Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect on my first visit?

If you come on a Sunday Morning you can expect to see people of every age.  People will be dressed in everything from jeans to suits!  There is a Welcome Center Desk in the upstairs lobby beside the Sanctuary with coffee!  Infant and toddler nurseries (under 2 years) begin at 8:30am and continue until 12:30pm.  Worship begins at 9:00am and again at 11:00am.  Sunday School classes for children, youth and adults begins at 10:00am.  You can expect high energy, traditional worship and a warm welcome!

When should I arrive?

It is more important that you come, than when you come!  Parking is convenient with handicapped spaces clearly marked on both sides of the Sanctuary.  If you arrive in our parking lot 10 minutes before the services begin (at 9:00am and 11:00am), you will have plenty of time.  If you have small children and would like to take advantage of our well-staffed and nicely appointed nurseries, then come a few minutes earlier.  Nursery staff will give you a beeper so that they can contact you if necessary, should your child need you during worship.

What will people be wearing?

We are a place that values your presence more than we judge what you are wearing!  It is more important that you come, than how you are dressed!  However, the majority of Forest Lake worshippers are dressed in a way that might be described as nice casual.  Men come in everything from suits to jeans.  Women wear slacks or skirts/dresses.

Where do I take my children?

If you arrive for the 9:00am or 11:00am worship services on Sunday morning – infant and toddler nurseries (36 months and younger) are located on the first floor through the glass entrance on the Rockbridge Rd. side of the church building.  Come through the glass doors (follow signs to the church office) and turn RIGHT through the double doors.  Nursery staff will be waiting, and you may choose to take a beeper with you in case the Nursery Staff need to contact you.  All children are invited to come to worship with their parents. There are activity bags with crayons and coloring pages for all children available as you enter the sanctuary. We typically have a Children’s Sermon time during the worship hour.  After that, children 1st grade and below are invited to leave the Sanctuary and go downstairs for Children’s Programming.  Parents are asked to go downstairs following worship to reclaim their children from the nursery.

If you arrive for Sunday School at 10:00am on Sunday mornings – Infant and Toddler Nurseries (36 months and younger) are located on the first floor through the glass entrance on the Rockbridge Side of the church building.  Come through the glass doors (following signs to the Church Office) and turn RIGHT through the double doors.  Nursery staff will be waiting.  Sunday School classes begin at 10am, offering a Christian learning experience for everyone from 3 year olds all the way to our oldest members!

If you come during the School Year on Wednesday Nights for Kirk Night  -  Everyone is invited to come and to eat dinner together (see the newsletter and Calendar for schedule of events).  It is one of the last places in our society where infants and senior citizens get to visit and talk together!  Dinner is in our Fellowship Hall from 5:30 – 6:15 and requires an advance reservation (contactus@flpc.org).  After dinner there are fun and educational opportunities for all ages!

Are there classes and events for my preteens and teenagers?
  • YES!  YES!  YES!
  • SUNDAY MORNING – Youth are invited both to worship (at 9am and 11am),  and to attend Sunday School Classes (at 10:00am).  Link to Youth Education Page
  • SUNDAY EVENING – Our Youth programming on Sunday night is commonly referred to as FLY:  Forest Lake Youth.  During the school year, FLY normally meets at church from 5:30 to 7:30pm.  See Calendar for a schedule of events or contactus@flpc.org for more information
  • WEDNESDAY EVENING – During the School Year, youth are invited to have dinner with the entire congregation in our Fellowship Hall.  Following this dinner, there are Middle School and Senior High gatherings that focus on fellowship and study.
  • SUMMER PROGRAMMING, MISSION TRIPS,  MONTREAT YOUTH CONFERENCES, SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, CONFIRMATION, BASKETBALL LEAGUES, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!  See Youth Ministry for complete information.
What is U@FLPC?

U@FLPC is an exercise that – using two key questions – allows you to identify where you see the Church most alive and critically engaged.  There is bad news all around us.  Where do you believe the Church of Jesus Christ has good news to bring?  You will be invited to consider how you participate in Christian Community and to think about taking part in the life and ministry of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church.  You will also be given the opportunity to identify the obstacles in your life to your own growth in faith and practice.  We may be able to help you with those barriers to growth.  Come and grow with us!  Members and guests alike are invited to follow the guided steps that appear when you click on the U@FLPC button. 

What is Kirk Night?

Kirk Night is FLPC’s Wednesday evening programming; it starts at 5:30pm, finishes at 7:15pm, and runs from the Wednesday after Rally Day to the first Wednesday in May.  Kirk Night has two main components: supper and education time.

  • Kirk Night supper is a wonderful opportunity for table fellowship.  Supper starts at 5:30pm and ends at 6:15pm.  The menus are generally set several months in advance, and the food is usually catered by local restaurants.  Reservations can be made in one of three ways: by filling out the pink Kirk Night pew card on Sunday morning and putting it in the offering plate, calling the church office by noon on the Tuesday directly preceding the Kirk Night you want to attend, or by being placed on the permanent list by pre-paying for the semester.  At present, Kirk Night prices are as follows:  $7 for adults (12 and up), $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children ages 3-11 (children under 3 are free), with a $20 family maximum.
  • Kirk Night programming is planned with all ages in mind.  Classes start at 6:15pm and end at 7:15pm.  The nursery is open for children 3 and under; children (ages) go to (???); middle school and high school youth go to (???) for a lesson and faith discussion; and adults have several educational options.  Consult the Kirk Night brochure.
How can I become a member of Forest Lake?

If you are looking for a family of faith with whom you can worship God, study Scripture, laugh and have fun, ask your questions, and serve God and the world, then we want you to know that you are welcome at Forest Lake Presbyterian Church.  We are most interested in helping people grow in their Christian Discipleship.  Being a member is not required for you to participate in the activities of our congregation.  But, once you know the authentic love and support of this church family, and have decided to make Forest Lake your faith home, then there are three ways to become a member:

1.  Baptism – If you have never publically professed Jesus Christ as God’s Son and your Lord and Savior or been baptized into the Christian faith, then we welcome you to make your profession of faith here.  If you have been baptized in any other Christian Church then you do not need to be re-baptized to join Forest Lake (see Re-Affirmation and Transfer of Membership).  Before being baptized, you will be given the opportunity to meet with one of the pastors to talk about the meaning of becoming a Disciple of Jesus Christ and the process of Baptism.

2. Re-Affirmation of Faith – If you were baptized into any Christian community, but have not been an active part of any congregation for some time, you may wish to join Forest Lake Presbyterian Church by re-affirming your faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and your Lord and Savior.  After conversations with one of the pastors, you will be given the opportunity to re-affirm your faith by answering three simple questions before a small group of the Ruling Elders of our congregation.  There is no test and no requirements for knowledge!  There is only an opportunity to say that you believe in Jesus Christ and that you want to learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, want to be a member of Forest Lake, and want to become involved and supportive of Forest Lake’s Community.

3. Transfer of Membership – If you have recently been active in another Christian Congregation, but now wish to have Forest Lake be your primary faith home, then you may do so by requesting to move your membership to Forest Lake.  You can do this by contacting one of the pastors, or by indicating your wish to join on the Friendship Registers that are passed among the worshippers every Sunday morning.

If you are not yet certain that you want to become a member of Forest Lake, or would like to talk more about what it means to profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, then know that we welcome your presence among us!  At any time, feel free to contact one of the pastors to talk through any questions and discuss the simple process of becoming a member of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church.

We encourage members and visitors alike to complete the U@FLPC inventory to help you know more about what is going on at Forest Lake and to identify your strengths and challenges as you grow in faith and in following Christ.

How many Sacraments are there in the PC(USA)?

There are two Sacraments in the Presbyterian Church (USA):  Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.  We understand that sacraments are acts that Christ commanded his followers to observe.  Our participation in Baptism and The Lord’s Supper is both an act of obedience and a means of Grace for us.  In Baptism we believe that God justifies us, cleanses us of our Sin and makes us part of the Body of Christ – The Church.  In The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, we remember the last meal that Christ celebrated with his disciples and remember his life, death and resurrection:  the sacrifice of love that enables us to live a new life in Christ.  The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper strengthens us for daily life in Christ.  All who have been baptized with water in the name of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are welcome at the Sacrament of Communion in the Presbyterian Church.

Who can get married at FLPC?

Christian Marriage is a covenant made between a man and a woman in the context of worship. In this way it is different from a civil ceremony.   Normally, one of the couple to be married is a member of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, although it is possible for non-members to be married at Forest Lake.  In either case, pre-marital counseling is required before the marriage may be performed and one or more of the Forest Lake pastors must participate in the service.

What is the PC(USA)’s theology of marriage?

Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family.  Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man.  For Christians marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship.  In a service of Christian marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith.   From The Book of Order W-4.9000