Combined Service (Unconference Topic-2H)
Posted October 11th, 2007 by darby
in
When first sitting down with our group at Sunday’s Unconference to talk about why we feel strongly about having One Combined Service on Sundays, we did so with heavy hearts.
This topic has been brought up many times over the years and Jeff has openly opposed the idea. It was also made clear that this is still the case.
So, we started with the reasons why we believe (or had been told) The Journey continues to offer two services:
- there is a belief (and possibly data) that two services feels less crowded and provides more “space” for people to bring their friends
- by bringing others to the service The Journey family is more likely to grow in numbers
- two services feels less crowded, so people come knowing they can find a seat
- Journeyland volunteers can still attend one of the services
Then with the intention of exploring “how we can increse the positive spirtual impact of the Journey community”, we talked about the reasons why we believe One Combined Service would be beneficial for The Journey:
-
Relationship building
- members of The Journey would have a better chance of meeting and getting to know each other
- those who usually attend either the early or late service would meet other members who attend the opposite service
- this would allow our members to worship together, as a larger and more powerful congregation of faith
- having this strengthened worship experience could lead to a deeper spiritual connection to God on Sunday mornings
- we find that younger members tend to come to the later service and older members to the early service. One service would allow them to meet, build stronger relationships and learn from each other’s insights and connect.
-
Unified Message / Feedback
- the entire congregation would hear the same sermon as well as the input / feedback / suggetions / stories / testimonials of other members.
- currently when specific feedback or ideas are shared in one service, approximately half of the congregation is not present to hear / understand / apply / respond.
- Jeff would be able to ensure everyone hears the same message and the input from members
- important issues could be discussed in one forum - together. unified.
-
Volunteers / Resources
- One combined service would require less volunteers each Sunday
- this would cut down on the “burn-out” factor for volunteers and help retain positive and motivated volunteers
- with the move to Pioneer some teams have had to increase their numbers including hospitality and setup/teardown, this would lessen the burden
- Our Journeyland volunteers would potentially miss a service or two each month (depending on the numbers of Journeyland volunteers)
Solutions / Suggestions:
-
Start with a commitment to one combined service per month
- focus efforts for these combined experiences to be perhaps on a opening or closing week of a theme
- as a compromise, a 9:30am start time would accommodate both early and late service members.
-
Explore different setups in the PAC
- this would accommodate the total congregation since the PAC seems to offer “more space” in different configurations than Santa Teresa
- members would still feel they had “space” to bring friends
-
Analyze the resources
- Research the actual number of volunteers required each Sunday in both scenarios: two services and one combined service
- Perhaps the reduction of volunteers even once a month would help retain more volunteers on many different teams
-
Look into paying others to teach at Journeyland
- starting with the one combined service per month
- later for more dates if that decision is made
- perhaps other Christ-based groups would provide teachers
Of course questions exist about how the Unconference topics will be followed-up and become part of our Journey DNA…but we are hopeful and look forward to future dialogue toward creating an even more powerfully positive Journey Church in our new community…
…offering the opportunity to worship together on a more regular basis would only serve to strengthen our bond as Christ followers and as people who care for one another’s spiritual growth….
… and we believe that our voices will be heard and that action will be taken to at least confirm that our suggestions were heard and are valued by our EPIC team and by you, our fellow Journey Members…
With love and respect… thank you….
2 comments...
-One service would allow the online discussion or in person discussions to continue more easily outside of Sunday. As mentioned, both groups miss the others comments / discussions in two services, making it hard to understand when something is posted on the web regarding one of those comments.
-I hate missing a Sunday, and my initial reaction to having one service was negative because it would make that happen due to volunteering in the Nursery. But maybe if we were able to video record each Sunday and put it up on the website that week, I wouldn’t feel so bad about missing. This would allow the Journeyland volunteers, as well as others who miss, to still be included and therefore continue discussions throughout the week too.
—brandi
unconference
Perhaps part of the power of the unconference was having everyone all in one place at one time. That is part of what appealed to me about that morning.
great thoughts - single service is a "yes" in my book
Thanks to the group of people who put together this thoughtful list of ways a single service could increase the positive spiritual impact of the Journey.
You’ve all done a great job outlining many reasons to change to a single service, and I wanted to add my “yes” vote here.
Community is such an important part of spiritual growth, and I agree with the benefits about community listed above. I think in the Western culture we tend to underestimate the value of community on spiritual growth and (more importantly) in making disciples.
I sincerely hope that there will be more serious consideration to a single service format.
Tanya Reynolds
http://www.tanyamreynolds.com
http://tanyareynolds.blogspot.com
two services seems ultimately more easy to grow
I’m no sociological expert, but in addition to the list above for reasoning of two experiences, I feel less people at a Worship Experience (WE) makes it more comfortable for new people since it is less intimidating and allows people the opportunity to feel like there is a place for them rather than to feel like it’s all “covered”. Sometimes, it really depends on the person though. Overall, I believe that more people, at least for myself, makes it a lot easier to hide out and not be really involved in what is going on.
A single WE would absolutely curtail natural growth, not only in having people not be able to sit where they like, but it subconsciously gives the people a sense that everything is “ok” and there is no reason to invite new people because all the seats are filled.
Maybe I’m just misunderstanding something, but I do not see how having more people makes it easier to connect. That seems counter-intuitive to me. It might just be that I am an introvert though. :)
new people
I am not saying I am in favor of one service, but I desagree that a “more empty” emvironment is not good for new people. everyone loves to be in a poplular place. and they feel funny in an emptier place. new people usually like to get a little lost in a crowd. crowded concerts never made them less poplular.
Journey Justice
Dr. Kent Leinberger
I’m interested in connecting with Carl who hosted the Journey Justice Session at the Un-Conference. I have some very useful ideas in this area and would appreciate Carl contacting me. I didn’t see him today (14 October 2007) at church.
Two different dynamics!
I really appreciate that we have two services because it allows two different dynamics and brings more depth to the Journey.
Two Questions
I don't buy for one minute that two services somehow builds growth.
Relationships build growth. Period.
Well, at least the only kind of growth that actually means something. If by "growth" we mean let's get as many warm bodies in here as possible, then sure, maybe factors other than relationships drive numerical growth.
So, I have two questions:
I wonder if the real reason that we have two services is because multiple services is accepted in churchianity as an authenticator of a church ministry that has somehow arrived or made it. This goal seems to be desired by church planters and church growth specialists and I wonder if all of us just accept that this is the way it should be rather than critically question it. How much is cultural and how much is legit?
And let's say that I am wrong and someone can give me substantive reasons for why two services drives growth. Let me ask this:
If there are enough people coming to the Journey for two services, why not just split off and start another church? Why do we have to keep adding people to the same church? The more people that come, the more difficult it becomes to be meaningful. Let me give an extreme example: A few weeks ago, while channel surfing, I watched Joel Olstein preach to his 16,000 member service in Houston. His message was some of the most washed-out, pre-chewed pablum I've ever heard a man utter. This is the kind of pulp one has to preach when you're trying to appeal to the least common denominator for 16,000 people.
The question then is this: When does a church lose its focus on meaningful spiritual growth and instead become focused on growth as an end? And at what size does the "editorial policy" of a church shift away from edification and wander toward the kind of entertainment one finds in magazines sold at grocery store checkout-lanes? Somewhere there is a transition point, sports fans. I'm not saying Journey is encroaching on Olstein's banality. I am saying that at some point, a church has to contend with the cost of undefined growth.
But I am asking us to consider the inflection point for a church, where growth becomes an end to itself and where in order to sustain levels of growth, the LCD washes out anything of substance from the life of Christ.
Another way to ask it might be this: Is there a kind of growth that is bad?
---------------------------------------
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, "You're my favorite."
Journey Justice discussion now posted - thanks Kent!
Hi Kent,
Thanks for asking about the Unconference topic.
http://www.talkinchurch.com/node/236
If you click on the link above, it will take you to the discussion on Journey Justice. Please jump in there and share your thoughts.
-Carl
Maybe the reason lawyer jokes don’t work is because lawyers don’t think they’re funny, and nobody else thinks they’re jokes.
Re: 2 comments...
To be honest, since I travel a lot, when I visit a church, I prefer a big service where I can be a bit anonymous. I don’t like walking in and seeing just 50 people there, makes me feel like the church isn’t doing that well, and they are more likely to corner me. People like to feel a part of something big and growing, and for us, 1 service might just do that for a while…