Church thinkings

Some things that began to run through my head as our recent vacation was coming to a close:

When we attended Willowcreek (have I told you how much I love attending their worship gatherings?) I liked how they just started out with music, running different Scriptures across the screens, and they did announcements and stuff while the offering was being taken. Generally I start out with the announcements and whatnot, we pass the peace, then kick in with the music. And during the offering I will either play a contemplative song (cd) or I'll have Jane play something. Or sometimes we'll share praises/blessings during that time. I am torn though, because I like having a time for contemplation, but... I don't know... I would really just like to have all the resources Willowcreek has and their team of people to do the planning and leading. Yeah, that's the ticket.

When we went to Fran's church there were a couple of things I liked:

1. I liked how they did communion. They had two stations and partook by intinction (you dip the bread in the cup), and the bread guy said, "The body of Christ was given for you," and the cup lady said, "The blood of Christ was shed for you." We used to do that at seminary a lot. I like that. But I would have to find people willing to do that. This was all a part of their closing set of worship songs. I also liked that when people came up to take communion, they brought their offering and placed it on the table at that time. It was more an "act" of worship, rather than a "collection."

2. I also liked how they did just a couple of songs up front, then had the sermon, and then did several songs at the end - more contemplative during communion, and then ended more upbeat. I have actually been thinking of doing that this summer when we will have Jr. Worship for the whole hour instead of having them leave halfway through. I have always thought there should be more singing and prayer AFTER the message than before. At least the way I plan things there should be. I almost always start planning the service with the message first, and then try to incorporate all the songs and readings and whatnot around the main Scripture lesson for the day.

3. While sitting in the cafeteria where this church met, it occurred to me that their space isn't really any bigger than our worship space, yet they were able to fit so many more people in. I think it's not only because they had chairs instead of pews, but also how the chairs were spaced, and the kind of chairs they had. Let's face it - pews are stupid. And the way our worship space is set up, we have these long-ass pews up in front, and nobody wants to sit in them. I wouldn't want to sit in them either. What I would like to do is get rid of the long pews up front, get some chairs - and not those chairs that lock together that are basically then pews - but something small, but still comfortable. I think it's important to leave enough room between chairs and in front and back that people will feel comfortable sitting right next to someone. At Fran's church almost every chair was taken, but they were far enough apart that you didn't feel your space was being infringed upon. The problem at our place, though, is that we have wood under the pews, but carpet in the aisle and in front. And the floor isn't the same level where the wood and carpet are. I don't know why that is, but it would almost certainly need to be leveled, and it would be nice if it was all carpeted. I'm thinking this might be a battle though. But maybe it's time for something like this to take place. Either that or get a new building. I believe our space is what limits us (and not just in numbers), and it actually turns people away. We have never had trouble getting people to attend our services, but we can't keep them. And it's not all because of seating, but I think that's a big part of it.

So... just some things on my mind.

[Note: the picture is one I took of a random girl on the beach in Punta Cana as the sun was coming up. Click on the pic to enlarge it.]