The PUMC Worship Committee sponsored Alternative Worship Style services this past summer to assess the potential for different approaches to our worship format. We adopted the name NOW (New, Out-of-the-Ordinary Worship) Alternative Services for these different services: a contemporary, or informal, style service on June 28th, and a contemplative service on July 26th. Contemporary service styles are often characterized by upbeat music and more interaction between leaders/pastors and the congregation. Contemplative service styles include introspective elements such as guided meditation and repetitive chanting, along with the incorporation of candles, incense, poetic expressions and quiet/darkened settings, an example of which is the Taize service. The intent of the trials of these alternative services was not to replace our current formal worship style at PUMC, but to seek input through surveys from those attending which could be used to enhance and expand our service offerings.
Each survey requested Yes or No (Y/N) responses to six questions about the worship style on that date. Three questions were about the service content and overall impact of the message, music and experience. Another question asked whether or not the respondent had ever attended a similar style service, and an additional question was whether or not they would invite a friend to this kind of service. The last Y/N question asked whether PUMC should offer a service like this. If the answer was Yes, then how often, when, and on what schedule this style service should be offered. Comments were requested and many responders gave extensive remarks.
NOW Survey Results Overview
The list which follows highlights the results of the two NOW service surveys:
- Strong Validity More than 50% of those attending responded on a survey.
- Highly Favorable For both Contemporary and Contemplative styles,
- Yes to No question answer ratios were about 6 to 1 (~ 85% Yes)
- Positive/Neutral to Negative comments were at least 2 to 1 (~ 70%).
- Very Consistent For both Contemporary and Contemplative styles,
- Y/N answer ratios on the same questions were similar,
- Preferred frequency was Monthly/Occasionally,
- Preferred day was Sunday,
- Preferred schedules were Fixed or Rotating with existing formal style.
Click here to read the full report, Δσξα, Χαρά (Worship! Joy!), with detailed data from these surveys (including tables and graphs). A print copy may be requested from the office if you have a greater interest about the information that led to the above conclusions.
These results clearly suggest that alternative service styles would be welcome additions to our traditional worship experience at PUMC, either regularly or occasionally, especially if they can help us attract other people not currently worshipping with us, including those who might be looking for a different or less formal worship format.
The Worship Committee will use the NOW survey results in their work with the Church Health Team on Inspiring Worship Services, our Minimum Factor of this 2nd cycle of Natural Church Development. This effort is crucial for our growth potential at PUMC because inspiring worship is a critical part of our personal and church relationship to God.
We worship to give glory to God, in as many ways as we can. We expect to have great, exceeding joy from the presence of Jesus with and in us. Our presence in, and our preparation for, worship are willful acts which only we can do. Worship is something that we humans do for God, and not what God does for us.
We worship Him through the scriptures and by applying them to our lives. The manner or style in which scripture is used is not important to God, yet our different ways of expressing His truth and our uses for scripture are the many paths of joy to praising and serving Him. God has provided the scripture we use through inspiration of His believers.
All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the person of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 This verse summarizes the entire plan, purpose, and daily intent for our worship content. We strive to honor God by always improving the quality of our worship, so that we open the channels for his revelation to as many of us as we can gather to hear His inspired Word for our lives of service to Him. See you in (all kinds of) worship!
Grace and peace to you, in His love,
from your Worship Committee
