Fall Changes Coming
By: Larry Short
As the
leaves begin to change color, so the fall brings some changes to
service times and offerings at Elim. These changes will begin on
Sunday, September 13.
What's the
purpose of the changes we will make? 1) To accommodate more people
in services, 2) To simplify our teaching structure,
encouraging more people to avail themselves of the opportunity to
connect with others in community groups,
and 3) To increase the effectiveness of our children's ministries.
We will be adding a second Sunday morning worship service in order
to accommodate families. This is nothing new, as we have offered a
second service in the past; what will be new is that the two
services will be offered back-to-back. The first will start at
9:00 a.m. and end at 10:15, and after a half-hour fellowship
break, the second will begin at 10:45 and end at noon. There will
not be a designated "adult education" hour between the two. (For
more on how we are going to continue our excellent focus on adult
education, read on.)
Children's Ministry
Children will continue to be discipled during both services
through a new curriculum called "DiscipleLand." Children 1st
through 5th grade will be encouraged to start worship with their
parents in each service, but then will be dismissed to
DiscipleLand classes part-way into the service. We are grateful to
the following teachers who have stepped up and committed to work
each week with these age groups:
| |
|
9:00 service |
10:45 service |
| |
Pre-K & Kindergarden |
Tammy Roberts |
Sandy Kerfoot |
| |
1st - 5th grades |
Ann Grace |
Teri Parsons |
Nursery will
run concurrent with both services. (Note: We still need more
DiscipleLand and nursery helpers! Can you commit to one Sunday per
month? Please chat with Cheryl.)
Youth Ministry
Junior highers
will participate in a special age-appropriate "community group" on
Sunday evenings. Senior highers will have a large group activity
together at the church on Sunday evenings, then age-appropriate
community groups during the week, in addition to special events
for both groups. Watch the weekly newsletter for more info on
these changes.
Young Adults
In addition to Friday night Bible study, young adults will probably
resume their Sunday morning book study, during the second worship
service, at Starbuck's. Young adults are encouraged to attend the
first worship service together.
Adult Education
The adult education function formerly accomplished during Sunday
School classes will be redeployed during the regular Sunday morning
teaching time; in an expanding list of community groups; and in
occasional special classes to be announced.
In Conclusion
Please keep
these fall changes in prayer. Our goal is to simplify the ministry
structure and make more effective use of teaching leadership,
creating a more viable second service option at the 9:00 (instead of
at 8:15 like we had two years ago which did not work well),
as well as to continue to accommodate and encourage new families.
We are encouraging parents to select the service that best suits
them and attend that service consistently. This will benefit your
children as it will help them to develop vital discipleship
relationships with specific
committed teachers.
We also
encourage everyone to get fully engaged with a community group that
fits their needs and schedule. Elim is investing heavily in
community groups as one of the most effective ways of helping us to
develop transforming discipleship relationships.
