Welcome to Crescent Hill
A Church for All People
What are you looking for?
That’s the question Jesus asks
the disciples in John 1:38. Maybe you’ve asked that question about God before. Maybe you thought you had found a church where you were welcome, but somewhere along the way you found that wasn’t true.
Crescent Hill Baptist Church isn’t a program, or a building, or a social club. We’re a family of faith, knit together by God in Christ’s love. We’re looking to follow Jesus in the way of compassion, justice, and wholeness. We’re looking for the kin-dom of God to be imagined in the here and now. We’re looking for encouragement for the hard days life gives us.
Maybe you are looking for that too?
At Crescent Hill, we believe church can be a place where we can bring our whole selves, where we can ask hard questions, and where we join God in redeeming our community through love. We wholly affirm that all of us are beloved of God. No exceptions.
So, what are you looking for?
If you’re looking for a place of belonging, a place to experience who God made you to be, then you’re not alone. If something is nudging you our way, then we invite you to “Come and see” at Crescent Hill Baptist Church. Our doors are always open. We are less whole without you. Welcome home.
The Worship Experience
What should I expect on my first visit?
When you visit Crescent Hill, you’ll be warmly welcomed
We have one service at 10:45am on Sunday mornings
Don’t worry about being put “on the spot” as a guest
Frequently Asked Questions
Good question! We know this can be a little confusing. Our building occupies an entire city block in Louisville’s eclectic Crescent Hill neighborhood. Many enter through our front steps on Frankfort Avenue. An additional entrance is located on Birchwood Avenue. Accessible entrances with an elevator are available in our Fellowship Hall parking lot.
No matter which door you enter and no matter where life finds you, there’s plenty of room for you at Crescent Hill.
*Note, due to safety concerns, some of our doors are locked about 15 minutes after worship begins.
Yes. Our sanctuary has survived The Great Depression, Wars, and generations of kiddos running amuck. A little coffee/tea/water is fine. Covers are always a good idea!
Some folks wear blue jeans and shorts, others wear coats and ties, and others wear tank tops.
Sunday School starts at 9:30AM. Worship is at 10:45am.
For deeper connections, many folks gather in small groups during our Sunday School hour. If you visit our Birchwood Ave. Entrance, you can grab a cup of coffee and talk to someone in our community about what groups are meeting, and where to find them.
There are several parking spots available at the front of our church on Frankfort Avenue. Parking is also available on Birchwood Avenue. There are also dedicated parking lots at the Crescent Hill Public Library, right next to the church, as well as our Fellowship Hall lot, located in the alley between our church and St. Mark’s Episcopal.
What is the worship style at Crescent Hill?
Crescent Hill’s worship includes hymns, our choir, and a pipe organ. Our ministers often wear formal attire or robes. While some might call this “traditional”, it is not very “formal”, and we often mix in acoustic guitars and gospel favorites, in addition to “classical” hymns. We also navigate towards music that reflects the inclusive Spirit of God. This means we often avoid typical pronouns that others may use in reference to God.
Can I receive Communion if I’m new?
Yes. We believe the bread and the cup are gifts of God, shared through grace to everyone, everywhere. No exceptions. So no matter what you believe, who you love, or where you’ve been, you are welcome to share the gifts of God served around the table at Crescent Hill. We usually observe Communion on the first Sunday of each month.
We believe that in baptism we’re claimed as beloved of God. Some churches make it seem like baptism is washing away something that is keeping us from God. But, nothing can keep us from the love of God. Baptism names and blesses our unending belovedness in the eyes of God. In the waters of baptism, we’re proclaiming that we are committed to following Jesus in doing good.
This means that in our tradition, we do not baptize infants. We baptize those who ask to be baptized to follow in the way of Jesus. When a new baby is born in our community, we celebrate with a service of dedication, introducing the child to our church, and asking for God’s blessing upon their lives.
Instead of a Pastor picking out random biblical texts for our worship services, we typically use texts from the Revised Common Lectionary. These texts have been assembled with the Christian Calendar in mind and are used by Baptists, United Methodists, Presbyterians, and other Protestant Christians. The Christian Calendar highlights global church seasons, such as Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Advent.
To explore the lectionary, visit: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu
Children are welcome to remain with you during the worship service. Worship isn’t just for those who can sit quietly for an hour. It is for everyone, even those who are little and loud. Your kids are never too noisy for church.
However, many families prefer for their children to move freely and learn through age appropriate lessons and developmentally targeted activities in our children’s Sunday School. Bible stories, activities, songs, and snacks are offered for all children birth through 5th grade.
Our infant/toddler (birth to 3 years old) class and our preschool (4 years to Kindergarten) class meet downstairs in the nursery and room 104 beginning at 10:40 am. To help guide you to these classrooms, please see an usher or one of the ministers.
Our elementary children (1st – 5th grade) meet on the sanctuary level. The elementary children begin the worship service with their families. They are invited to the front for the children’s moment, a special time for them to hear the message of the scripture text at an age appropriate level, and then their Sunday School teachers lead them to their classroom for the remainder of the service. We also offer childcare at 9:30AM during the adult Sunday School time as well as activities on Wednesday evenings.
For any questions regarding activities and opportunities for children at Crescent Hill please email: churchoffice@chbcky.org
I don’t know what I believe, will I be welcome here?
Yes! At Crescent Hill we describe ourselves as a, “church for all people.” This includes the entire human family, whether you are a life-long person of faith, or are exploring faith and spirituality for the very first time, we want you to experience the love of community and the radical embrace of the Holy at Crescent Hill.
How can I join the church?
There are two ways to join Crescent Hill. Many join our community by coming forward during our Hymn of Response in worship. This is a great way to connect with new people in our community. But, it’s not for everyone. You can also join by expressing a profession of faith and of baptism by any Christian tradition or by coming forward to follow Jesus in the waters of baptism for the first time.
Who can be baptized in the church?
If you profess faith in Jesus Christ, you can be baptized at Crescent Hill. We believe that baptism is an affirmation of our identity as beloved of God. We are called to follow Christ in baptism, and raise with Jesus to walk in the newness of life.
As Baptists, we believe that each believer making this decision is an important part of our spiritual formation. So, infants are not baptized in our tradition. We recognize newborns in worship and dedicate their lives to God.
What should I do if I have more questions?
Please feel free to call the church office for any remaining questions you may have. You may also contact a member of our staff or send a message to our church office email (churchoffice@chbcky.org) and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
