Tampa
Larry & Deanna Shrodes
Lead Pastors
What time do you meet?
We offer Christian Education Classes for all ages at 9:30 on Sunday
Mornings. Following this we meet at 10:30
a.m. for our morning worship service. Our service lasts approximately one hour and
a half to an hour and forty-five minutes.
On Saturday we offer a Recovery Service which meets @ 11 AM. This service focuses on overcoming life's addictions.
People
of all nations, generations and walks of life.
Our church's goal is to be a warm
church where everyone can belong. As a result, the people who attend our
church our very diverse. We want you to feel welcome from the first
moment you walk in the doors. You will find friendly people who are ready
to answer your questions and help you settle in.
Where
are you located?
Our church campus is located at 16235 Lake Magdalene Blvd, Tampa, FL 33613 ,
right across the street from the Tampa Bay Credit Union.
Where do I go when I arrive?
When you arrive in the parking lot you'll notice we have special visitor
parking spaces reserved just for you. Our Christian Education building is the first one you'll come to, if
you will be dropping off your children you will find our nursery and
children's ministries located in this area. Once the kids are settled, keep walking down
the breezeway and feel free to get a complimentary
cup of coffee there before
coming in to the worship service. Greeters & ushers are available to help
answer your questions or direct you around the building. The main sanctuary is directly behind the
Christian Education building. There is a
fellowship area between the two buildings with a playground for kids, courtyard, and café area to relax and talk with friends.
What should I wear?
You'll notice quickly that we don't have any Sunday dress code. Some
people wear jeans, others wear suits. Some
people wear flip flops, others wear dress shoes. We have a relaxed atmosphere
that we trust you will find accepting and inviting. You can feel free to stay
anonymous or jump right in and start making new friends.
What will my kids do?
If you have brought children with you ages K-5th grade, we have Celebration
Kids which runs the same time as our service. We also have nursery for
infants and toddlers with classes to age 4. Celebration Kids and the classes are a lot of
fun, but we understand that sometimes you or your child would be much more
comfortable attending the worship service with you. Please feel free to keep
your children with you if you desire.
What happens in your service?
We begin with a welcome and high energy worship, and sing worship songs. We
usually stand during this time, but you can feel free to sit, sing, clap,
raise your hands, keep them in your pockets, or simply sit back and observe. The music is almost entirely
contemporary and played by a worship band with guitars, keyboard, drums and
more. We may also sing a classic hymn
or two.
There may be times of prayer when we go to the front of the church to pray for each other. The second
Sunday of the month we also celebrate communion, the Lord's Supper,
together during the worship time.
Following the worship and prayer, we take a few
minutes to get up and greet each other. Many people will walk around to say
hello and to introduce themselves. Some people just stay where they were
sitting. You can feel free to mingle or to stay seated if you prefer. The
greeting time is usually followed by an offering. Please do not feel any obligation to give. We
simply want you to be our guest.
Next is the sermon which is normally brought by one or both of
our lead pastors, Larry and Deanna Shrodes.
Our pastors are both powerful preachers and teachers of the word and
both minister on Sunday mornings, separately or often in a tag team message. They may use video clips, stories, drama and
humor to apply Bible truth to our lives in a practical and relevant way. The
main points to the sermon are usually worked into a Media presentation. There
is a place on your bulletin so you can take notes if you like.
Following the sermon there may be a short time of
worship and an opportunity for you to respond to the message in
prayer or action. We do not make a spectacle out of anyone. Instead, we have
caring people who want to pray with you and ask God to meet your needs.
Before you leave...
Stop by Guest Services to ask questions and pick up a small gift
that we have for you. Most people are not in a hurry to leave and will take
time to talk to each other and build relationships. More than anything Celebration Church is a
place to belong, believe and become.
How do I
meet people?
As our church grows larger we want to
continue to prioritize personal relationships. The best way for you to
begin building relationships is to join a Fusion Group. These groups meet on Wednesday night during
the Fusion Service. The groups are for
adults and contain no more than 10 people each.
From there you will develop many other friendships and connections
quickly.
Does
Celebration Church offer counseling?
Yes, on a limited basis. We offer
pre-marital, family and crisis counseling. The counseling we offer is
strictly pastoral. We will refer long-term care to licensed counselors.
What denomination is Celebration
Church?
We actually avoid the “D” word because it tends to polarize
people. However, we do have people ask this question, so here’s how we answer
it. Celebration Church is a Christian church dedicated to the Bible,
to loving God through Jesus Christ, and to loving our neighbors as our own
self. Although our congregation comes from diverse faith backgrounds and is not
defined by any particular denomination, we are a self-governing church within
the Assemblies of God organization.
Copyright (c) 2009-2010 Celebration Church Tampa. All Rights Reserved.