As the Church Health Team continues its work on the new Minimum Factor, Inspiring Worship Service, identified through the Natural Church Development Church Profile process, we want to continue to inform our congregation about the four elements of this factor. Inspiring Worship is a shared personal and community encounter with the presence of the living God in worship, sometimes joyous and exulting, at other times quiet and reverent. We are exploring each of the elements of this quality through articles in THE CHIMES. This month we examine the Visitor Friendly Church, third in a series that has already looked at Personal Transformation in Worship and Care for Children and Youth.
Inspiring Worship Service and the Visitor Friendly Church have connections with our previous Minimum Factor, Needs-oriented Evangelism, because there are both personal (you) and church (us) aspects to being an attractive church home for those who are seeking new meaning in their lives, and for their families. Creating this welcoming environment involves attention to both the relational and physical needs of those seekers. How do you build new relationships, becoming friends more than just being friendly? How does the church provide ease of access to facilities and safety in its care for families? Do we offer visitors growth and opportunity to use their gifts in service, as well as we attend to our members?
We have collected demographic information that can guide us as we focus attention on being a Visitor Friendly Church. We at PUMC have celebrated that we are a diverse congregation. Yet in comparison to the region in which we live, PUMC is not as diverse as the population around us in many ways: culturally, economically, generationally, in family types and in service and music preferences.
The highest concerns of the surrounding communities are: Social Injustice, Aging Parent Care, and Recreation.
How can our church programming address these issues with more relevance to this community without neglecting our charge to be a church which emphasizes spiritual teaching and service? Who are those in this community we should try to reach, and how do we do this with Christian love? What part does each of us have in following the Great Commission to make disciples of all (Matt. 28:19-20)?
You will have the opportunity for input on these questions and other elements that influence our Inspiring Worship through your participation in one of several options for Focus Group discussions in March. A schedule of times and locations will be published soon so you can mark your calendars.
For now, please consider some personal exploration of your own spiritual health. What inspires you about our worship service at PUMC? When do you feel the presence of the Lord touching you? Listen for the inspiration God brings to each service through our pastors, leaders, and your own fully expectant participation in the service. Be open to the leading of the Spirit for your life and our church family at PUMC.
Next month in THE CHIMES we will consider the next element of Inspiring Worship Service: Preparing for Worship.
If you have any comments or questions, please contact any member of the Church Health Team.
