During the last few months, the Church Health Team has been sharing information with you about our latest Natural Church Development assessment results and our minimum factor, “Inspiring Worship Service.” We have held sharing sessions and are continuing to publish monthly articles in THE CHIMES about the elements of the Inspiring Worship Service. Now it’s time to engage you in a much more active way by listening to you and learning more about your experience with worship at PUMC – when do you encounter God during worship?
During the next two months, the CHT will be leading a number of “listening” opportunities:
Focus Groups: We will be scheduling several focus groups. The purpose of the focus groups is to identify our current strengths in our minimum factor area, our weaknesses and concerns, and our ideas for how we create and prepare for a worship experience that is infused with the presence of God. Some focus groups will be with intact groups like the Church Council, staff and committees. Some will be by invitation in the form of the community gatherings we hold over the summer in members’ homes. Some will be open to all on Sunday mornings before and after each service.
Discussions with Youth: We will meet with our youth groups to get a better understanding of the role they play and want to play in worship and gather their input on their worship experiences.
Connecting with Recent Grads: We will reach out to our recent high school and college grads to find out what their worship ex-periences are beyond PUMC. What ideas do they have about worship that truly inspires youth and helps youth to experience the presence of God in worship.
Connecting with Recent Visitors who have not returned to PUMC. We will contact visitors who have been to PUMC once or twice but not returned to find out about their worship experience with us.
Worship Surveys: We will develop and in-clude a survey in the bulletin for a series of Sundays to get direct feedback from those in attendance about that Sunday’s worship.
Please be on the lookout for more information about these listening sessions as they are scheduled. We will provide information in the bulletin, on the web, in THE CHIMES and in the Sanford Davis Room. Most importantly, please participate. Your thoughtful, prayerful participation is so important.
If you have any questions, would like to help us in the planning, or would be willing to host a focus group at your home, please contact any member of the Church Health Team.
