July 2025 Connection
Friends in Christ
Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ who day to day invites us into both relationship and ministry for the sake of God’s kingdom. Recently, we made this announcement in worship and so I wanted to be sure to share it with you here in the newsletter, as well. While it may sound cheesy to say it, I really am overjoyed to get to share with you news that comes from our Worship and Arts Team.
After a great deal of prayer, conversation, exploration, and even a little bit of experimentation, we have decided to make a change from the two-worship services on Sunday mornings to a single worship service at 10am on Sundays, going forward. While we typically make this shift temporarily in the summer months, which we’ve already begun, we plan to maintain this schedule as we move into our new program year, starting in September. While we recognize that changes – even good changes – can come with challenges and feelings, we deeply believe that this change will serve our congregation and our community well, help us to live into our vision and identity, and foster an even greater sense of church family.
As I share with you this good news, I want to be sure to iterate and reiterate again and again, that this change is being made, not because we have to, but because we can! This is not a reaction to any fear of decline, lack of resources, or anything of the sort. Instead, this change is missional and strategic in that it seeks to take the many strengths of our worshiping congregation and allow them to exponentially grow! This IS good news!
To provide a bit more detail, beginning in September, we will have our Sunday worship service at 10am. Following the service, we will have Coffee and Fellowship Hour, as well as Sunday School programs for all ages. Furthermore, the nursery will continue to provide care throughout the morning for children birth through preschool age. From time to time, this schedule will also allow for more community building events such as potlucks, programs, etc.
In terms of the worship experience, week to week, it will be a bit of a blend of what we’ve called our 9am and 11am services. Andrew Cramer who has been our worship musician at the 11am service, will continue to provide music on a weekly basis, sharing a blend of hymns and modern/contemporary Christian praise music. Additionally, throughout the course of each month, we’ll continue to hear from our various music ensembles, including the Chancel Choir, the Celebration Ringers, as well as Gary Brandt and Common Grace. While we won’t try to do everything, all the time, all at once, I suspect that you’ll find the music and the overall worship experience, each week, to be inclusive of many different worship styles – yours included.
Speaking of Common Grace, Gary Brandt and I have explored a shared vision of Common Grace, under Gary’s leadership, taking on more opportunities for music outreach in our community – something they very much enjoy doing and something that has been meaningful for the communities and people with whom they share the Gospel. Now, we get to enjoy the best of two worlds: from time to time, they will be sharing their music in worship, and at other times, they’ll be sharing God’s love with the communities we serve through their wonderful music.
As I share all of this with you, I am also reflecting on the several occasions we’ve had in the last month or so to bring the 9am and 11am services together for special worship services. Even on just those few occasions, I have felt, and I have heard many others express having felt the joy of deeper community, a palpable sense of God’s presence, and an energy that can only be described as Spirit-filled. I am very much looking forward to the fruitfulness of this new season.
And so, whether you were used to coming at 9am or at 11am, I pray that you will look forward to this new season of our worshiping life together. A season of increased joy, of greater hospitality and, for certain, a season of growth.
And still, I’m grateful for the traditions, meaningfulness, and fruitfulness of what has been. As we move forward into a new day, we do so, guided by the call of Jesus Christ, the sustaining power of God’s Holy Spirit, and our renewed commitment to be “friends in Christ, exercising love, hope and grace to enrich all lives.”
Peace,
Pastor Brian
Greetings to each of you in the name of Jesus Christ who day to day invites us into both relationship and ministry for the sake of God’s kingdom. Recently, we made this announcement in worship and so I wanted to be sure to share it with you here in the newsletter, as well. While it may sound cheesy to say it, I really am overjoyed to get to share with you news that comes from our Worship and Arts Team.
After a great deal of prayer, conversation, exploration, and even a little bit of experimentation, we have decided to make a change from the two-worship services on Sunday mornings to a single worship service at 10am on Sundays, going forward. While we typically make this shift temporarily in the summer months, which we’ve already begun, we plan to maintain this schedule as we move into our new program year, starting in September. While we recognize that changes – even good changes – can come with challenges and feelings, we deeply believe that this change will serve our congregation and our community well, help us to live into our vision and identity, and foster an even greater sense of church family.
As I share with you this good news, I want to be sure to iterate and reiterate again and again, that this change is being made, not because we have to, but because we can! This is not a reaction to any fear of decline, lack of resources, or anything of the sort. Instead, this change is missional and strategic in that it seeks to take the many strengths of our worshiping congregation and allow them to exponentially grow! This IS good news!
To provide a bit more detail, beginning in September, we will have our Sunday worship service at 10am. Following the service, we will have Coffee and Fellowship Hour, as well as Sunday School programs for all ages. Furthermore, the nursery will continue to provide care throughout the morning for children birth through preschool age. From time to time, this schedule will also allow for more community building events such as potlucks, programs, etc.
In terms of the worship experience, week to week, it will be a bit of a blend of what we’ve called our 9am and 11am services. Andrew Cramer who has been our worship musician at the 11am service, will continue to provide music on a weekly basis, sharing a blend of hymns and modern/contemporary Christian praise music. Additionally, throughout the course of each month, we’ll continue to hear from our various music ensembles, including the Chancel Choir, the Celebration Ringers, as well as Gary Brandt and Common Grace. While we won’t try to do everything, all the time, all at once, I suspect that you’ll find the music and the overall worship experience, each week, to be inclusive of many different worship styles – yours included.
Speaking of Common Grace, Gary Brandt and I have explored a shared vision of Common Grace, under Gary’s leadership, taking on more opportunities for music outreach in our community – something they very much enjoy doing and something that has been meaningful for the communities and people with whom they share the Gospel. Now, we get to enjoy the best of two worlds: from time to time, they will be sharing their music in worship, and at other times, they’ll be sharing God’s love with the communities we serve through their wonderful music.
As I share all of this with you, I am also reflecting on the several occasions we’ve had in the last month or so to bring the 9am and 11am services together for special worship services. Even on just those few occasions, I have felt, and I have heard many others express having felt the joy of deeper community, a palpable sense of God’s presence, and an energy that can only be described as Spirit-filled. I am very much looking forward to the fruitfulness of this new season.
And so, whether you were used to coming at 9am or at 11am, I pray that you will look forward to this new season of our worshiping life together. A season of increased joy, of greater hospitality and, for certain, a season of growth.
And still, I’m grateful for the traditions, meaningfulness, and fruitfulness of what has been. As we move forward into a new day, we do so, guided by the call of Jesus Christ, the sustaining power of God’s Holy Spirit, and our renewed commitment to be “friends in Christ, exercising love, hope and grace to enrich all lives.”
Peace,
Pastor Brian
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