If you're a bit unsure about what to expect, this should help. There's also a short Welcome Video from our pastor if you scroll down.
A lot happens at Westminster. Here are a few very high-level details.
1. Sunday services begin at 10:01am
The feel is relaxed-but-reverent, and the worship style is "blended," meaning it's a mix of modern praise music and some traditional hymns. The words are projected on a screen on the front.
The service is usually about an hour and 10 minutes and includes singing, prayers, a youth focus, readings from the Bible, and teaching. Preaching is "expository," meaning that we value working through entire biblical books and then appying the meaning to our lives today.
There is Sunday School beginning about 15 minutes into the service. Classes are from pre-school to high school (although youth are welcome in the full service too).
Nursery care is from 9:45-11:15am and is led by loving volunteers.
The entire service is live-streamed on YouTube. Our channel is @WestminsterChurchOnline.
2. Who we are
We are a Protestant church in the Reformed tradition (see more about our beliefs here), although you should know that the congregation has become quite diverse, meaning that there are people from a variety of backgrounds: Presbyterian, Baptist, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, United and non-denominational. Our common grounding is in the resurrected Jesus.
3. What we do
Throughout the week, there are a variety of activities and outreaches. There are learning and fellowship opportunities, youth programs, ways to connect with and help the community, and also youth programs. Cruise around the site and visit the 'Ministries' page to learn more, or contact us through the form below with any questions.
It simply means "of elders" or "governed by elders." It has to do with how we operate and is a model found in the New Testament. In this context the word "elder" doesn't refer to age, but a position of recognized (and elected) leadership.
There are about 300 people who call Westminster home (although we're not all in the building at the same time). On a Sunday morning there are usually between 120 and 160 people worshiping in-person, and an additional 80 online.
As Christians we are Protestants in the Reformed tradition. But that can mean different things in different places. We encourage your to take a look at our 'Beliefs' page. But a helpful phrase to describe us would be "thoughtful deliberate evangelicalism."
Yes. Click here to find out what happens with youth on Sunday morning, and click here for some other youth-related activities.
There is no dress code. But a good guide is to be comfortably but respectfully dressed.
Definitely not. People from a variety of different backgrounds attend services and participate in our programs. Ultimately, our unity is in the resurrected Christ.
We're at 170 Steel Street in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. There are two parking lots -- one in the front and another in the back.
Okay, this isn't a common question, but it is funny. And yes, we do have some snacks. Church calories don't count, right?