Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the church?
Membership is about 600 (residing in 30 different Atlanta zip codes!) with worship attendance averaging 350. Our buildings have approximately 90,000 square feet.
 
How old is the church?
The church was established in 1954.
 
Where is the church located?
The Church is in Sandy Springs, on the north side of Atlanta.  It is located about 1/2 mile North of I285 and one mile West of Perimeter Mall.  Its address is 471 Mt. Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs .  The Church is nestled between Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive, just east of the Sandy Springs Library.

What time is Sunday worship?

At 9:00 am First Cup Informal Worship and Fellowship is held in the Fellowship Hall. At 11:00 am Traditional Worship is held in the sanctuary. Sunday School for all ages is at 9:45 am.

What is Sunday worship like?
A guest visiting the 11:00 am Sunday Traditional Worship service would find a broad range in ages (with lots of young children), and denominational backgrounds. We are "traditional Presbyterian," with an emphasis on scripture, preaching, sacraments, and music.  We generally follow the liturgical year, and are "formal" but not inflexible or without creativity, as exemplified by the occasional chancel drama or the addition of musical instruments (orchestral ensembles and solo instruments). A guest visiting the 9:00 am First Cup Informal Worship and Fellowship service would find an informal service that follows the flow of traditional worship practiced since the earliest years of Christendom (Praise, Confession/Pardon, Hearing the Word, Responding to the Word), but with a contemporary feel.  The music is provided by our Praise Band and ranges from popular songs you might hear on a Christian radio station, to ones with a decidedly black gospel beat, to folk, to original compositions by the leader, Sherri Dyson.  

What about children on Sunday morning?

We love children at Mt. Vernon and consider them a vital part of our church community. If you attend First Cup at 9:00 am, your children are very welcome to stay during the entire 45 minute service. There are paper and crayons in the basket on each table. For those who desire it, childcare is offered for children (infants through first graders) beginning at 8:45 am. A greeter will be glad to walk you to that location. A childcare worker will be available to escort any children (infant through first grade) who wish to leave the service following the "passing of the peace," which comes early in the service.

If you attend traditional worship at 11:00 am, your children are also most welcome during the hour-long service. In the narthex (lobby area) you'll find crates containing children's activity notebooks (white notebooks are for ages 3-7, gray notebooks are for ages 7-12) and a shelf with books and crayons. About ten minutes, or so, into the service, there is a "Time with the Children" segment when children are invited to come forward and sit on the floor for a short lesson and prayer related to the worship service. Children who have brought an offering may place it in the offering plate at this time. Following the "Time with the Children," if you wish, you may escort your children (infant through first grade) downstairs to spend the rest of the hour in supervised free play and Christian education. If you prefer, you may take your children (infant through first grade) to childcare before the service starts.

Childcare is located in the lower level of the North Wing of the Sanctuary building. The Nursery is room 120. Twos are in room 119. Threes and Fours are in room 118. Kindergarteners and first graders are in room 117. Parents or guardians are responsible for picking up their children.

At 9:45 am we offer Sunday School for children as well as adults. Please click here for more information on children's Sunday School.

What are the church's strengths?
The Church has many strengths that include worship, music, education for all ages, and a vital outreach ministry. Our congregation is known for its caring and humanitarianism.

What is a Presbyterian?

To find out more about the Presbyterian Church in the United States, please visit the PC(USA) web site.

How do I become a member?

We are always happy to have people who wish to join us in our commitment to be disciples of Jesus Christ and members of the community of faith we call Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church.  We offer Inquirers' classes periodically for those interested in finding out more about our church, our beliefs, and our ministries.  However, attending this class is not a prerequisite for joining.  To join any Presbyterian church, the process is to meet with the session (governing body).  If you have never been baptized nor made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we make arrangements for that to happen during public worship.  If you are an active member of another Christian church, we arrange for your "letter" (membership) to be transferred.  If your former church does not transfer letters (and some do not) or if your membership has lapsed, you will be asked to reaffirm your faith.  If you are new to the Christian faith we will be happy to tailor a program to meet your specific needs.  In any event, please contact one of the pastors.  We would love to welcome you into our membership.

What do the banners beside the entrances mean?The banners which fly beside our entrances on Mount Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road are colorful proclamations of the gospel to our community. As do the paraments in the sanctuary, they follow the church year and proclaim our Christian faith with symbols and color. For more information see Christian Symbolism at Mount Vernon.

What is Mount Vernon Presbyterian School?
Mount Vernon Presbyterian School is a ministry of the church.  It is an accredited day school for preschool through high school.  The first high school class will graduate in 2008.    Construction of the Glenn Campus at the corner of Mt. Vernon Highway and Glenridge Dr. is underway. Phase one was completed in the fall of 2006.  To find out more about the school see Mount Vernon Presbyterian School or visit the MVPS website.