Are you a new church?
No and yes. No, we’re not a new church because this church has been in existence since 1785. For the last fifty or so years, the church has met at its current location on North Elm Street. So, the church has a long history.
However, yes, we are a new church because we have made (and will continue to make) some significant changes. In 2016, we decided to change the name of the church to West Bridgewater Community Church. We did this to signal that this is a new era in the life of the church. We’re excited about what God is going to do in and through WBCC. We would love to have you join us.
What does that logo mean?
A lot of thought went into our logo. By understanding what our logo means, you can learn a lot about what we value.
The center of the logo is an open book. As you might guess, that’s the Bible. The Bible is God’s written Word to us. He has revealed himself to us in Scripture. Therefore, if we want to know God, we have to look to the Bible. The Bible is central to all that we do.
The ribbon of blue is a river (though it also looks like a bookmark or a path). We’re located in West Bridgewater, and there is a river that runs through town. Just as importantly, the river is flowing from the cross, across the pages of the Bible. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the “river of the water of life” (Revelation 22:1) or “rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The Holy Spirit is the third Person of God (along with God the Father and God the Son, Jesus). The Holy Spirit gives us new life when we have a relationship with Jesus. Since the water flows from the cross, it shows that life is flowing out of Jesus.
The cross is a reference to Jesus’ death on the cross. When he died on the cross, he paid for the sins of all people who have a relationship with him. That means that their sins were punished when Jesus died. When we say “the cross,” we also usually mean Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Without the resurrection, we wouldn’t know what his death accomplished. Also, his resurrection is proof that one day all Christians will have resurrected bodies, indestructible bodies that will never die again, and they will live in a restored world, one without evil, suffering, and death.
So, we focus on God by focusing on the Bible, who Jesus is and what he has done, and the promise of life and hope that come from Jesus. Some people see that band of blue as a road leading to the cross. From that perspective, we are pointing people to Jesus by helping them understand the Bible.
What do you believe?
Please see our statement of faith. In short, we’re a Bible-believing, evangelical church.
What makes you different than other churches?
In many ways, we’re similar to a number of churches. But we’re not trying to be like other churches. We’re trying to be faithful to God and we’re trying to be true to our two strengths: a commitment to learning the truth and living the truth; and loving, friendly people.
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word to us. Since God is all-knowing and doesn’t lie, we believe the Bible is true. But we don’t just say, “The Bible says . . .” We explain what we believe and why we believe it. In other words, we take a thoughtful approach to the Christian faith. If you spend time listening to the sermons presented here, you will find that approach.
Additionally, the church consists of very sincere, loving people. We don’t simply want to know the truth, we want to live according to the truth. If you join us in worship, you will find friendly people who will welcome you.
When do you meet?
Our meeting times are listed to the right or below, and on our Worship Services page. Our main worship service is at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.
Where are you located?
We are located at 83 North Elm Street in West Bridgewater. The driveway on the south (closer to 106) is the entrance. There is plenty of parking in the back, behind the building. You may enter through the door near the parking lot. Our worship space is upstairs. On the lower level, you will find restrooms, the nursery, the fellowship hall, and a classroom, which is used for our adult Bible study and our Wednesday night prayer meeting.
What do you offer children?
The people of WBCC love children. The church currently offers Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. on Sundays. During our morning worship service, we offer childcare for younger children (ages 5 and younger) and children’s church for kids in elementary school. (The kids are with the adults at the beginning of the service so they can sing with us, and then they move to our children’s area during the offering. Of course, if parents want their children to stay through the whole service, they are welcome to do so.) In order to ensure the safety of all children, we have policies in place to make sure that our children’s workers work in pairs (children are never left alone with one adult). Also, all our children’s workers have undergone criminal background checks.
What style of music do you sing?
We offer a blended service of hymns and contemporary songs. We tend to think that what matters most is the heart of the worshiper and the object of worship. We want to worship God in spirit and in truth, regardless of the musical style. We try to pick music that is of good quality, regardless of when it was written, and we try to sing hymns and songs with words that remind us of God’s greatness and grace.
What should I wear?
At WBCC, you will find people in jeans and people in suits and dresses, and everything in between. Please wear whatever you feel is appropriate, whatever suits you (no pun intended). We care more about what is on the inside of a person than what is on the outside.
Will I be pressured to give money or make a commitment?
We don’t expect visitors to make an offering to the church. We collect an offering each week, but there is no pressure to give. You are free to share your contact information if you want to. We want people to live for God, but we’re not pushy about it. We trust that God will lead people to make appropriate decisions.
Do you have a handicapped-accessible entrance?
Yes. There is a ramp on the northwest corner of the building. If you are driving to the church, you will drive behind the building, through the parking lot, and continue toward the exit. Before you come back to North Elm Street, you will see the ramp. There are some handicapped parking spaces near the bottom of the ramp.