Welcome!
We hope that your experience at a Really Living worship service as a first-time visitor will make you feel right at home — whether you’re a long time churchgoer or have never been to church before.
What time should I arrive?
Our main service begins at 11 am. We suggest you come about 10 minutes early to get familiar with the facility and find a place to sit. A member of our welcome team will greet you at the door and provide a program. If you indicate it is your first time attending, they will direct you to the Welcome Centre to receive a gift and answers to any questions you may have.
Before our main service, we also offer Bible study classes for adults, youth, and children, starting at 10 am.
What can I expect?
Our typical service lasts about an hour-and-a-half and involves three main elements: music, prayer, and a sermon.
MUSIC // A live music “praise service” opens our program with lyrics displayed at the front. You should feel very comfortable to either sing along or simply listen, and to stand or stay seated.
PRAYER // During our prayer time, many members of our congregation choose to gather and kneel together at the front of the church in what we call a “Garden of Prayer,” while others prefer to kneel where they are, or simply stay seated.
SERMON // The pastor shares a message to challenge and inspire us with Biblical truths that are relevant to our daily experiences. Expect to laugh, contemplate, enjoy multimedia, feel encouraged, and leave with something to think about.
Is there anything for my children?
Children aged 4-10 are invited to join Really Living Kids during the sermon. This high-energy program involves various stations including crafts, learning, discovery, and play. There is also a nursery playroom available for ages 0-3, where parents may watch a livestream of the sermon while tending to their little ones.
Please note that on the first Saturday of each month*, children stay in the auditorium for the full service in a special family-friendly service that we call “Family Sabbath.”
*Some exceptions apply. See calendar.
What should I wear?
Come as you are! Some people dress up. Others dress casually. We want you to feel comfortable. People will not judge you on the basis of what you wear at Really Living — they’ll just be glad to see you!
How do I get there?
We are located at 2060 Upper James Street on the south end of Hamilton, just south of Twenty Road.
BY CAR // There is plenty of free on-site parking. Please park on south side of building and come in through side entrance.
BY TRANSIT // We are on HSR route #27 — Upper James. Stop #2277 (UPPER JAMES at REALLY LIVING CENTRE) is at the end of our driveway. Please use the HSR trip planner tool to help you plan your route.
Is there anything else I should know?
ACCESSIBILITY // The Really Living Centre is a fully-accessible facility.
POTLUCKS // Approximately once a month we host a potluck lunch following the main service. Because a significant number of our members follow a vegetarian lifestyle, you will not find many dishes containing meat, however, you’ll definitely experience a smorgasbord of amazing flavours and variety! We hope that if you come on a potluck weekend you will stay for the meal — first-time guests are never expected to bring food.
PEANUT ALLERGIES // Due to severe allergies of some of our members we request that you do not bring any food items containing peanuts into the facility.