Musings July 2012

We are planning to do an interesting experiment this fall with worship and bible study. When we went to one service a few years back some people indicated that it was going to be a problem because they couldn't always make it at that time. Other people have been suggesting that we provide a Sunday morning bible study before the worship service.

Beginning on Sunday, September 16th (the Sunday following Rally Sunday) we will try out a new service which will be a combination of a bible study class and an informal worship service. It will meet from 8:45 to 9:30. The service will have elements of worship in it - like scripture readings, hymns and songs, statement of faith, & prayers of the people - but instead of the sermon we will discuss the scripture texts for the day. We will have some questions to respond to and discussion starters and the whole group will have an opportunity to take part in talking about what the scripture means to them.

For those who wouldn't be able to make the 10 AM service it will provide an informal worship time. For those who would like to have a bible study discussion, it will offer that as well. We are hoping that some people will come to this as a worship service and others will see it as a time to discuss what the bible has to say to our contemporary world. Some will come to worship and need to leave, others will come for the discussion and then stay for the regular 10 0'clock worship time. There won't be a nursery or Sunday school provided because we want to encourage the children to be part of this as an intergenerational experience. We won't collect an offering, but offering plates will be out for those who aren't staying for the 10 AM service. Since it is a combination of bible study and worship we are calling it "Fusion."

Please let us know what you think and any suggestions you have. You can talk to Dave Butler, who chairs the Worship Committee or to me. We are hoping that 20 - 25 people will agree to try fusion for a few weeks and help us see if this is something that will be helpful for the members of the congregation.

RJH