Sunday Morning Schedule Shifts beginning Sunday, Sept. 10
As we launch into our new program year, the Sunday morning schedule and some of our practices will return to our school-year practices.
Worship
We will continue offering two worship services on Sunday mornings. They will begin at 8:30am and 10:45am respectively. Expect worship length to run closer to about an hour in length. We will continue to incorporate elements for families into worship each Sunday. Your offerings will be received in the plates at the doors or online. Each worship service will include a celebration of the Lord’s Supper (communion).
Volunteer Opportunities
It takes a healthy crew of volunteers to keep our Sunday mornings flowing smoothly. Consider how you might be willing to become a part of it all. Contact the office if you would be willing to serve in one or more of the following ways:
- Join one of our choirs or play in a band- rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 6.
- Sunday Volunteer Coordinator – recruits, schedules and monitors all of the variety of volunteers (listed below).
- Readers – sharing the daily scripture passage and/or other public speaking leadership.
- Usher/Greeters – welcome visitors and regular attendees at the door and orient newcomers to the building.
- Communion Servers – sharing the elements as participants come forward.
- Communion Setup & Cleanup – generally one volunteer sets out the needed elements and then refreshes after the early service; a second volunteer cleans up after the later service.
- Audio & Video Support – push the buttons and make all the magic happen from our A/V station.
- Coffee & Hospitality Support – make sure we’re well supplied with coffee, lemonade and treats through out the morning. Here again, one volunteer sets up and refreshes while another cleans up following the later service.
“Faith Rocks” During 10:45am Worship
In our on-going commitment to make our worship experiences meaningful for participants of all ages, we’re continuing to include a variety of worship elements specifically intended to target our youngest members and their families. Beginning Sept. 17, during the 10:45am service, children will be invited to leave the sanctuary just prior to the sermon with members of our Children’s ministry team. They will gather in the narthex for a guided exploration of that day’s featured Bible story. These activities will conclude just prior to the time in the worship service when we receive our offerings and prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s supper when children will rejoin their parent(s) in the sanctuary. This in-service children’s ministry is designed for children up to 4th grade.
Sunday Forum returns Oct. 1
Sunday Forum will take place in the Reception Room and will be available remotely via Zoom. Sunday Forums will start at 9:40am beginning in October offered every Sunday except on the Sundays when their are Intergenerational Events planned. The schedule of upcoming Sunday Forums is available here.
Sundays, September 17 & 24 – join us between worship services for some “Community Conversations” hosted by our Campus Planning Task Force. The CPTF has been busy all summer exploring a variety of possible initiatives that will have an impact to our building and property. At an upcoming congregational meeting on Oct. 1, the congregation will be asked to make permanent our commitment to hosting a Sacred Settlement of Tiny Homes on our campus, expanding our ministry of serving the chronically homeless. We’ll also learn about two more initiatives in support creating affordable housing to serve our community and using the resources we have to further these goals.
Intergenerational Events
Occasionally, we will gather as a community of all ages to explore and practice our shared lives of faith. These intergenerational events will take a variety of forms but they are wonderful opportunities to see God at work right in our midst, shaping us to be the church God is actively imagining. Our first Intergenerational Event happens on Sunday, Sept. 10 as we mark “God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday” by offering participants multiple ways to become God’s active presence in the world. Several “activity stations” will be set up in our gym (and outside) for you to engage. You may choose to participate briefly at each station or just settle in to one for the time you are present.
If you have ideas for future intergenerational events and/or you’re interested in helping to plan them, please contact the office.
Fellowship & Hospitality
As volunteer support is available (see above), we hope to continue providing a self-service coffee, lemonade & water station for those present on Sunday mornings. Along with donut holes from The Donut Hole, we also plan to offer a variety of pre-packaged healthy snacks.