WEDDINGS: If I am not a member, can I get married in this church ?

Yes, under the following conditions:
Couples requesting to be married by our staff are required [1] to participate in pre-marital counseling and [2] to attend worship consistently, either here or at another Christian church. Our counseling normally involves 6-7 sessions spread out over about 8 months. Ruth Workman does the counseling. She sees couples individually – not grouped together in a class. She helps the people practice their communication skills, face problem areas, and develop a stronger spiritual foundation.

On occasion, our building can be available to members of other churches who wish to be married here by their own pastor(s). In such an event, the pastor(s) must furnish a letter stating reasons for this request and certifying that the requirements of the requesting church have been met.

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BAPTISM: If I am not a member can I have my child baptized at LPC?

Normally, the answer is No. During our baptism ceremony the entire congregation pledges to support the parent(s) in raising the child as a Christian. Our congregation cannot possibly keep this promise if
parent(s) and child are not part of the church family.

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MEMBERSHIP:

Membership (adults): How do I go about belonging?
The first step is simply to participate in activities and begin meeting people. Several times a year we offer “Membership 101” – a 2-hour orientation for adults wishing to go farther. We talk about how God is moving in our lives and about basic expectations of membership. We welcome all questions, great and small!
Following this experience people meet individually with our pastor or one of the elders to assess their needs and readiness. Normally, adults considering membership also participate in the Alpha course, either before or after joining. Adults not previously baptized will receive baptism on the day they join the church. We do not re-baptize. We recognize the validity of baptism by other Christian churches.

Membership (youth): How do I go about belonging?
Again, the first step is to participate actively in our youth program. The membership (Confirmation) course is offered every year, September – June, for students in 9th grade or above. Our curriculum includes Bible study, worship, creeds, missions, comparative religion, and knowledge of the Presbyterian Church USA. There are class service projects and a fall weekend retreat. We encourage our students to ask hard questions, wrestle with their faith, and make it their own.

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CHURCH USE

The church does not rent its facilities for personal functions or parties.

The church building is available to non-profit groups whose activities support the church's Mission Statement. An application for church use must be filled out and returned to Arlene Bello. Fees and permission are determined on a case-by-case basis.

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