Frequently Asked Questions

Tuckahoe is a friendly congregation that is learning and growing. We care about reaching out to neighbors who struggle and who want help. We ask people to join us in following and serving Jesus Christ. We continue to work on helping each other share our ministry together. We believe many will discover friends who are themselves growing in grace and the love of God.

How are Presbyterians different than Baptists or Methodists?

Baptists often emphasize the importance of making a decision for Jesus Christ and being baptized. Methodists often encourage spiritual disciplines and taking seriously the life of faith. These are all good things. Presbyterians have a different emphasis. We believe human beings cannot do anything to affect their own salvation. God has chosen us. Still we believe accepting Christ is important and we encourage various disciplines to live out our relationship with God. The difference is in what is “required”. To become a church member, we ask people to affirm faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Methodist and Presbyterian worship services are often similar in tone; however, historically we come from different notions about how God works. Presbyterians get their name from the way they govern with elders. The root word for Presbyterian, presbuteros, is the Greek word for elder.

I heard Presbyterians believe in predestination; what is that and how does this doctrine affect me?

Predestination is not believing “whatever will be will be.” It is a doctrine that emphasizes God has chosen us long before we are able to choose God. God chose us “before the foundation of the world.” God also chose us when Jesus died on the cross for our sin. In different ways, the Spirit keeps working faith in us. Predestination does not try to discourage anyone from finding God for themselves. This is everyone’s opportunity. It is however, a doctrine aimed at comforting people and encouraging them not to worry about their salvation. This does not mean we do not care about faith. We share the gospel of Jesus Christ; we call people to repentance; we challenge one another to live faithfully. When we seek to join the church, when we seek to grow in our faith when we seek to be obedient, we do so by grace, not by anything we do. It is God working in us. The sign of this work is our faith in Jesus Christ.

Do I have to dress up to come to worship?

There is no dress code. Many women wear dresses or skirts and some men wear coats and ties.  Frequently, worshippers dress casually. We believe dress is not as important as one’s intentions. On most Sundays in our sanctuary, there is a mixture of traditional and casual attire.

What are your worship services like? How long do they last? Is there an altar call at the end of the service?

Our worship services are designed to help people worship God. We sing hymns; we confess our sin; we are assured of God’s pardon; we hear the scriptures read and interpreted; we pray together; we use statements of faith to say what we believe about God; we respond in different ways. In hour long services, we seek to express our gratitude to God for loving and accepting and guiding us. Presbyterians do not have altars. While there is no “altar call,” ministers and all who care about God’s word share hope that we will all respond faithfully to God’s word in Jesus Christ.

Will you try to get me to “do something” if I come to Tuckahoe?

No, we will not twist anyone’s arm to get him or her to do something. If our church seems to be a gathering of people with whom visitors would like to grow in faith, we will invite them to a variety of Sunday school classes or to some aspect of our life together that seems interesting. We want everyone to grow as followers of Jesus Christ and we believe there are different ways to do that.

What do I have to do to join?

All who want to join our church are invited to attend a meeting of our elders on the second Sunday of the month. We meet in our parlor off the fellowship hall. We ask an interested visitor three questions: Do you renounce the ways of sin that separate you from the love of God? Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Lord and Savior? Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple obeying his Word and showing his love to your life’s end? Answer these questions in the affirmative and you may become a member. Based on your answers, the session votes and decides. On the next Sunday, we introduce you with an introduction and a prayer on your behalf in worship.

What is the weirdest thing Presbyterians believe?

It may be that Presbyterian leaders seek to discern the mind of the Sovereign God through a majority vote.

What is the most exciting thing Presbyterians believe?

It may be that Presbyterians believe the Sovereign God who created the cosmos, has been revealed in Jesus Christ and seeks to work in our lives by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit keeps working in our lives even in this very moment. God is right here right now.