Welcome! We are delighted you’ve stopped by! Visiting a new church can be overwhelming, but knowing what to expect can help make things easier. We hope this page has everything you need to know to plan your first visit and to get a sense of who we are as a community of faith. We look forward to welcoming you, whether for worship, a concert, an educational event, or a mid-week visit.
We’re So Glad You’re Here
What is a typical worship service like?
New faces are always welcome in worship, and we’d love to meet you!
As you enter the worship space, an usher will offer you a worship bulletin. This bulletin lists the Order of Worship and includes the liturgy for the service.
Our worship service, which averages 40 to 50 minutes long, includes a reading from scripture, a heartfelt and engaging sermon by one of our pastors; hymns led by choir and organ or a song-leader and piano; and prayers. In the sanctuary, Purple Glory to God hymnals can be found on the shelf beneath the pew in front of you (or, if you are in the front row, at the end of the pew on the seat). You are invited to participate fully by lifting your voice in song during congregational hymns and by joining us for corporate prayers and communal responses (printed in bold in the bulletin).
We celebrate The Lord’s Supper (Communion) on the first Sunday of each month. Sometimes we serve communion by intinction, meaning worshipers are invited to come forward, take a piece of bread, and dip it into the cup of grape juice. Other times servers distribute the elements to the seated congregation. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we practice an “open table,” which means that all who trust in Christ are welcome at the feast, regardless of age or understanding.
See Worship for more information about our worship service and the sacraments we celebrate.
When and where are your worship services?
Attending in Person
All Year Round
Sanctuary Worship | Sundays, 9:30 a.m.* | Sanctuary
Westminster Presbyterian Church is located in the Trolley Square neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware, at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and N. Rodney Street. If you will be participating in person, check out this map to see where we are!
See Worship for a description of the worship service.
*Except Easter Sunday when we have two services at 9 and 11 a.m.
Attending Online
Participate from anywhere – your living room, your car, your friend’s house. No matter where you are, you can be a part of Westminster! Our sanctuary worship service is live every Sunday morning and on demand any time. Go to our Watch page as early as 10 minutes before the start of the live service or check out our archive.
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Please note that the service time is subject to change due to holidays, special events, guest speakers, or congregational meetings. Please check the time on our Events page before arriving.
How early should I arrive?
Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the service to park, make your way into the building, ask questions of any of our greeters or ushers, and find a place to sit.
Where should I park?
The Westminster parking lot is located at the corner of W. 13th Street and N. Rodney Street. You may enter the parking lot from either of these streets (please be aware that 13th Street is a one-way street); however, please exit the parking lot onto N. Rodney Street only. Street parking is permitted where noted; please adhere to all street signage, including street cleaning notices, and avoid tow-away zones.
Where should I enter the building?
You may enter the building through the parking lot entrance off 13th Street (look for the blue awning marked “1502”) or through the Pavilion entrance off Pennsylvania Avenue (hint: the Pavilion is octagon-shaped with a lot of glass windows). Our friendly greeters will welcome you.
If you need an accessible entrance, we suggest the entrance off 13th Street where there is a ramp, a door access switch (push button), and an elevator. You may either pull up to that entrance (please be aware that 13th Street is a one-way street) and drop off before parking in the lot; or you may park in the lot, access the ramp at the corner of the lot at 13th and Rodney Streets and come down the sidewalk.
We encourage everyone in our community to wear name tags and invite you to pick one up as you enter the building. You’ll find name tags at the 1502 13th Street entrance (on the platform next to the stairs), in the Pavilion, and in the seating area near the reception office.
What should I wear?
You’ll find that many at the sanctuary worship service wear traditional “church attire” — dresses or slacks, a button-down shirt, or coat and tie. This also applies to special events in the sanctuary, such as concerts.
At more low-key events such as small group gatherings and mission activities, it’s not unusual to see people in jeans and tee shirts. That said, we hope you’ll come just as you are to worship the God who welcomes us just as we are.
Tip: A self-service coat room is available off the main hallway near the Pavilion entrance. There is also a coat rack in the portal outside the side (transept) door to the sanctuary, which is accessible from the main hallway.
Is there somewhere where I can get coffee or breakfast items?
Yes! September to May, our Holy Toast Café is open from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Enjoy complimentary coffee, hot tea, and continental breakfast items. Donations are welcome.
What about the kids?
If you plan on bringing your children with you, we think that’s awesome! Westminster is a place where kids will be safe, have fun, and grow in faith.
Children of all ages are always welcome to worship with their families. If you attend in person and wish to keep them in service with you, our children’s worship bags will keep your youngest ones engaged. Look for the worship bags at the sanctuary entrances or ask one of our ushers for assistance.
If you attend in person and are ready for your kids to join our children’s programs, our friendly teachers and leaders are ready to welcome them and answer any questions you may have. You’ll want to give yourself a few extra minutes to get your kids settled in, especially if you’re headed into a service. This also gives us the opportunity to meet you personally, orient you and your child(ren) to our spaces, and assist your family in any way possible. See our Children + Youth page for descriptions of all our current programs for children and youth.
Do I need to let you know I’m new?
We would love for you to introduce yourself to our staff or our welcome team, but you do not have an obligation to do so. We are excited to greet you, but we won’t put you on the spot. We will not ask you to stand up. We know that many people want to check out the church and “be anonymous” for a while. We understand. Come in, enjoy, and see if this is the community for you.
If you are joining us online, we would be honored if you’d introduce yourself to us virtually.
Are you taking COVID-19 precautions?
Yes! Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of our members and guests has been our top priority. A dedicated group of church staff and leaders having continuously studied and followed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and mandates from state and local governments to ensure that we are providing the safest environment possible. This has included a mask and social distancing policy and upgrades to our sanitizing procedures, air filtration systems, and audio and video equipment to provide a quality live-streaming option. We encourage you to make the best decision for your family, whether joining us in person or online. Please see our COVID-19 page for the most up-to-date information.
Will I be welcome here?
Of course! Some find Westminster’s stone façade intimidating, but we promise there are friendly faces ready to welcome you inside. We are an inclusive congregation, committed to welcoming people of all ages, races, genders, sexual identities, and walks of life.
See Who We Are for more information.
What if I’m not sure about church or religion?
We say come and enjoy the architecture, the sound of the music, an interesting class, a welcoming community, and the opportunity to serve. We all have to start somewhere.
See What We Believe to get a sense of what many (though not all) in our congregation believe.
How can I get involved?
There are many ways you can get involved at Westminster! Do you have a good singing voice? Do you enjoy working with children? Would you like to connect with other adults? Did you recently lose a loved one and need support? Would you like to give your time to help others in your local community or in other parts of the world? Do you have a passion for Earth Care or working towards justice and peace?
We encourage you to browse the pages on this website and make a note of what interests you. Then Contact Us and we’ll get you connected with the right people.
How can I stay in touch?