Welcome
Visiting a new church can be intimidating, so let us help! We want you to feel welcome and included at Greenwood Forest. Before you visit, we’d like to offer any information you need to feel comfortable and confident in coming over.
When we Meet
Worship Hour
10am
Community Hour
11am
What To Expect
Our Sunday mornings involve a Worship Hour (10am) and a Community Hour (11am).
In our Worship Hour, you might encounter a 500-year-old hymn alongside a freedom song, a Bach organ prelude followed by a bluegrass number, or clap along with a spiritual after quietly repeating a Taizé refrain. We hope that at our best, the worship service at Greenwood Forest gives you a glimpse of what the diverse and beautiful kingdom of God sounds like.
We root our worship service in the historical practices and symbols of Christian tradition but also seek to dynamically respond to our modern context. You may hear an ancient doxology after an extemporaneous prayer, a dramatic reading of Scripture following a formal litany.
Community Hour immediately follows worship and is when we have small groups and other gatherings. On a typical Sunday, you'll find adult small groups, youth group, and the Wonder Room and Rainbow Room (our children's ministry rooms) operating. We also regularly gather as a whole congregation during this hour to do churchwide education, decision-making, or other special events like a potluck or cookout for lunch!
Inclusion and Accessibility
Restroom Needs
There are restrooms located at the front and rear of the sanctuary for use during worship. Please feel welcome to use the restrooms that conform with your gender identity. There are restrooms at the rear of the sanctuary (in the narthex) that are single occupancy and completely gender-neutral.
Hearing Assistance
If you need hearing assistance devices, they are available in the back of the sanctuary next to the sound booth. There are also manuscript copies of the sermon frequently available before worship begins.
Children in Worship
If you have a small child, we have nursery care during worship for children who need it, especially infants and toddlers. There is a glider available in the back of the sanctuary if you need to rock your little one during worship. In general, we want you to feel comfortable with your children being children in worship, and wriggling and noises are perfectly okay!
Accessible Navigation
There are handicapped parking spaces near the sanctuary bordering Maynard Road and at other entrances, as well. There are also shortened pews in the sanctuary designed for wheelchair- and walker-accessible seating. The two levels of the building are connected by accessible exterior walkways and there are no stairs needed when you’re traversing a single level. You will spend almost all your time on the second level (sanctuary, Faith Formation classes, church office), which is accessible throughout.