How to Start a Contemporary Service in an Episcopal Church
As churches experience a declining membership, many have turned to a contemporary style of worship in an effort to bring new members into the church. While this is greatly successful in some churches, the Episcopalian church has seen more resistance to the change in worship style. This does not mean it can't be done, but there are considerations to take into account, including key worship elements such as the recitation of creeds and the Eucharist, which do not flow as well into a contemporary worship. For this reason, many churches have opted to incorporate some elements of contemporary worship into their traditional services.
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Instructions
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Meet with the worship committee in your church to determine your long-term goals for contemporary worship. It is best to make the changes in your worship style over a period of time so you do not alienate members of your congregation who are resistant to the change.
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Ask the pastor for guidance on how to incorporate contemporary elements into the worship service. While there are elements that easily can be changed, there are many elements that are steeped in tradition and must remain as they are to be true to the Episcopal doctrine.
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List the aspects of your worship service that cannot change. It is essential to find a way to transition from traditional to contemporary throughout your service. Thoughtful song selection and planning will make your service flow well while respecting the Episcopal doctrine.
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Ask your church members for volunteers to help with the contemporary worship. One of the key elements of contemporary worship is the addition of musical instruments other than the piano and organ. To make the transition smooth, consider adding an acoustic guitar with piano accompaniment for the first month and slowly adding more instruments.
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Consider asking your congregation to approve a portion of the budget for multimedia purchases. In time, your worship will see greater success if you can project lyrics to the songs onto a screen at the front of your church. Until you can afford this upgrade, use a small projector attached to a laptop with a portable screen.
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Tips & Warnings
No matter how hard you try to please everyone, you will lose members through your transition to contemporary worship. During these times, remember you are trying to reach as many people as you can and avoid catering to the few.
