Questions you may have about Riverside Porto
Sometimes people don't know what to expect when they visit a church. Let us try to answer some of the questions you may be asking yourself.

Who are we?

• Riverside Porto International Church consists of a wide range of people of different nationalities, different ages and different backgrounds. Whoever you are you can be assured of a very warm welcome. Many of us are committed followers of Jesus Christ but many more are still trying to figure it all out.

What will happen when I arrive?

• We always have someone at the door to welcome you and to let you know where everything is.
• We start the meeting at 6.30 pm, but  you are welcome to arrive from 6 pm so you  can settle in with a chat and some light refreshment. Refreshment plays a big part in our lives as you will discover.

What happens during the service?

• The service, which is in English, normally starts with a welcome and a prayer.
• We enjoy music and song as a way of expressing our praise to God. We sing modern songs, usually accompanied by live music.
• After the singing and a time of thanksgiving and prayer the children go to  Sunday school. We also have a créche for the little ones. We then share a message from the Bible that is relevant and meaningful to our lives in this modern age.
• We usually finish around 7:45pm after which our fellowship continues with a meal provided by the Church.

Do I have to sing?

• We enjoy singing and expressing our worship. However, we don't expect visitors to join in unless they feel comfortable to do so. During the service some people may sit and contemplate, so it won't be odd if you want to just sit and watch. Then again, if you join in, you may find you enjoy it! The words of our songs are projected onto a screen, so you won't have to go hunting through song books.

How do I dress?

• Just wear whatever you feel comfortable in. We are a pretty casual Church and accept people as they are. There is no need to dress up and try and be someone that you're not.  We don't think that what we wear on the outside is nearly as important as what goes on within us.

Do we do anything "weird"?

• It depends on what you mean by "weird".  We are lively and expressive; we often clap our hands during the singing. We believe that God hears our prayers and talks to those who are willing to listen.
• We take a collection during the meeting but this is entirely voluntary. Please don't feel compelled to give.
• Once a month we take communion (bread and wine). We explain what this is about at the time.

Will anyone try to force us to join?

• We believe in providing a safe and comfortable place for those who want to find out about Jesus Christ. We do not, as a general rule, press people to join or make a profession of any sort until they choose to. However, we believe in an active, living God who deals with people from his deep love. Don't be too surprised if you suddenly find that you want to know more - our God can get our attention in many ways.

If you have any other questions please contact us and ask.