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What to Expect "ONE ANOTHER" We love visitors, and we want you to know what to expect when you come to our "home." Paul told the Corinthian church that everything was to be done for edification (1 Corinthians 14.26). So our time together is a time of encouragement, prayer, love, and learning of a family from one to another. And - it is a time of participation. We sing together, pray together, and love one another. There is no clergy/laity division in our congregation. We are all ministers and priests (1 Peter 2.9), and therefore all participants. If you're a member of a church of Christ now, you won't find too many surprises. We tend to be a bit casual, but there are plenty of us who still wear our 'Sunday best.' MUSIC Our singing is led with the assistance of a song leader. For those who aren't familiar with churches of Christ, you may wonder why our singing is a cappella (without musical instruments). There are lots of reasons for this, but mostly it's because we make an effort to be a church like the original church organized by the Apostles. Since these original churches had no instruments, neither do we. COMMUNION We also take the Lord's Supper, or Communion every Sunday. Again, this goes back to the original churches, who gathered to meet around a table for a meal as part of their assemblies. They took wine and bread in remembrance of Jesus and His Last Supper with his Apostles on the night He was betrayed (1 Corinthians 11.23-26). GIVING We also take a few minutes to collect money. This serves a very specific purpose. We ask only our members to give … not guests! Since we believe we gave everything to God when we were born again, we don't view giving to the church as giving to God. It is, rather, something we do to help our congregation keep going and serving the people of Saddleback Valley locally, and also our various mission and charitable efforts elsewhere. PREACHING 20 - 25 minutes of each Sunday is consumed by preaching, which is really more like teaching. This is a time for us to open the Bible and to learn something from God's Word that will help us to become more like His Son. That is our goal in life, and it is our hope for one another - to become just like Jesus. PRAYING Any church family time must include prayer. We pray during the Lord's Supper, and usually several other times during the service. Typically the most moving is what we call the 'Shepherd's Prayer.' This is a time when our Elders (Pastors/Shepherds) pray for members of our church (or their friends or families) who are hurting - physically, emotionally, or spiritually. We do this because we know God answers our prayers, and we love one another. CHILDREN Immediately after the Communion and the contribution, but before the lesson, kids, ages 2 years old through 5th grade are dismissed to Kidz Church. Three classes are currently available. The children will learn great lessons from the Bible in an environment that's more age-appropriate and exciting. A staffed nursery for infants through 24 months and a cry room/nursing mother's room is also available during the entire morning. We hope this gives you an idea about what to expect if you come to visit, and we really hope you will. We love company at our little house on the corner … and we hope one day you will want to join our family and work with us in our mission…. "The church of Christ at Mission Viejo--Where Faith Finds Action."
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