Are Sunday worship services working?
That is the question I’d like to explore over a series of newsletter messages.
This is part 2 and I will share the same introduction as before to stay in context.
Obviously, the ordinance of the sacrament is paramount during worship services, but that is only 10-15 minutes of the meeting schedule.
What about the rest of the schedule?
To set context, let’s take a look at the purposes found in the handbook of each meeting we experience at church on Sunday.
I’ll paraphrase for simplicity, and you can read the full purposes at the provided links.
Sacrament Meeting: Take the sacrament, worship, build faith and testimony, conduct ward business. (29.2.1)
Sunday School: Teach doctrine of the kingdom, support all learning and teaching. (13.1)
Relief Society: Save souls, relieve suffering, accomplish the work of salvation and exaltation, serve others, build unity, and learn and live doctrine. (9.1.1)
Elders Quorum: Accomplish the work of salvation, serve others, learn and live doctrine. (8.1.1)
Observations from my own experience and what I have heard from others lead me to believe the drumbeat keeping the pace of our Sunday experience is governed by two things:
Doctrine and programs.
In part 1 a few weeks ago, I focused on the concept of the Sunday experience being governed by doctrine, and today I want to discuss the governing force of programs during our Sunday meetings.
The reality is when leaders are asked to do what our Handbook says to do, it can feel daunting.
How can I support faith and testimony while teaching doctrine while also building unity?
That is a tall order.
I’m thankful the Church gives leaders programs or initiatives to help facilitate the church experience.
These are included:
Ministering
Children and Youth
Come, Follow Me
Family History
These programs have become or are quickly becoming wonderful experiences for members of the Church.
I think the intended purpose of these programs is to give us a jumping-off point for engaging with the gospel of Jesus Christ which should lead to personal renewal and redemption.
However, I worry that we are setting the Sunday worship pace by hyper-focusing on church programs in a way that offers little renewal and places more burden on members.
Much like the sacrament is intended to renew our covenants (and us personally), Sunday worship services in general should have the same renewing result.
In general, I feel like most members of the Church leave with a feeling of “I should be doing more” and less of a feeling of “I’m enough and want to keep trying.”
I’m speaking in generalities, and that is always dangerous.
I am sure there are many organizations in the world who feel like they have found a balance between offering weekly renewal to members while also benefitting from the inspired programs of the Church.
If that is you, please reply to this email and share.
It would benefit leaders to sit together and assess how this balance is going in your particular organization.
If Young Women Camp were canceled this summer, would more people be relieved than disappointed?
If church services were limited to an hour a week during the summer months, would more people be relieved or disappointed?
If local leaders promised not to mention ministering efforts between now and Christmas, would more people be relieved or disappointed?
Please hear me clearly: I am not criticizing any church programs and suggesting the Church adjust them.
I am simply suggesting we take a moment to make sure the programs are serving the people rather than the people serving the programs.
Could we offer more if we took away the drum setting pace from programs on Sunday?
Could we strike a more effective balance of programs in order to increase the renewing power of Sunday worship?
Please reply with your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Kurt Francom
Executive Director
Leading Saints
P.S. This is an older newsletter message. Get the up-to-date message weekly by subscribing for free HERE.
P.P.S. Read part 1 HERE and the next message HERE.
