Worship Opportunities
Be sure to review the Worship Discussion Issues commentary which summarizes the July 15th congregational discussion.
Summer Schedule
As a church we have been having a series of discussions about worship, what it means, its purpose, and if there are any issues with the current schedule. We agreed that summer would be a good time to experiment with our Sunday schedule. For summer, beginning Memorial Day weekend, Sunday, May 27, the schedule will be:
| 9:00 am | Sunday School for All Ages | (school year only) |
| Praise Band Rehearsal | Tennant Hall | |
| 9:30 am | Coffee Time | Wesley Lounge |
| 10:00 am | Combined Service | Wesley Chapel |
New Schedule in Fall
Starting the last Sunday in August, we will return to a schedule of two services but at different times:
Praise Service at 9:45 am
This is an informal worship time with a small band doing a mix of music from ancient to modern, including some hymns, and a biblically based message from the pastor.
Contemporary Service at 11:15 am
This is a more traditional, but still relaxed, service with some prayers that we read together, a choir during the school year, hymns, and a biblically based message from the pastor.
The Logic Behind the Changes
How did we get here? The Worship Committee met a couple of months ago and decided this seemed like the best idea, and on April 17th the Administrative Council talked about it and agreed.
Why did they want to make this change? The reason is
- Young families, students, and many elderly people have a hard time getting to church at 9:00, so many of the people who want to attend a more contemporary service go to the other service simply because of the time. We hope that sliding the service back 45 minutes will help.
- With worship times an hour apart as they are now, the people from each worship time felt they were missing the chance to see the other half of the church. Reducing the time between the services fixes that.
- There is a lot of resistance to simply switching the two services, and even if we did so, that would create logistical problems for music practice.
Sunday School
Sunday School classes are available for every age. Adults meet on the ground floor in the Kaleidoscope coffee house. Youth and children are upstairs.
Where?
We worship in Wesley Chapel, which you can reach by going in the south door under the arch in the middle of the church building. Occasionally, for special events or services, we worship in Tennant Hall, which is at the Michigan Avenue end of the education building.
Holy Communion
Holy Communion is served at all services on the first Sunday of each month. The communion table of the United Methodist Church is open to all.
Child Care
Nursery care is provided for children through age 5, throughout the Sunday morning schedule in room 103 on the first floor of the educational building. An usher or greeter will be happy to assist you in finding the room.