We encourage everyone who wishes to become a member at Ithaca Presbyterian to start out simply by attending, serving, and giving.

Attending

Firstly, if you’d like to become a member, start by attending regularly. We’d love for you to aim to come to Sunday services 75% of the time at least. This isn’t a rule we police (and there will be times and seasons in your life when you might be away for an extended period for whatever reason); this is simply a guideline for your own spiritual health, much like the guideline to drink 8 cups of water a day or eat a healthy breakfast. Christ dwells in the midst of his people, and if you aren’t regularly in physical contact with a community of fellow believers, worshipping God and sitting under God’s Word together with them, your faith will wilt and your soul will be parched, and you will feel distant from Christ.

The same goes for meeting up with fellow believers around the Word during the week in a smaller group (even just one on one). This regular habit helps you to spiritually grow as it provides a context for you to open up more personally with your brothers and sisters in Christ, share your joys and struggles, wrestle with how to apply and obey God’s Word in your particular life, and also love and care for Christ’s people.

Woody Allen is rumoured to have said: “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” The same is true for our spiritual growth and health, which is why we encourage people to start there before considering formal membership at Ithaca. So attend Sunday services and a small group regularly for 6 months before taking the next step to formal membership.