What is the congregation like? 
The “average” person at Brookdale Church is hard to describe, because our congregation has such a variety of people! We’re a mix of young and not-so-young, families and singles, blue-collar and white-collar, some longtime Presbyterians and many from all kinds of faith backgrounds. People come to Brookdale from all over St. Joseph and the surrounding area.

What should I wear?

There is no dress code at Brookdale Church. You will find some members wearing suits and ties or dresses, with others in jeans and sandals. 

Is the church handicap accessible?

Absolutely!  Handicap parking is available in the parking lot on the east side of the church building.  The covered entrance at that corner of the building provides easy access to our sanctuary/worship center, fellowship hall, and classrooms.  The lower level children's area can be accessed by stairs or by elevator for those who need that convenience.

What are worship services like at Brookdale?

Our worshp services incorporate a variety of music styles, from traditional hymns to more contemporary praise music. The words for all of the songs are projected onto a big screen at the front.

Our Sunday morning services include: singing songs of praise to God; taking time to privately confess our sins and hear about God’s forgiveness; hearing a message based on the Bible, presented by the pastor; celebrating holy communion the 1st Sunday of the month; allowing people an opportunity to give financially for ministry here in St. Joseph and around the world (as a visitor, you should feel no obligation to give); praying for those in need of prayer; and receiving the benediction (or “blessing”) from the pastor at the end.

Worship services last about 1 hour, and a little longer on Sundays when we celebrate holy communion (see below for more details about communion). Don’t worry about “knowing” what to do or say during worship; most everything that the congregation says out loud is displayed on the big screen at the front or printed in your worship bulletin.  Bibles are supplied in every pew, so just grab one to look up the Bible passage of the day, or feel free to bring your own Bible.

What about holy communion (Lord’s Supper) at Brookdale? 
The Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus on the night of His betrayal.  It is to be celebrated as a perpetual remembrance of what He did for mankind on the cross.  As Presbyterians, we believe it is a bond and pledge of the communion of believers with Jesus Christ and with each other as parts of the Church.  If you have faith in Christ and are a baptized member of a Christian church, you are welcome to celebrate this sacrament with us. 

What is the sermon/message like?
At Brookdale, the messages are Bible-based, rooted on a specific passage of the Old or New Testament. The pastor gives background and context for the passage, shows how the passage points to Jesus as our savior, and teaches how it applies to being a Christian today. At Brookdale, the Bible is not just an ancient book of stories. It is the revelation of God to people everywhere, and we use it to guide us in living as Christians today!

Can my child(ren) join me at worship service? 
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage you to keep your child with you during the whole worship service.  For younger children who may have difficulty sitting quietly for an hour, we offer quality child care during the worship services.  During Sunday School time, children of all ages are welcome to join a class to study God’s Word. The nursery is also staffed during Sunday School and Adult Christian Education (A.C.E.) Classes from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m.

What if I want to become a member at Brookdale Church? 
We are excited to welcome you into our church family at Brookdale!  Several times during the year, we offer a "Welcome to Brookdale" class, which is led by our pastor. The classes help you know what we believe at Brookdale, what it means to be a member of the church, and how you can plug in to the ministries at Brookdale! If you are interested in joining the next "Welcome to Brookdale" class, contact the church office at 816-279-0983 and let us know!