No matter where you are on your life's journey, we hope you find a community here at Roberts Park.
This information below is meant to make your first time visiting go as smoothly as possible.
What options are there for Sunday services?
On Sundays, worship begins at 10:30 a.m. All are invited to worship on site, online, or on demand. On site worship is at 401 N. Delaware Street in Indianapolis. Online we stream our services through our website (watch out for the livestream link up top), on our churck app (download here), Facebook and Youtube. You can also always watch our latest sermons and services on demand by clicking here.
What happens during a service?
Worship services include hymns, readings of Scripture, choral singing, messages with contemporary themes, and pipe organ musical accompaniment. Presently, due to the pandemic, singing is limited to a whisper, masks are encouraged, and social distancing is observed. An easy-to-follow printed bulletin is a guide for the service and contains information about activities and upcoming events as well.
Each and every Sunday, we welcome visitors such as yourself. To make this comfortable for everyone, you will not be asked to stand up and introduce yourself or wear a special name tag. It is incredibly important to our community that we are a safe and welcoming community that does not place any undue distress on anyone, particularly newcomers. There are attendance pads located in each row, and we hope you will register your name and contact information.
Online, our Communications Director Lianna hosts the online chat for all of our livestream services. One of the cool things about online worship is the chat feature because we can greet each other, use emojis and reactions, and reflect on the service together.
What about communion?
Roberts Park UMC celebrates communion on the first Sunday of the month. As practicers of an open table, all are invited to commune together. We do not discriminate based on how old or young you are, whether or not you've been baptized or hold a church membership, or for any other reason. When we say all are welcome, we hold firm to the belief that all means all.
We celebrate communion by using intinction, which is when communicants dip their bread into the common cup of grape juice and partake in the elements together. Pre-packaged elements are available for those who prefer.
Our communion table extends virtually, too. On the first Sunday of the month (or when you watch that worship service), participants in our online service can prepare their own communion table using elements of grain and fruit. Traditionally this looks like bread and wine or grape juice, however you're invited to use the elements that you have present and speak to you. Maybe that's crackers and wine, maybe it's tortillas and grape juice. We believe these elements will be consecrated as you participate in worship on on site, online, or on demand.
What should I wear?
Come as you are. There’s no dress code. Usual attire ranges from jeans to suits.
Where do I go on Sunday morning when I arrive?
Parking: Free parking is available in an adjacent parking lot at the corner of Vermont and Alabama Streets. Free parking is also available on Vermont Street and on Delaware Street on Sunday mornings. Many people enter through the Vermont Street entrance, which is wheelchair accessible, from the parking lot; others use the doors facing Delaware Street.
Building: Our historic building looks a little overwhelming from the outside, but we think you will love its beautiful features once you see its interior. The building is unconventional by today’s definition in that the chapel is located on the first floor and the sanctuary is located on the second floor, which is accessible by elevator. Signs are easy to follow, and greeters and ushers will be happy to show you the way as well.
Online: We stream all of our services here on our website, on Facebook and YouTube, and our church app. On Sunday mornings, there is a "watch the livestream now" banner at the top of the website and our streams go live on 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Additionally, all of our services are here on our website or on our YouTube page.
Accessability
The Vermont entrance has a wheelchair ramp. There is an elevator to reach the upper level, where the sanctuary is, and an entrance ramp to the sanctuary.
Children are welcome at all worship services. Children aged 3 and older are invited to join teachers for a fun time of Children Worship & Wonder outside the sanctuary during the normal worship time. The children are dismissed during the first hymn.
In June of 2021, Roberts Park debuted a new weekly Family Fun virtual worship service geared towards children and families. This delightful program now goes by "Shalom and Friends" and premieres on the Shalom Daycare Facebook page on Fridays at 7pm EST. It is hosted on Facebook and YouTube so you can watch it anytime!
Join us for coffee hour!
A casual coffee hour follows the 10:30 a.m. service every Sunday. Roberts Park is a friendly congregation, and you will probably be approached by a few people wanting to introduce themselves and chat a bit as well.
Come back to worship next week!
We hope to see you again soon. There's always something going on here at Roberts Park.
Follow us on social media!
Currently we are on Facebook and Instagram. Follow either or both of our pages for church updates, scripture readings, trivia questions, and more!
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