Michael Jinkins, dean of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, says that the pastor of a large evangelical church told him he had decided to do away with a corporate confession in worship services. It’s too much of a downer, the pastor explained.
Jinkins asked him, “Isn’t it more of a downer for your people to leave worship without confessing their sins and hearing the assurance of God’s forgiveness?”
Christian Century, October 21, 2008 quoting Cultural Encounters, Winter.
One of our members suggests that we start holding a Saturday evening service at 4:30 p.m. That person’s point is that not every one can come on Sunday morning and that this would be a opportunity for additional outreach.
This suggestion is being discussed by both our Worship & Music and Strategic Planning Ministries.
Asking around, some pastors have told us that their Saturday afternoon services do indeed reach some people that they wouldn’t have otherwise. One pastor spoke in terms of 40% new people at that one service. They also tell us that it is very draining on a single pastor and that it works best in multiple staff situations or in situations in which lay people also take turns in leading the service.
What do think? What do you think would be the potential for a Saturday afternoon service at Emmanuel? What do you think would be the best format and leadership arrangement? Would such a service be of an interest to you?
What would be some of the “costs” involved”? What would be some of the “benefits”?
Ask around to churches similar to ours who have Saturday night services. See what their experience is.
Help us sort this suggestion out.
Pastor Paul Jaster
Two members from our Strategic Planning Ministry met with our Youth last week to get their ideas about our common future.
Three key desires came up:
1) Space: A place in our church building to call their own. I hear they have eyes on the stage.
2) Teen Time in Worship: A place in our worship that is genuine to them. A place for their music (they like the traditional, but they would like to include some contempory, too. And they think that our worship is too exclusively geared to adults and little kids. They would like something like a “children’s sermon” that is a “teen sermon,” that is, a moment in worship that is neither too juvenile or over their heads.
3) Service Projects: They like being helpful and would like to do service projects. As someone said, they don’t have much money to give, but they can give time.
What are some ways we can make these desires happen?
Pastor Paul Jaster