SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
It’s often confusing to walk into a new church. Here are some questions you might have about St. John’s:
Which service should I attend?
We have two services every Sunday - one at 9 a.m. and one at 10:30 a.m.
Do you prefer traditional worship with organ music, hymns, and formal choirs (adult, youth, children & handbell)?
If so, try the 10:30 a.m. Traditional Worship.
Do you prefer informal worship featuring modern/contemporary Christian music with a praise band?
If so, try the 9 a.m. Contemporary Worship.
What should I wear?
There is no special dress code at St. John’s. At the contemporary service, many people dress informally in jeans or shorts or khaki’s (others get a bit more “dressed up”), but some at the traditional services dress informally too – plus you may see some suits, jackets, ties, and dresses. What you wear is not important. What matters is that you join us for worship!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Do you have Christian education programs for all ages?
Traditional Sunday school takes place during our 10:30 a.m. worship service. Children 4 years old through 6th grade meet in one classroom, but we have many loving volunteers in the class to help guide your child. Our Youth (Grades 7th - 12th) also meet during our 10:30 a.m. worship service. Our amazing teachers use curriculum from Orange Ministry. If you have not registered for Sunday School, please take a moment to register your child.
I have a child with special needs?
Our Director of Children's Ministry, Susan Seamans, would love to speak with you about how we can best accommodate your child’s needs! Contact her at (215) 357-6998, Ext. 309 or by email. We have a place for your child!
What are your security procedures?
We follow a few basic principles:
- Volunteers are never allowed to be alone with a child
- We do a background check on all volunteers
- All volunteers must complete Safe Sanctuaries training every year
- We fill out incident reports for injuries and have trained teams to tackle any problems involving bodily fluids (like a sick kid)
- We use an electronic check-in system (see next FAQ for more on this)
What’s a Check-in system?
The Check-in system works like this: when you sign your kid in, you'll receive two stickers with matching numbers. One sticker goes on your child; one stays with you. To pick your child up, just show the sticker with matching number.
What if I lose my Check-in sticker(s)?
No worries! Just return to the Check-in desk, show I.D., and get a new sticker.
What is your health policy?
No fever, rash, diarrhea, or vomiting within the last 24 hours. No bad coughs or runny noses either. And if you’ve got any contagious infections, like pink eye, stay home. This goes for kids and volunteers.
Where can I find information about baptism?
For information on baptizing your child, call the church office at (215) 357-6998 between 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
I have a question that did not get answered here. Where do I go for help.
Contact Susan Seamans at (215) 357-6998, Ext. 309 or by email.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SMALL GROUP LEADERS AND ASSISTANTS
What if I wake up sick on the day I’m signed up to serve?
Life happens, and we understand. But since we are counting on you, please let us know by calling Susan Seamans.
How long are the volunteer terms?
We ask that our Small Group Leaders teach for a month at a time. The assistants in each classroom and Nursery Volunteers have the option of serving a month at a time or filling in where they can. Our Decorating Team Volunteers are new! For more information on the Decorating Team, Susan Seamans.
What happens if I have to miss a Sunday or two during my volunteer term?
If you have to miss during your volunteer term all you have to do is notify Susan Seamans as much in advance as possible and she will arrange for a substitute to teach in your absence.
I would like to be a substitute teacher (Small Group Leader).
Fantastic! Substitute teachers are called upon to teach in the absence of the regular teacher. As a substitute teacher you will be given as much advance notice of our need for you as possible, sometimes that is a month or more in advance, a week, or even the day of.
If you are interested in being a substitute Sunday school teacher, please contact Susan Seamans.
Is there a lot of prep work that I must do before teaching each Sunday?
No! Our Sunday school program (Pre-K – Grade 6) utilizes curriculum from Orange Ministry. Everything you need, including a Bible story, prayers, discussion questions, and an activity are provided for you!
I want to volunteer, but I know nothing about teaching.
First, don't worry! You don't have to have a teaching degree to teach a Sunday school class! Instead, all you need is a love for the Lord and for His children. If you have this, you are good to go. Still a bit nervous because you don't know the Bible backwards and forwards? Don't worry! Orange Ministry provides everything you need, and Susan Seamans organizes the materials ina way that makes it easy to access and she will also help you prepare each week.
Do I have to attend weekly or monthly meetings to be a Sunday school teacher?
No, there are no meetings to attend to be a Sunday school teacher. We know that you are busy enough as it is, and we don't want to add to that. The Orange Curriculum is available to all the SGLs on Google Drive and Susan Seamans is available all week to assist you with anything you might need to teach on Sunday.
I would like to teach, but what do I do with my infant/toddler?
If you would like to volunteer but feel you can't because you have an infant or toddler, consider using our nursery, which is available every Sunday during the Sunday school hour. [OCTOBER 2022 – Unfortunately our Nursery is closed, but we hope to reopen soon!]
How will I know what to do if there is an emergency?
Look for the Emergency Packet in your room. There are instructions for all kinds of emergencies, including evacuation procedures.
What volunteer positions are available?
We are always in need of volunteers to help maintain our Sunday school program. We have the following positions available:
Sunday School Leader (Small Group Leader “SGL”)
- Prepare lesson based on Orange Ministry curriculum
- Oversee the check-in process
- Oversee the check-out process
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early
- Ensure that the classroom and/or Fellowship Hall are clean and safe for the children
Sunday School Assistants
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early
- Oversee the check-in process
- Oversee the check-out process
- Ensure that the classroom and/or Fellowship Hall are clean and safe for the children
- Assist Small Group Leader
- Serve as “second adult” in the classroom ensuring compliance with Safe Sanctuary guidelines
- Time commitment limited to the time in the classroom
Sunday School Substitutes
- Arrive at lease 15 minutes early
- Oversee the check-in process
- Oversee the check-out process
- Ensure that the classroom and/or Fellowship Hall are clean and safe for the children
- Assist Small Group Leader
- Serve as “second adult” in the classroom ensuring compliance with Safe Sanctuary guidelines
- Time commitment limited to the time in the classroom
Sunday School Decorating Team Volunteers
- Work with Susan Seamans to create a fun environment for the children based on monthly message and theme
Nursery Volunteer
- Arrive 15 minutes early
- Oversee the check-in process
- Oversee the check-out process
- Change diapers and help with potty training
- Hold or sit with and cheerfully interact with children through games, stories, play and prayer
- Straighten the room and clean toys/bed after the children leave
Is there anything else I should know?
The only thing you need to know is that we love our church family and we love to welcome everyone and anyone to join us! We want to be sure to get your prayer requests and other information – and we want to begin sending you our weekly email newsletter, The Cornerstone, to keep you informed about what is happening at St. John’s! Please call or email the church office to be added to the email list. If you have a prayer request, please fill out a prayer request found on the homepage of our website or email/call the church office.
I have a question that did not get answered here. Where do I go for help.
Contact Susan Seamans at (215) 357-6998, Ext. 309 or by email.
Our mission statement says it all: “Open Arms and Serving Hands Transforming Lives Through Christ.” We hope to see you this Sunday!