What to Expect

BEFORE YOUR FIRST VISIT . . . After you finish visiting us on the internet, we hope we get the chance to meet you in person soon. We realize that visiting a church for the first time can be a stressful and awkward activity. In order that this not be the case with your first time worshipping at Western Avenue, we have listed below some practical tips and pointers that will make your visit with us more comfortable and less stressful.
Choose a Service Western Avenue offers two worship services each Sunday morning. The early service begins at 8:30 AM and the second service begins at 11:00 AM. Both services are mirror images of each other. Please visit our Worship Ministry page to learn more about each of these services.
Stay for Sunday School We truly hope you'll consider staying for Sunday School if you attend the 8:30 service or join us at 9:45 to prepare for the 11:00 service. This is where you will make relationship that will truly make Western Avenue feel like home. We have Bible study classes for all ages from birth through senior adults. We know there is a class just right for you. Visit our Sunday School page to learn more about our classes.
Get Directions We are located at 1206 Museum Road (between Hwy 21 and Hwy 115) in Statesville, North Carolina, just north of Interstate 40. Click here to see a map and written directions to the church.
When You Arrive Once you figure how long it will take to drive to Western Avenue, you will want to allow enough time to park and make your way to the Worship Center or the Welcome Center (if you are going to attend Sunday School first). You can just follow the signs posted all over our property to guide you to the correct location. Western Avenue is a large facility and it seems even larger the first time you are here. Don't worry - it gets smaller every day! We have provided a map of our campus online for you to study before you arrive. However, there will be more than enough people willing to help you get where you're going - don't be afraid to ask!
If You Have Children If you have children, you will want to enter on the west entrance to the building (the side farthest from the sanctuary). This entrance has a sheltered drive-through to help you in unloading the car on rainy days and we have a special Welcome Center in our Preschool/Children's Department. Because we place a very high value on the safety of your children, you will be asked to receive and wear an identifying badge that will enable only you to pick your children up at the end of the service. We have classes and childcare for children from birth through 6th grade and the volunteers at the Welcome Center will help figure out where to take your children.
During the Worship Service You can sit either upstairs in our balcony or on the main floor. You can get to the balcony via the stairs on both sides of the sanctuary. Many prefer to sit upstairs because they feel less conspicuous or perhaps they are running late! You may sit in any vacant seat unless it has a notice on it specifically saying it is reserved. If you have children, they may sit with you. At the 11:00 service, you will notice many children sitting at the front of the sanctuary near the platform. These children are 4-5 years old and will leave the service immediately prior to the sermon to go to Children's Church. If your child wants to participate in this, you may pick your child up in Room 124 after the service. Any thing you may need, such as song books, visitor's cards or pencils, will be in the pocket on the back of the seat in front of you. Usually, the words to the songs we'll be singing will be cast on the walls above the choirs via our video projectors. We find we can sing more freely and with less inhibition if we do not have to keep looking down to refer to a page in a book. This projection is also used for announcements at the beginning of the service and to project sermon notes and the biblical text during our pastor's sermon. If you are not sure what to do during the service, just follow everyone else, or if you prefer, you can just remain seated throughout the service. You are under no obligation to join in any of the singing or even to like the music. We know we don't all have the same musical tastes and we don't expect it of you, either. However, we do hope you will want to join us in worshipping our King. The Lord is pleased with any form of worship, as long as it comes from a heart in love with Him. Your presence is your gift to us. You are not expected to contribute financially to the work of the church (that's our responsibility!) so don't feel embarrassed to pass the collection plate without putting anything in it. Many church members contribute bi-weekly or monthly so you won't be the only one just "passing the plate." However, we would like to ask that you complete a "Visitor's Card" and put that in the offering plate when it is passed. Should you need to use the restroom, the closest facilities are located in the worship center's foyer. Exit the two center doors at the back of the sanctuary and the restrooms are immediately on your left and right.
When You Are Ready To Leave Please be sure to shake our pastor's hand as you leave the Worship Center. Dr. Cartin and his wife, Caroline, would love to meet you. If you haven't already done so, visit one of the Information Tables in the foyer of the worship center. Here you'll find information about some interesting upcoming events. You will also find in the foyer brochures explaining many of our ministries and programs. Take as many as you need. P.S. Remember to pick up your children after the service!