The following article written by Rev. Duane Carlisle is an excerpt from the Fall 2026 Prevue.
Dear First Church Family,
Throughout the summer, we have worshiped together in one unified Sunday service. What began as a seasonal schedule has given us an opportunity to experience something more: the energy, joy, and deeper sense of connection that emerge when the whole congregation gathers in one place.
After reviewing the worship survey, listening to conversations within the congregation, considering our attendance patterns, and consulting with church leadership, we have decided to stay the course and continue with one unified Sunday worship service at 11:00 AM into the future.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the worship survey and share your thoughts with us. Your feedback has helped us better understand what our congregation values and the concerns we need to continue hearing.
Forty-five people responded to the two survey questions concerning the number of services. Thirty respondents preferred one unified service, while fifteen preferred two services. Because participation was entirely voluntary, this cannot be treated as a scientific measure of the congregation as a whole. People with especially strong feelings may have been more inclined to respond, while many who were generally content may not have felt a need to do so. Nevertheless, the responses provide an important picture of what many within our congregation value and what concerns we need to continue hearing.
Those favoring one service repeatedly described a greater sense of unity, community, and vitality:
“It feels like we are all together, celebrating as one.”
“The more people, the more energy and spirit we can draw from one another.”
“We feel more connected to all the members of our congregation.”
Others noted the practical realities of sustaining two services, including the demands placed upon our pastors, musicians, childcare workers, greeters, audiovisual team, and other volunteers. One respondent expressed concern about our “amazing part-time staff” experiencing burnout. Several also observed that attendance at the earlier service had become quite small.
Our actual attendance patterns reinforce the wisdom of continuing together. Summer worship attendance has remained robust. On many Sundays, attendance at the unified service has matched—and sometimes exceeded—the combined attendance we previously counted across two services. Worshiping together has not diminished participation. Instead, it has often made the sanctuary feel fuller, more welcoming, and more alive.
We also heard the voices of those who preferred two services. Some value an earlier worship time, while others are concerned about whether their preferred music and worship practices will be represented. These concerns matter, and we receive them with care.
Our August 29 workshop and August 30 worship leadership with the Rev. Mary Dicken helped us place these questions within a larger understanding of Christian worship. She reminded us that worship practices have always changed. Even hymns—now cherished as traditional—were once considered scandalous by Christians who believed that only biblical psalms should be sung.
That history invites all of us to approach worship with humility, curiosity, and openness. Gathered worship is not designed primarily to preserve every personal preference or entertain us with the particular style we enjoy most. We gather to encounter God, to become a community formed by grace, and to be sent into the world for lives of love, justice, service, and mission.
We have been encouraged to hear that some who initially voiced reservations came away from that weekend with a greater sense of possibility and openness. That movement of heart does not require anyone to abandon what they love. It asks all of us to make room for one another and to discover how God may meet us through something new.
Continuing with one service does not mean that every question has been settled or that every concern has disappeared. Your pastors, staff, and church leadership will continue listening and learning. We will strive to value every voice, including those whose hopes or requests do not ultimately determine the decision we make. Listening faithfully does not always mean choosing what each person asks of us; it means receiving one another honestly, treating disagreement with grace, and allowing every voice to help us lead more thoughtfully.
We will continue working to make our unified worship welcoming, participatory, varied, and deeply rooted in our calling as followers of Jesus. We will honor the rich gifts within our congregation while remaining open to the new thing God may be doing among us.
There is something powerful about seeing the whole First Church family gathered together—different generations, histories, preferences, and experiences becoming one worshiping community. I am hopeful about where this path will lead us. Together, may we worship with generous hearts, grow in love for one another, and leave each Sunday ready to embody God’s grace in the world.
With gratitude and hope,
Rev. Duane Carlisle (he/him)
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