New beginnings, new services

In the beginning, there was a committee.

Facing dwindling membership and attendance, many churches are looking for ways to attract people to worship. Many are adding contemporary services that incorporate a less formal, less traditional atmosphere.

Two local churches are beginning contemporary services soon: Grace United Methodist Church begins its Journey Worship at 11:15 a.m. March 30, not in the sanctuary but in the fellowship hall. Abbey Road Christian Church recently installed a new pastor, Dr. Jay White, to lead its new contemporary service that will begin in May. These new services will be offered in addition to the traditional worship service.

Their plans all began with a committee to study the need, target the people they want to attract and decide what form the worship service will take. The committee process took time, discussion and a lot of faith. Both Abbey Road and Grace want to reach out to younger people and to those they call "unchurched." It's also possible, said the Rev. Scott Moon, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, that they "might reach some of our own membership who would be interested in worshipping that way."

Contemporary services involve multimedia technology, interaction and discussion. Guitars and bands will replace organs and pianos. Modern praise music will join traditional hymns. Sermons are Bible-based and relevant to today's concerns. Visitors wearing sneakers and jeans will be welcomed amid those dressed in their Sunday best. Sometimes there's coffee.

White, at Abbey Road Christian Church, said the congregation's service will incorporate the traditional with the modern because their research found that members of Generation X are seeking a balance between the two.

"They're looking for something spiritual but not tied to any one denomination," he said.

The service will be quicker, the sermons edgier and shorter with a focus on music and God's word.

Grace's service will be in the fellowship hall to foster informality. The atmosphere will be simplified: songs, but no choir, no formality but all will be within the guidelines set forth by the United Methodist Church.

It's a cautious first step these churches are taking. Among their members there are some who doubt.

"Nobody likes change," said the Rev. Karen Mustoe, pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church. "Even if they think it's a great idea, they'll say, 'have another service, but don't change what I am doing.'"

Centenary has had a contemporary service for the past five years, Mustoe said. Over a few years, the congregation did a demographic study, a survey and hired a consultant to come up with a five-year plan that set several goals, the biggest of which was a contemporary service. It was a leap of faith, Mustoe said, because any church taking on such a project is asking a great deal of its members to do something for people they have not yet met.

"It's a big leap," she said. "It's very scary. We had lots of meetings, lots of conversations."

First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau combined contemporary elements in the traditional service to achieve the same result, said the Rev. Mike Shupert. For the past five years, contemporary praise songs have been incorporated with the hymns. The words are projected onto the walls though a video projector, and Shupert said he often uses video clips during his sermons. Instrumentalists have occasionally joined the organ and piano.

Before the service, young adults gather for a brief Bible study, designed to attract new people. They often stay for the service and come back because they relate to the contemporary elements of it.

With many denominations losing membership and an apparent disinterest among young people in traditional worship forms, contemporary elements and services are becoming more attractive.

Mustoe said it took a lot of planning, a great deal of money and more people and volunteers than anyone initially realized, along with a lot of compromise and a load of faith. But the result has been an increase in membership and attendance at both the contemporary and traditional services. The first contemporary service began with 50 people, and on its five-year anniversary last November showed a threefold increase. Even though it was a risk, Mustoe said, any church that takes on such an endeavor must commit to it 100 percent and must commit to giving the highest quality service possible.

"We asked ourselves what if, what if, what if," she said. "What if we spend all this money and it doesn't go over?"

Her advice for any congregation thinking about it: "Do a lot of groundwork before considering scheduling another service. Go for high quality, and have faith."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 160