"3D" Worship Service!

Nope - doesn't require special glasses! The 3 "d"'s represent three aspects of worship, Traditional Worship & Music, Scripture and Sermon, and Contemporary Praise & Communion.

At our annual planning meeting in July 2011, Church Council discussed that some of our young families were choosing to worship at other churches because they preferred a Contemporary service. While discussion immediately went to adding a new service, I hesitated since our small church would have difficulty supporting such a service musically or with numbers (Our average attendance was 37). In addition, I serve another small church and my morning schedule would make a 3rd service, at a separate hour, impossible for me.

After brainstorming and letting the Spirit lead, we drafted a plan with a 3-fold worship service that would run 80-90 minutes, with three segments. Traditional hymns, liturgy and prayers, Children's Time, and special Traditional music in Segment 1. Scripture reading, hymns of preparation and response and the Sermon in Segment 2. Contemporary music, extended intercessory/silent prayer time and communion in Segment 3. After assembling a small praise team and extensive planning and preparation the "3D" worship service was rolled out in January. Unique to the concept is that persons are allowed (even invited) to arrive late or leave early, on the 1/2 hours where we provide instrumental "Transition Music", so they can have either a purely contemporary or traditional worship experience of approximately 60 minutes. Most folks though are staying for all 3 segments, loving weekly communion and the new format, but many do arrive later for a Contemporary Service experience. Our average attendance since January 1 is now 48 and approaching an average of 50. Young families in particular seem to love the flexibility and the fact we listened to their concerns and wishes.

On the first Sunday of the month, we go back to our old format with a "normal" 60 minute Church-wide communion service. We are revisiting this, since it seems to cause some confusion and numerous folks still arrive 30 minutes "late"! We intended for this service to be the one per month without Children's Church so the kids would be with us in the service and for communion, as well as for a respite for the Praise Team. We anticipate returning to a normal 60 minute service for the summer months to give the Contemporary Praise Group a break, although they will probably provide music once or twice a month in the summer as well.

One adjustment made after about 2 months was placing the offertory in Segment 2 (the one segment where all worshipers are present). Many younger folks arriving for segments 2&3 (the "Contemporary Service Option") missed the offertory when it was in the first segment, and couldn't seem to find an alternate way to get their offerings into the church!  :)

Just a thought as an alternate idea for smaller churches struggling with the worship format wars and limited attendance and resources. God bless!