WORSHIP STYLE

Continue the variety/blend of contemporary and traditional styles

We like the way worship changes; shakes things up; variety keeps it interesting  

Contemporary service would be better at 11:00 than 5:00

Contemporary service should not compete with traditional service at same time 

Consider having traditional services at 8:45 and 9:45, and contemporary service at 11:00 in the sanctuary.  Contemporary service in the Family Life Center had too many distractions (coke machine, etc.)

Differentiate between services.  8:45 ultra-traditional, 11:00 more contemporary, 9:45 blend

The contemporary service shows more passion. More relaxed in dress & everything. "I feel that having the contemporary service in the sanctuary is a mistake. People will not feel comfortable going there to worship as they are."

We need both a contemporary service and a more traditional service because people are different.

Have a contemporary service mid-week for a recharge; also good way to reach out to people in their 20s and 30s 

Provide a variety of types of worship services to appeal to a wider variety of people.

Hard to meet needs of everyone in the congregation 

Allow for visiting time in church, early in the service, to welcome and greet others, get them engaged

Ask everyone to enter, sit & pray quietly in beginning; sets our mood

Tie scripture, music, and sermon together; pointed to the same message, consistent from start to finish

Involve family activities in worship

We need a cue from pastors when someone has "performed."  We understand applause might not be celebrating God.  How about a group "hallelujah"? 

Do not applaud music - choir; not a recital but the worship of God through their gifts; breaks the spell of worship; breaks into reverence of service

Worship Team strives to create expectation 

Break tradition and worship outside, like our tent meeting

Exit greeting/closers - "We are glad you came. Hope to see you next week." 

PRAYERS

Shorter pastoral prayers sometimes, not long scripted prayers

Time for silent prayer

Continue to immerse in prayer

SACRAMENTS

For communion, serve bread instead of wafers

We enjoy Baptisms and new member welcoming during the sevice.

FROM THE CHILDREN

Likes: Jesus, singing, music, organ, videos, hearing the preacher, Pastor Clayton's silly jokes, praying, children's time, taking siblings to children's time, communion, worships bags, baptisms, giving money, stained glass, looking up at the steeple

Dislikes: too long, just sitting there, big words, talking about adult things, too quiet; suggest shorter, peppy, dancing

Pastor Clayton should sing "God is So Big" in big church like he does at VBS 

When we worship, we get a better life

Can worship anywhere (even India)

Maybe we could add arts and crafts and a Wii game

In worship you should feel something different  

SERMONS

Continue having sermon series, as opposed to isolated topics

We like scripture series. 

Humor and relating Biblical stories to today help make it more meaningful.

Educate people about the Book of Discipline.

Focus a sermon on your basic beliefs, addressing the belief system

Focus sermons on personal needs and interests

Continue relating to current topics, walking around, and down to earth humor

Engage intellect in worship.  Clayton pushes this idea by not just doing safe topics. Clayton connects the main idea of the scripture.

Challenge us to do one thing in the coming week 

Energy and passion in sermon that speaks to different segments of the congregation

Inspirational preachers read more from the Bible and speak more about Jesus 

Sermon by youth minister occasionally

People listen less if you continue to go over the same things.

Post sermon notes on the website so that we may read the sermon when unable to attend

Bring scientists, economic persons, etc. to participate in sermons

More studies coordinated (like FIVE) with individual study, class study, and sermon

PERSONAL ATTITUDES & HABITS

Open our hearts and minds for passionate worship; come to worship prepared to receive a message we can use in our lives 

Prepare during the week for passionate worship with outside studies, daily reading with guides, thought, and discussion so we can receive the greatest benefit and then use the message in our daily lives

Continue emails from church (newsletter and message from Clayton); encourage people to sign up for these; they help build our anticipation

Weekly message online

"One-pager" for home use. like a little 5 minute family devotional.  Could be incorporated into weekly "teaser" email. 

On Facebook, send out a short message from Clayton on Monday giving the next sermon topic or thought for the week so the congregation could be thinking about/anticipating the service

Think less about ourselves and more about our faith; expectantly look for God; God is looking for us

What could the church do to help you worship better??
- Sense of community, accountability with others in the community.
- Big events - try to make everyday a big event.

Pass on enthusiasm for worship: if you miss, you've missed something; show by example so others will want to come; be a greeter to those around you 

Accept people as they are in dress; make them feel welcome

MUSIC

More gospel singing

Blended and contemporary music are good additions to the traditional service; consider adding more.

More music; more variety of music; perhaps a song leader; add different instruments to the music - drums, violins, pianos 

Music - you can't please all of the people all of the time, so keep trying to please all of the people some of the time. We enjoy the variety. 

Shorter hymns, not every verse, pick and choose the best verses

Sing hymns we know well and faster 

Softer organ when choir sings so they can be heard

We like the music, but don't let it get too loud 

Heartfelt, fervent, stirring anthems 

Rely more on our talent for special music instead of paying outsiders; strive for balance when using professionals

Continue to grow the youth choir;  mic the youth choir better

OTHER

Pastors and staff are doing a great job

One page backgrounds compiled by staff for the studies of Paul's letters were great.  They helped us connect the intellectual with the passion.  Realizing that printing costs money, this could be incorporated into an email.

Children's Time is really appreciated.  Allyson does a fantastic job.  Childrens program is vital.

Confirm 6th graders in regular service instead of off by themselves.

Greeters are doing a great job welcoming everyone - members and visitors alike.

Like ministers at the doors after worship 

Would love a visit from Clayton in our Sunday school class, maybe once a year??

Church is always cold - winter and summer

Marquee by highway announcing upcoming events; large advertisements

Passionate worship is not just for Sundays

If you want young people in the church, you're going to have to create interest for them. If not, you won't have youth in the church. Older crowd has more of a voice - youth needs to bring their ideas forward.

If Clayton would do the greeting before the Prelude, perhaps all the talking would cease during the Prelude.

Finance - need to discuss in service
Announcements are necessary
Prayer blankets 

Exit greeting/closers - "We are glad you came. Hope to see you next week."

Sunday school is important

Start 1st worship at 8:30am on Sundays to allow more time to get to Sunday school and avoid the crowd

More Bible study in Sunday school

Visitors for home-bound and nursing homes

Be more active with Zimbabwe worship and add them to committees etc.

Don't like colored lighting, but lower lighting is reverent