Welcome!

Going to a church for the first time can be a little intimidating. We hope you will find in Central Presbyterian a warm, friendly and welcoming community of faith, and that the information provided here helps make you more comfortable with us. We invite all who love Christ to become a part of our community of faith.

Our website strives to give you information you may desire before visiting us. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our pastor is Greg McDonell.

Central Presbyterian is a church where each of us can be the person God created us to be, and together we can be God's people. All are welcome at Central.

Coming to Central Presbyterian

We are centrally located, as our name implies. We are located at the intersection of 8th & Brazos, just to the north side of the Omni Hotel, only 4 blocks from the Capitol. See our map for directions.

Parking is a challenge in downtown Austin.

• The Perry Brooks Building is the closest available parking structure. Parking there is free on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings; other times a nominal fee is charged. The entrance is located on the West side of Brazos Street between 7th & 8th Streets.
• For the elderly, the mobility impaired, families with infants and visitors, you can park in the surface lot behind the church. The entrance is located on 9th Street between Brazos and San Jacinto Streets.
• During the week, there is almost always parking for a fee in one of the lots which are 2 blocks east of CPC (towards I-35). You may also use the Omni Hotel's parking garage, just across the street from CPC.

Mobility impaired people may enter through the Brazos Street door, come down the hall and to the elevator. The sanctuary is on level 2. You may also enter from the alleyway that goes between San Jacinto and Brazos, go through Smoot Fellowship Hall, out the door and up the ramp into the front entrance of the Sanctuary. A wheelchair-accessible bathroom is located adjacent to Smoot Fellowship Hall.

Finding your way around in the church is another challenge. Although our church as a congregation is over 160 years old, our education building was built in the 1930's and the sanctuary in the 1950's. There are several different floors and half floors. So, please, ask anyone for help; if that person doesn't know, they will find someone who does.

Sundays at Central

Worship Services are held twice each Sunday; At 8:45 AM there is a service in the Leavy Library which lasts approximately 45 minutes. Our 11:00 AM service in the sanctuary lasts approximately an hour to an hour and a quarter. Each week our choir brings outstanding music to us. Our choir takes a sabbatical during the month of July to sit with their families. During this time, our outstanding soloists provide special music. Cindy Couch is our Director of Music. Our church organist is Nathan Quiring, and our Handbell Director is Susan Richter.

Sunday School Classes are offered September through May, and multi-generational classes offered June-August. Classes are from 9:45-10:45 am, and are a great way to get to know people and to have personal spiritual growth. We have a full range of children's, youth, and adult classes. The adult classes are based on different areas of study; we don't segregate by age, sex or marital status, making for very interesting classes. One of Central's strengths is our diversity, and you'll see this in the Sunday School.

Communion is served the first Sunday of each month at our 11:00 am service, and every week at our 8:45 am service. All Christians are invited to participate; you do not need to be a member of Central or even of a Presbyterian Church to participate in the Lord's Supper.

Each Sunday we have a Children's Sermon, which gives the children a special time of their own to come down front. If you have children, they are invited to participate. Some parents come down with their young children. We also have Children's Worship folders in the narthex and in the hall by the "back" door to the sanctuary for all children. Preschoolers may leave for an extended children's session in the nursery after the Children's Sermon.

We have a wonderful child care staff. Please ask for a tour of the nursery if you have small children.

When you arrive: As you enter the sanctuary area, you will see some people waiting to meet you. These are our Ushers and Greeters. A greeter will give you a visitor's hymnal, which is marked with first and last hymns, as well as a card with standard elements of our worship service such as the "Apostle's Creed," "Gloria Patri," "Lord's Prayer," and the "Doxology." Also in these hymnals is a "Visitor's Information Card". If you would like more information about our church, or have a special prayer request, please fill it out and place in the offering plate as it comes by you. Otherwise, please sign the guest register at the entrance. Please return the visitor's hymnal to either "Visitor's Table" — there is one in the narthex and one in front of the church office.

An usher will give you a bulletin, and assist you with finding a seat if you like. There is no reserved seating, so you may sit wherever you wish. Every once in a while, we may mark off a few pews for some special thing, but other than that, sit where you are most comfortable. We won't ask you to wear a visitor's name tag or stand up, but you will most likely be greeted by a number of people. We are always happy to see new faces!

So that you know what goes on during the service: One of the first things that happens each Sunday is announcements by one of the pastors and the "Passing of the Peace". If you feel comfortable doing so, please feel free to leave your seat and greet people. If not, that's fine, we'll come to you. This is a nice time to meet a few people and know that you are welcome as one of God's children.

The Order of Service is printed in the bulletin. Some items refer to readings in the hymnals available in each pew, such as "Apostles' Creed (Traditional) Hymnal, Pg. 14." These "standards" are also printed on the sheet in your visitor's hymnal. This should help if you don't know these creeds and prayers by memory, or know them in a different way. For example, in the Lord's Prayer, Presbyterians say "debts" and "debtors" rather than "trespasses" and "those who trespass against us".

We have large print hymnals and bulletins available at both entrances to the sanctuary for those who need them. If you desire a headset to help you with hearing the service, please let an usher know and he or she will get one for you. Please return the headsets to the church office or an usher following the service.

Following church each Sunday we have refreshments in Smoot Fellowship Hall. When the weather is really nice, we sometimes move the tables outside to the courtyard. The last Sunday of each month is "Invite a Friend to Church" and "Pot Luck Dinner". Members bring plenty of food, and all our visitors are invited to join us.

Following the service each Sunday, an Elder or Pastor is down in front by the chancel to receive new members or to answer any questions you may have.

Wednesday evenings, from early September to late May, we have dinner from 5:45 PM to 6:30 PM, followed by an informational program from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. This year, the series is "all about us", and we're learning more about the Presbyterian Church, Austin and our faith. The 2nd Wednesday of each month is All Team Meeting Night, and no other program is given that night. If you would like to attend a Wednesday night program, please call the church (472-2445) or send us email before Monday noon of the week you wish to attend, to make a dinner reservation.

We invite you to look over the rest of our website for more information about Central, but the best way to get to know us is to visit us in person. We look forward to seeing you in church!