located in the church halls and can be easily accessed through the side door of the halls complex.