FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I’ve never been to church or haven’t been to church in a long time; if I come to CCC will I be embarrassed or pressured?
A: No – You can come and actually be pretty “anonymous”. Check us out at your own pace.
Q: How do things work with kids on Sunday morning?
A. We have a very organized and loving team of people who work with our children. If you have any specific questions please feel free to call any of our children’s ministry staff members prior to your first visit. When you come to CCC on Sunday mornings, there is a children’s information table in the front lobby. Check it out. Arriving a few minutes early when coming for the first time can be helpful. This helps you and your children get settled more easily into the new setting.
Q: Is CCC part of a larger group or denomination or is it an independent church?
A. We are part of the larger “Covenant” church which has about 60+ churches in Oregon and Washington and about 800 across the country. For more information on the Covenant go to: www.covchurch.org
Q: You seem to slow down your programming in the summer. Why is that?
A. We intentionally shift our activity level in the summer to allow for some rest. We believe that a healthy rhythm to life involves both work and rest. God teaches and models this for us in creation. So in the summer we take it down a notch, in large part to give many of our volunteers a break. This also is a way to support families as they spend time together and to encourage CCC people to socialize together outside of “programmed” activities. There are still some important and great opportunities to participate in the life of our church in the summer, but we do intentionally change things up a bit and slow things down.
Q: You have a large Staff at CCC. How do you view the role of your staff?
A. We hire staff to be leaders, people who will enhance the level and experience of service among our many volunteers. Most staff positions are designed for a “Leader” not a “Doer”. Our staff leaders are specialists, with very specific areas of focus, while also being “team players” who share a passion for the larger mission of the church. Our staff in not here to do the ministry for everyone. Our staff is here to help all of us participate in the ministry together as God leads us.
Q: So what is the role of the Lead Pastor?
A: Lead, Teach & Equip: John’s role is to lead. Working with the church leadership team and staff, John helps develop and champion our common mission and vision. John’s role is to teach. By providing regular teaching on Sunday mornings John guides and instructs us through this important venue. John’s role is to equip and encourage. John works closely with staff and key leaders to give guidance and encouragement in their specific ministries.
Q: Does CCC expect everyone to support a specific political party?
A: No. We are not concerned with what political party people are affiliated with or who they voted for in the last election. We are not afraid to talk about complex and controversial issues. We believe God cares deeply about many of these issues, so we should too. There are many important and inspiring examples of people who were motivated by their faith to bring wonderful change in the public/political arena. But we want to avoid a simplistic approach to the complex questions of how a person might feel led to apply their faith in the political process. We recognize there are ambiguities and complexities in many of the political issues of our day. We do not want to complicate or confuse our message of life in Christ with anyone’s political agenda. There have been times when the church has been corrupted by political power and divided by political agendas. We want to avoid that.
Q: How does CCC approach the women in ministry and leadership question?
A. Some churches choose to limit leadership in the church to men only. At CCC we do not do this. We support women who are gifted and led by the Spirit to serve in leadership, just as we support men in this way. We have women serving on our leadership team and staff. In the Covenant, women serve as pastors and missionaries. We take this approach because we believe the Bible promotes it.
Q. What is CCC up to right now in a special way?
A. We want to grow as a church that is increasingly vital to our community. There is a common and unfortunate polarization today among church and non church people and groups. We want to bridge this gap in a positive way. We want to grow in an authentic love for the Snoqualmie Valley and express that love as God leads. We know we have a long way to go in this. We don’t know exactly how we will do it. But, we are committed to connecting with, loving and enhancing the life of our community. We want to be the presence of Christ in our community in authentic, creative and meaningful ways.
Q: Do you have members at CCC?
A: Yes. If someone wants to be a member the process is pretty simple. The main step is to participate in one of our “membership” classes. In this group the specifics of church membership are discussed. After this people are invited to join as official members if they have that desire. This of course is very optional.
Q: If I’m new, how can I get plugged in and connected?
A. We suggest a few things. Attend one of our single session “Starting Point” gatherings on Sunday morning. Pray regularly for CCC. Serve as God leads you. Attend some of our community life events such as church socials or retreats. Take the initiative to meet people on Sunday mornings and at other times as well. Participating in a “Community Group” is usually the most important step anyone can take to move from “attending” to “belonging”.