Planning Your Visit

It can be intimidating to visit a new church. Maybe it's been a while since you came to church, or perhaps you grew up in a different religious tradition, or none at all. Let us put you at ease--we're an easygoing bunch and it's pretty hard to "do it wrong" at Idylwood. You'll see folks in suits and people in jeans and shorts. Come as you are.

Our services start at 11 a.m. and last about an hour. We have a printed bulletin which helps you see where we are in the service and what's coming next. Communion, also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist, is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Our table is open to all. The pastor will give instructions for how to receive communion. Some months, the bread and cup will be passed to you in your seat. Other times, the congregation is invited to come forward, tear off a piece of bread and dip it into the cup. If you are not able to come forward, you can be served at your seat. A gluten-free option is always available, and we only serve grape juice rather than wine.

Most Sundays after church we have coffee and snacks in the large community room, called the Upton Room. This informal conversation time is the heart of IPC.  You are warmly invited to join us, or grab a quick cup of coffee on your way out. 

Children in Church

Children are welcome at IPC---we believe that a church with children is a growing, healthy church. We have a time with the children each Sunday in which they receive a special message from the pastor or other church leader. Following this time, many parents like to send their young children to our nursery upstairs, which is staffed by a paid nursery worker. Parents of older children may send their kids to the Upper Room in our balcony, where they can hear what's going on in the service while perusing children's books or participating in quiet crafts. Other parents prefer to keep their children with them the entire service. We have worship bags and children's bulletins to help keep them occupied.

For more information about children at IPC, click here.

The Building/Accessibility

The best entrance to the church is through the door at the back of the parking lot. Walk through the large room, down the hall, and into the sanctuary. An usher should be there to hand you a bulletin, but if they aren't there, help yourself from the stack on the ledge under the window. There is no assigned seating.

We are working on our accessibility issues in our 100 year old building. This is a work in progress, but we are committed to full accessibility. Currently we have a wheelchair ramp from the parking lot into the church building. The bathroom is right next to the entrance but may be tough to navigate in a chair. There is a small (2 inch) step from the hallway into the sanctuary, which we have helped folks in wheelchairs navigate safely many times. Thank you for your patience as we seek to be more hospitable with our space.