Sullivan UMC—J. Michael Smith

EASTER SUNDAY:  9 a.m. worship in the sanctuary

ALSO:  Maundy Thursday worship in sanctuary (Thursday) at 7 p.m.

ALSO:  Easter Egg Hunt for children, Friday, 4:30 p.m.

News Item:  Worship Time Change After Easter

Starting Sunday, April 12, our new worship times will be as follows:

• 9:00 a.m. in the Friendship Hall (with Praise Team)
• 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary (with organ and piano)

The Story Behind the Change:  A handful of individuals approached me a couple months ago about making changes in our worship schedule.  A couple people suggested going to one service—so we could all get to know each other better.  A couple people suggested “going back” to the older starting times of 9:00 and 10:30.  

As I reflected on these conversations, I also began to process my own deep concerns about the 11 a.m. worship—its declining attendance (averaging in the low 20s) and loss of a choir.  Any change needs to help bring new vitality to that service.

The following factors went into my decision to call for the time change:

• A congregation with this many people (250 or so in our orbit) should have more than one worship service on Sunday morning—more than one time and more than one style.
• There are many ways for us to get to know each other and build unity in the church than a singular worship service.  When we see each other either before or after worship—we tend to only talk to the people we already know anyway.  On the other hand—there are some very good ways we can build friendships and fellowship in programs other than worship.
• National surveys indicate that the 11 a.m. worship service hour has been in decline almost everywhere–for several decades.  People’s schedules are shifting—to earlier times.  Sleeping in on a Sunday is still popular with some, but the vast majority are up and going on Sundays to get a full day packed in.  Worship times are trending earlier.
• Based on experiences in other local churches, and based on the need to have a little space between the two worship services—I concluded that the best times for our worship services would likely be 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• This was a disappointment to me—as it means getting up closer to 5 a.m. for me to get here and be ready to lead a 9 a.m. worship service.  I would be doing this for the “team,” not my own enjoyment.
• Neither the United Methodist Book of Discipline nor the policies of First United Methodist Church Sullivan address who has the authority to set worship times—although the pastor is not prohibited from deciding. OF COURSE—a wise pastor would never unilaterally assume those privileges—unless he is retiring in three months—and everyone knows that the Church Council and the next pastor can always revisit the issue.  In other words, I take full responsibility for this change.