What to Expect?
All you need to know about Sundays at Abide
Thinking about visiting Abide? We’d love to have you. Walking into a church for the first time can be daunting, new faces, unfamiliar rhythms, not quite knowing where to sit or what’s coming next. This page is here to take the guesswork out of it.
Sunday at a glance
We gather on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:30am at Waterford College, where there is secure parking on site. Our dress is casual and relaxed, so there’s no need to dress up. If you’re bringing little ones, you can sign them in to our Sunday School, the Abide Bible Club, which runs during the service. But, if you’d rather keep your children with you in the service, you’re most welcome to. We have reserved seating at the back, with tables and play mats for the littlies.
You don’t need to bring anything or know anyone. Just come as you are, we’ll be glad to meet you.
What about Worship?
At Abide we follow a simple yet carefully thought-out liturgy (i.e. order of worship). This liturgy is shaped by 5 key values that help us to Abide with God as our greatest good. Our worship seeks to be…
01. THEOLOGICAL
We centre everything on God. He is the reason we gather and the one our worship is directed to. Every part of the worship service points back to and responds to Him.
02. SCRIPTURAL
We listen to the Bible. We believe that God primarily speaks through His inspired word. The Scriptures then lead the way for us by guiding each part of the worship service.
03. RELATIONAL
We take part. You’re not an audience and we’re not performers. Right through the morning we respond to God, whether through singing, prayer, communion, confession, or joining in the shared life of the church.
04. EVANGELICAL
We follow the Gospel. The good news motivates worship, therefore our services follow the storyline of the gospel: who God is, what our need is, and how He saves us. Whether it’s your first Sunday or your fiftieth, you’ll hear the heart of the Christian message every week.
05. DEVOTIONAL
We take worship home with us. What happens on Sunday isn’t meant to stay on Sunday. We pray that our Sunday liturgy sets the pattern for the week as we seek to Abide with God in our homes and in our city.