What to Expect

Visiting a church for the first time can be daunting so we try to make Acacia Ridge Presbyterian Church as welcoming as we can to everyone. We’re a pretty laid back bunch of people who come from a great variety of life situations, backgrounds and nations. We range in age from zero to around 90. Our services are quite relaxed and informal, while still being structured enough to help us focus on our awesome Creator God and His plan to save people through Jesus. If you’re coming for the first time, here’s what to expect.

You will find the main auditorium down the stairs or ramp from the car park off Mortimer Road. There is a second parking area off Postle Street. You should be welcomed by someone at the front door and hopefully they’ll be able to answer any questions you might have about Church. You’ll notice that everyone is dressed pretty comfortably, in anything from semi-formal to shorts and t-shirts.

Our Sunday Morning Church service usually consists of:

  • Singing praises to our God and Saviour Jesus, using a variety of songs from contemporary upbeat to more traditional hymns. Our songs are carefully chosen to ensure they focus on Jesus and His saving work on the Cross.
  • Prayers led by service leaders and other members of our church family, to express adoration and thanks to God, and bring our concerns to Him.
  • A few minutes spent greeting one another as our young ones leave the main auditorium for Children’s and Youth Church, where they are taught in various age groupings by our very dedicated teachers.  There is also a crèche available for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers, as well as a babies’ room where parents can attend to their needs while listening to the Bible talk.
  • A Bible talk that is obviously and unapologetically from the Bible. Our Pastors do their best to apply God’s word to your situation and point you to Jesus in an understandable, relevant and real way.  Most often they teach through a book of the Bible over a number of weeks, with some topical issues being explored from time to time.

After the formal part of our time together, we encourage everyone to hang around for morning tea (including great coffee) and a chat. We hope you’ll join us one Sunday and more importantly, that you’ll choose to make this your home church. You’ll soon learn that we’re not perfect, but fortunately, we’ve been saved by the One who is.

Our Sunday evening gathering is known as Café Church:

This is a rather unique format which we have been running for many years.  It is set up Café style with great atmosphere, small coffee tables and groups of 5 or 6 chairs together.  We start off by sharing tea, coffee and supper food together ‘til about 6:15pm.  You are then welcomed by the service leader and invited to find a table for the “formal” part, which is not really that formal.  There are times for singing, prayers, bible readings and a bible talk.  Sometimes there is the opportunity to discuss questions and issues with your table group, or ask questions related to the bible talk. Sometimes we even draw or act out the bible passage.   At the end of the night supper is still available, so you would be welcome to stay around and get to know everyone. This interactive service format particularly appeals to the 15-35 age bracket, but is appreciated by many of our older folk as well.

 

Songs we sing

It might help you get to know us a bit, by knowing what sort of songs we sing at Acacia Ridge on Sundays. We sing traditional hymns as well as contemporary music from Sovereign Grace, Keith Getty, EMU Music, Garage Hymnal, Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman. Some favourites include:

All my Days (Beautiful Saviour)
Amazing Grace
Be Thou My Vision
Blessed Assurance
Blessed Be Your Name
By Faith
Come People of the Risen King
For All You’ve Done
God of Wonders
Hallelujah To The King of Kings
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us
How Great Is Our God
In Christ Alone
Indescribable
Jesus Thank You
Let Your Kingdom Come
May The Mind of Christ
Mighty To Save
My Chains are Gone
My Hope Is Built
See Him Coming
Shout To The Lord
Take My Life
When I Survey
You Are My King