As you probably know, the Three-Service Planning Group (which we nicknamed “3PG”) has been meeting on and off since January.

Our first task was to explore the need for a three service schedule at St. Nick’s.  We conducted an online survey, to which we obtained responses from 40+ households. From this we concluded that a three-service schedule, with times and styles targeted to the life situations and worship preferences of different groups, would be be desirable not only to some of our currently active members, but also would re-engage a significant number of current infrequent attenders, inactive members, and draw in a significant number of newcomers from the surrounding community.

Our second task, then, was to design a schedule of services with targeted to meet the needs of these different groups.  After several session of design, discusson, feedback and re-design, here's how the three services are shaping up:

• A 9:00am Holy Eucharist that is informal, interactive, and especially appropriate for young families with small children.


• 10:00am Fellowship, Sunday school, and adult/teen Christian formation programs shared between the 9:00am and 11:00am services.


• An 11:00am Holy Eucharist that is more traditional but with an atmosphere that is still somewhat casual, and appealing to a more adult crowd.


• A 5:00pm Evening Prayer/Reserved Sacrament Communion service that is more contemplative in nature, and appealing to a quieter crowd.


• 6:00pm Fellowship after the 5:00pm service.

Rehearsals: Next 3 Sundays. We will be using the next three Sundays to get our bearings and "hit our marks" before we kick off the new service schedule on Palm Sunday.  We'd like as many people to come as possible, so we can "fine tune" the service and people can get an idea about what it will be like.  Here's what will be happening each of the next 3 Sundays:

• Mar. 7 - 11:00am - Talk Through:  We'll use copies of our draft 11:00am bulletin to talk through how each part of the service will flow and get feedback.  We'll also have copies of the 9:00am and 5:00pm draft bulletins, so you can get a feel for how we are adapting those services, as well.


• Mar. 14 - 11:00am - Walk Through:  This is sort of like a scripted rehearsal, so all the actors can "hit their marks" and "read their lines."  Fine tuning continues. 


• Mar. 21 - 11:00am - Dress Rehearsal:  Our last practice before "Opening Night" (OK, Opening Morning). 

There are a few things about this schedule of services we are piloting that we'd like everyone to understand:

• It is a Pilot Program.  We will be trying this particular schedule and selection of service styles from Palm Sunday through Pentecost.  Then come Memorial Day we will go to our summer service hours: a 10:00am morning service and a 5:00pm evening service while we reflect on what worked well and what needs more attention before we restart a 3-service schedule again in the fall.


• It is a Work In Progress. We’d like everyone to know that we are treating our coming 3-Service Schedule as a work in progress.  For at least the first five Sundays of Easter, we will have debriefing sessions after every 11:00am service to we can identify what’s working well and what needs more attention.


• Issues, Bugs, & Trade-Offs.  We know that there may be some issues, some bugs and some trade-offs as we try out this new schedule.  That's what pilot tests are for: so we can find out what works and what doesn't, and so we can get your feedback.   


• Creative Ideas Welcome.  We already know that we have some issues to problem-solve.  Things like traffic control, space allocation between choir and Christian Education, simplifying how we "staff" the various services so we don't stretch to thing, and so on.  We welcome your creative ideas. 

So come to the 9:00am service this Sunday, stay for Fellowship and Christian Formation, at 10:00am, then join us at 11:00am as we "take our marks" and "break a leg."

In Christ’s love,
Ken+