What to Expect During Your Visit

We would love for you to visit us at Cross Tower, and we want you to feel comfortable, but we know an unfamiliar place can be intimidating. To make things more familiar, let us share with you what you can expect when you honor us with a visit. Our worship assembly begins at 10:30 a.m. in person at the building. The sermon is also live streamed, then posted each Sunday on Facebook & YouTube. Our Sunday morning Bible class is at the building at 9:30 a.m.

The Setting

Our building is located at the northeast corner of 3200 West and 7000 South in West Jordan, a suburb of Salt Lake City. We have specially marked parking places for our guests to the left of the main entrance on the west side of the parking lot. As you enter through the front doors expect to find people milling about visiting with each other and smiling a lot. You will be greeted warmly and handed a bulletin with information about our worship service as well as upcoming events. Coffee and other refreshments are waiting for you at our hospitality center in the foyer. Someone will probably stop to welcome you, but you will not be asked for any personal information or put on the spot in any way.

Singing

We like to sing! And for the most part, the songs are a balance of the traditional hymns of faith and contemporary praise songs, sung "a cappella"...that is, without accompaniment of musical instruments. The words and music to the songs will be displayed by PowerPoint at the front of the auditorium. You are welcome to sing along or just listen. We think you'll find the singing meaningful and inspirational.

Prayers

We are a praying church. There will be several prayers during the service. Near the end of our worship time a prayer will be offered for specific needs and requests. To include a prayer request, fill out the prayer request form on the bulletin and place it in the collection plate as it is passed during the assembly. This request will be prayed for out loud at the end of our service. If you would like this prayer request to be confidential, simply mark the private box and our elders/shepherds will make time to pray for your request during the week.

Message

You will notice that our preacher/minister does not have a title. He won't be referred to as Pastor or Reverend. He may be referred to as brother, mister, or most likely just called by his first name. He won't be wearing any ecclesiastical vestments, which set him apart from the rest of the congregation. The reason for this is our belief in the priesthood of all believers (which means we all are equal in God's eyes). The sermon will likely be 20-30 minutes in length. We think you will find it Bible-centered and relevant to issues affecting your everyday life.

Invitation

At the end of the sermon, the speaker may offer "an invitation." This is simply an opportunity to invite those, who would like, to make a commitment or request prayer support. He will encourage anyone who wishes to "respond" to come to the front of the auditorium and make his/her request known while the congregation sings a song. Don't feel ill at ease during the invitation. You will not be singled out in any way. There may be some who respond, possibly none. Some may want to be baptized, some ask for prayers of a specific need, or some to place membership with this church. If anyone desires to be baptized, you will witness the baptism.

The Lord's Supper

If you visit on a Sunday, the Lord's Supper will be included in the worship assembly because our church observes this memorial every Sunday. Again, the reason for this is our desire to follow New Testament teachings. The first century church celebrated this observance on the first day of the week. We assume from this that they did it the first day of every week, and we know from respected historians that in early centuries the Lord's Supper was an every Sunday commemoration. During this memorial, plates containing pieces of unleavened bread will be passed throughout the congregation. The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus. Each participating person will break off a piece of bread and eat it. Next, trays of small cups will be passed as well. The cups contain "fruit of the vine," (grape juice) symbolizing the blood of Jesus. Each participant will drink the contents of one of the cups. If you choose not to participate, don't be embarrassed. Feel free to just pass the tray to the person next to you.

Offering

Also, if you visit on a Sunday, a collection plate will be passed to collect the weekly financial offerings. As our guest, you are not expected to make a donation. Feel perfectly comfortable in just passing the collection plate on down the row. (Prayer request cards may be placed in the collection plate as it is passed.)

What will be expected of you

Expect to be encouraged by what you see and hear! You are welcome to participate, but don't feel obligated to. Just observe if that is your choice. You may be asked to fill out a Connection card. This simply provides information so the church can write or call to thank you for your visit. Supply the information if you are comfortable doing so, but feel free to decline this request if you prefer.

The People

What kind of people do you expect to find? Pretty much the entire spectrum, as in any group. We're a diverse group, coming from varied backgrounds, and at different stages of life and of knowledge and spiritual growth. We are a fairly casual group--not many coats and ties. We don't know everything. We don't do everything right. We haven't arrived – we are still on the journey, but you see we were not brought together by any illusion of perfection or righteousness. We were brought together by our recognition that we are sinners in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus. That is the reason we can worship together, stick together, and with God's help accomplish some things that make a difference, but bottom line, you will find people who love Jesus and love the Bible.

Questions? 
Feel free to contact us by phone: 801.964.8947 or e-mail: crosstowerchurch@gmail.com.