Plan Your Visit
Coming to a church for the first time can be overwhelming.
If you're thinking about coming to Northridge but you've got a lot of questions, keep reading.
We’re not a “one size fits all” community, but we do welcome everyone just the way they are. We’d love the opportunity to meet you, and we mean that. The one thing we hope to guarantee is that when you come to Northridge, you will not be anonymous here. That means you can expect someone to talk to you; both worship services have a brief time to greet others, and we’d like to say hello. We will let you decide how much you want to engage, but we welcome your curiosity and your questions.
What to Expect
On Sunday mornings during our program year from September to May, we gather for worship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Both services have the same scripture reading, sermon and theological depth, but there’s a lot that’s different.
9 AM Worship
This service takes place in our lower parking lot on the south side of our building; yes, we worship outdoors most of the program year! You should wear whatever clothes feel most comfortable for you to sit outside for about 45-50 minutes. Dress varies from casual to smart casual. On special Sundays like Easter, we do get a little more fancy!Â
After parking, you will walk down a slanted drive to the lower parking lot; it’s our concrete version of a red carpet. Typically, someone will be waiting for you at our Meet & Greet table. They can help you make a name tag, make sure you take a bulletin, and orient you to the space. Our younger children have tables and chairs set up in our “Prayground” and are cared for by professional child caregivers; they are just feet away from the folding chairs set up for worship. Some parents sit, some stand near their children, and some join their children at the prayground. Our older children have two rows of kids’ chairs and can choose to sit with each other. We’ll have plenty of folding chairs out for everyone else, but if you have a favorite chair folded up in the back of your car, you are welcome to bring it with you! The music is led by our worship band and each week we feature secular song as a reflection on the scripture and sermon.
11 AM Worship
This service takes place in our Sanctuary. You should wear whatever clothes feel most comfortable for you to sit in a pew for 55-60 minutes. Most people dress smart casual. Coats and ties are rare except on special Sundays like Easter. Â You don’t need to bring anything but yourself.
When you enter the space behind the sanctuary (Narthex), there will be ushers ready to greet you. Typically, they will show you where to make a name tag, hand you a bulletin for the service, and invite you into the sanctuary. You may sit in any of the pews facing the chancel. The ushers are also equipped to help you find the restrooms, get a cup of coffee, guide you to the Nursery for childcare, give you a hearing device, and orient you to the space. At the front left of the sanctuary, we have tables and chairs set up in our “Prayground” for our younger worshipers. Children in 2nd grade and older have two pews marked Kid Zone and often choose to sit together there with their parents behind them. Worship includes unison prayers, congregational hymns, a choir, instruments, passing the peace, and Time with Tiny Theologians.
A note about summer worship
(Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend): We gather for one worship service at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary during the summer—where it’s air conditioned. While it is more traditional like our 11:00 service, we strive for a truly blended service using styles from both the 9 and 11 AM services. People generally come as they are and dress as they would throughout the program year.
For Families
Prayground
Both of our worship services have a prayground set up for young children (toddlers through 1st grade): Tables, chairs, and blankets with quiet and age-appropriate activities so that children can worship with us but also move, wiggle, draw, build and play.
Kid Zone & Worship Bags
Both services have an area marked for older children (2nd grade and up) as well as worship bags with children’s bulletins, reading materials, drawing supplies, and fidget toys. Children can sit in the area marked for kids or with their parents. Our hope is that they can begin to learn the movements and acts of worship while still being able to be kids.
Nursery
At the 9:00 service, our child caregivers are at the Prayground with the children. At the 11:00 service, there is one leader at the Prayground, but our Nursery is also staffed with two caregivers. The Nursery is open beginning at 10:00 on Sunday mornings and until about 15 minutes after worship in the sanctuary ends. Some of our younger children stay in the sanctuary through the Time with Tiny Theologians before going to the Nursery for the rest of the service. Children of all ages are always welcome in the sanctuary, but the Nursery is always available as well.
Infrequently Asked Questions
Is this church actually affirming or do they just say they are?
We believe all people belong in God’s Beloved Community. We welcome queer people to worship, to serve in leadership positions, and to get married in our sanctuary. We welcome queer families to raise their children here. Our youth group is a safe space for young people with questions about their own sexual orientation or identity. In 2026, we hosted a booth in the family section at Dallas Pridefest for the first time.
We are committed to learning and growing, and we won’t always get it right. We are discerning new ways for Northridge to claim our identity as an open and affirming congregation.
Will someone talk to me if I don't want to be talked to?
The honest answer is yes. Northridge is known for its genuine hospitality and we believe God is best known in community. You can expect someone to greet you as you arrive. You can also expect someone to greet you during our passing of the peace in worship. You can choose how much you want to engage. It’s ok not to share any personal information.Â
If showing up and observing is more your style, you may want to sit in the back. You can choose not to stand up during the passing the peace. It’s ok to leave as soon as worship ends.
Will I be singled out if I visit?
No. We’ll greet you and talk to you, but we will not ask you to stand up or raise your hand in worship. We will not point to you or ask you to share your name in front of the congregation.
What if my life is messy?
Then we hope you’ll bring your mess and sit down right alongside some of our messes. We recognize life is messy. At Northridge, you don’t have to check your mess at the door. It’s ok to join us if you haven’t been to church in a long time, if you’re a bit skeptical of churches, if your kids are loud and messy, if you’re separated or divorced, if you see a therapist, if you have doubts and questions. We’re here for all of it, and our compassionate community would love to get to know the real you.
Will I be expected to recite things I’ve never heard before?
You’ll be invited to join us in reciting the Lord’s Prayer and the Charge at both services. For worship in the sanctuary, you’ll be invited to join in our corporate liturgy, which includes a prayer of confession, communion liturgy, and an affirmation of faith. The words are provided for you, so you don’t need to have anything memorized. And it really is an invitation. You get to decide how you want to participate; it’s ok to listen to the congregation if you’re not ready to join in.
Where to Find Us
We’re tucked into the Lakewood neighborhood, west of White Rock Lake, located at:
6920 Bob-O-Link Drive
Dallas, TX 75214
We have parking on the west and north sides of the church building. There are some spots marked for accessibility and others marked for visitors. There is also some parking available on the streets around the church.
There are many doors to access the building. To get to the sanctuary, the most direct doors to use are on the north side of the building facing Bob-O-Link.
What Happens After
After 9:00 worship
We offer Connection Hour classes for all ages. Our staff and greeters will be ready to help guide you if you’d like to stay. Behind the worship space, there’s a door that leads into our Community Room. Kids through 5th grade go there first for music at 9:45. There’s an elevator and stairs to go upstairs where all of the youth and adult classrooms are, as well as the Nursery and most of our kids’ classrooms. There are signs posted on the walls to help guide you as well.
After 11:00 worship
You are welcome to stay and talk in the narthex or head to your car. We sometimes have gatherings or meals after worship and will let you know during worship what might be happening on the day you visit. If you want to know more, staff and leaders will be ready to answer your questions!
Give Us a Heads Up
If you’d like to connect with us – or ask any questions—before you come, please fill out this form to let us know.