Worship
Everything Old is New Again!
(taken from the July 12, 2007 edition of The Courier, the weekly newsletter of Christ Church)
This statement seems to be the trend in worship today.
In recent years, there has been a big push in mainline churches to reinvent worship. Gone are the days of chant, the mass sung in Latin, even the 1940 Methodist Episcopal Service. They may be gone, but they certainly are not forgotten. As a matter of fact, many of these ancient traditions are making a comeback. You want proof; just look at the headlines.
Here is one example. Last Sunday's Charleston Daily Mail contained an article stating that Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging Catholic churches to revise the Latin mass, also known as The Tridentine Mass.
Here is another. In the February 18, 2006 edition of the Dallas Morning News, Sam Hodges wrote an article stating the traditional hymns are making a HUGE comeback in "contemporary" services. Also in Dallas, Highland Park United Methodist Church, as part of their Sunday morning worship schedule, offers a chapel communion service EVERY Sunday based on the 1940 Methodist Order of Worship.
And one more; the ground-breaking, tradition-busting congregation known as the Saddleback Church, led by "The Purpose Driven Life" author, Rick Warren, recently added a "traditional" service to their weekly worship schedule...a first for this congregation!
Keep in mind, the services mentioned above are not replacing any currently offered worship experience. Instead, they are a weekly supplement to what is offered in each of these congregations. Variety and choices in worship style are suddenly the "buzz words" in American worship. Sound familiar?
For years, the program staff of Christ Church United Methodist has been intentional in offering variety and excellence in worship experiences to meet the needs of the varied individuals that call Christ Church United Methodist their home. Whether your preferred style of worship be more alternative and informal (the 9:00 A.W.E. Service), more intimate (the 9:45 Chapel service), or more formal and traditional (the 11:00 Centrum service), we have unique worship experiences that offer something for everyone!
We have been offering a variety of worship experiences for years. However, this seems to be our "best kept secret." The trouble is, it shoudn't be. The tradition and variety Christ Church offers through worship, as a way to discovering Jesus Christ, is EXACTLY what today's society needs...and apparently wants. Need proof? Just look at the headlines. Now is your chance to invite someone to church.
David Donathan, Director of Music Ministries/Organist
Christ Church offers three different styles of worship!
Sunday Worship Schedule
| Church School |
9:45 - Church School for All Ages (There is a special schedule during the summer) |
Our 9:00 A.W.E. Service (Alternative Worship Experience) uses an instrumental ensemble of piano, Keyboard, drums, acoustic guitar and bass guitar to lead the service during which projection ministries are used. The service is informal and held in the Centrum.
Our 9:45 Chapel traditional service is a similar version of the 11:00 traditional service but is offered in a smaller, chapel setting using pipe organ and piano music which accompanies a small choir or soloists.
Our 11:00 service is what many people call "big church" and is broadcast on a local radio station, WVTS, 950 AM. The service is led by a processing choir and clergy, service participants in full vestments, and congregational singing using a pipe organ. This service is offered in the Centrum which seats up to 600 people.
These services use congregational music as found in the United Methodist Hymnal and the United Methodist Hymnal Supplement, "The Faith We Sing."
You may also listen to any of the sermons for the current year by clicking on "Sermons" on the left menu.
Nursery provided for ALL services/Handicapped Accessible
