Sept 2007

Here comes fall!

As the days get a bit shorter each day, it’s time for school to start and the leaves to turn. It is also time for Midland UMC to prepare for the Fall Worship Season!

This summer, we tried something different with one worship service on Sunday mornings and then a Wednesday evening worship and meal. Overall, we are very pleased with the success of this worship schedule. On Wednesday evenings, we averaged about 45 people (adults, kids in Wednesday School and nursery kids), which is a very exciting number! In addition, people truly enjoyed the meal before worship, as a time to fellowship and eating together. A special "thank you" to the many groups and families who provided a Wednesday evening meal. We also need to thank Rhonda Loger for coordinating these Wednesday evening meals.

We have also been pleased with attendance on Sunday mornings. Therefore, the worship team and 2007 & Beyond feels this summer worship schedule has been a great success. We will definitely plan to return to this worship schedule next summer.

Beginning Sept. 9, we will return to two Sunday morning worship services at 8:30 and 10 AM and discontinue the Wednesday evening worship service until next summer. Adult Sunday School will also resume on Sept. 9, meeting at 8:30 AM. Children’s Sunday school begins Sept. 9 during the 10 AM worship hour. Fellowship will continue to be offered between worship services and after 10 AM worship.

Because people prefer different worship styles, this fall, there will also be a differentiation in the worship styles between the 8:30 and 10 AM worship services. The idea is to provide opportunities for people to worship in the way that they prefer:

8:30 AM worship – traditional worship, including more traditional music and traditional worship

elements

10 AM worship – more uplifting worship, including more praise music, more music in general and

some of the worship elements from the Wednesday evening worship service. This service may

contain more variety of worship elements.

Please be patient as we experiment with the differentiation between the two worship services. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

See you at Sunday worship!

Pastor Dianne