Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a worship
service at Hilltop like?
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Location
- We meet in the auditorium on Sunday morning worship service. Feel free to sit
wherever you would like.
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Music -
The music is arranged and directed by our worship leader with the
four-part harmony. Our music is done a cappela (or without
instruments). We believe you will be amazed and inspired by the
blending of voices in worship and praise to God. The words and
music of the songs will be projected on the screen at the front of
the auditorium. The music projection of songs comes from
The Paperless Hymnal.
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Preaching
- In worship, the sermon message will speak of God's activity
today. Our preaching minister will bring the Word of God to life in
relevant teaching for our lives today. You can expect to learn the
stories of faith and be challenged to engage our contemporary world
for God.
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Prayer
- The congregation participates in thoughtful, public prayers to God
through the name of Jesus Christ. One of our shepherds (elders)
will lead the congregation in a shepherd’s prayer addressing special
needs within the church.
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Scripture -
Our worship time often includes public reading of a portion of the
Bible as a means of encouraging the believers and listening to God.
The passages read bring together a common theme that is central to
the worship plan for that day. God's word is living and active and
impacts our lives today.
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Lord's Supper (Communion) - Each Sunday we celebrate Jesus at the
table. By eating bread and drinking wine in this communion service,
we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This will be passed to you in trays with unleavened crackers and
small cups with grape juice. The bread and grape juice that are
served symbolize to us the body and blood of Jesus' sacrifice.
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Offering
- Each week we also give our members the opportunity to return to
God a gift of thanks for what He has done for us. These gifts are
used to support the work of the Hilltop church in providing
physically and spiritually for those who are in need. As our guest,
we do not expect you to give unless you also want to give thanks to
God.
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Invitation/Song of Encouragement - Each week following the sermon an
invitation is extended to anyone who has a need. Your response may
include private prayer with an elder or minister, standing at the
front auditorium. The response may be a request for public prayer
or to confess faith and put Jesus on through baptism. A desire to
become a member at Hilltop can also be made known at this time.
2. What will be expected of
me when I attend?
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We invite you to participate in whatever
capacity you feel comfortable.
If you would like to simply observe the service that is absolutely
acceptable. If, on the other hand, you feel comfortable joining us
in singing, prayer, partaking of the
Lord's supper that is served, or responding to the invitation, we
encourage you to do that. At times during the service, we may stand
for a song, prayer or scripture. Feel free to do what you feel
comfortable doing.
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While we encourage our members to participate
in the offering, we do not expect our guests to make a gift.
If you do have a gift that you would like to make, you are welcome
to do so.
3. What kind of people is
the Hilltop Congregation?
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Hilltop is comprised of a wide variety of
people who come from different walks of life.
We celebrate our diversity and the way that God uses our differences
to complete each other.
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We are a group of imperfect people. We each have our own weaknesses and
struggles. If you are looking for the perfect church, Hilltop is
probably not for you. But, if you are looking for a place to
join on a journey of becoming like Jesus, you have found the right
place.
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We believe that unity is something very
important to God, and we make every
effort to remain united with each other.
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No two people will believe exactly the same
thing on every issue and we promote the freedom that God has
given us to come to know Him and understand His will, while at
the same time not abusing our freedom as a means to hurt or cause
others to stumble.
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You probably won't find anyone at Hilltop, who
is exactly like you, but you will find a group of people on a
journey together working towards a common goal of becoming like
Jesus and bringing others to Him, who are interested in a
relationship with you.