Contemporary Worship
Many folks from
the First Presbyterian Church congregation, as well as guests
and visitors, who are seeking a unique and vibrant experience of
contemporary worship, find a meaningful and enjoyable
opportunity for corporate worship in the Contemporary Worship
Service. The service is held each Sunday morning
in the Kerr Education building’s spacious downstairs meeting
place, Christine Thomas Hall.
It has become commonplace for churches to offer informal worship
experiences that are influenced by contemporary culture. Such
particulars as rock music, joyous clapping, visual media, casual
dress, and greater participation by lay leaders are marks of
such worship services. And in many ways, our contemporary
service mirrors much of this popular approach. We enjoy an
atmosphere with comfortable seats, quality contemporary music,
passionate expression of faith, and a focus on nurturing
spirituality and the life of discipleship in our midst. Much of
the music is lively with an emphasis on praising God.
Still, we are excited that this less formal service attempts to
stay true to a Presbyterian vision with a sense of the awesome
sovereignty of God, the need for confession of sin and the
assurance of pardon, and the communal nature of our corporate
gathering. Although there is a great deal of involvement by
different lay people each week (including teens and children),
the sermon is usually the same as is delivered in the more
formal service upstairs in the sanctuary. Although we
increasingly utilize God’s good gifts of the arts, modern
technology, and drama, we consciously strive to hold on the
truths that changed the world during the Protestant
reformation. Our contemporary service, we pray, will draw
worshippers to God and allow us to respond in adoration,
worship, celebration, and whole-life obedience to Jesus Christ
and His ways.
As one portion of the Body of Christ, contemporary worship
attempts to create a safe space for cultural and ethnic
reconciliation, for inter-generational experiences, and for
aesthetic diversity. In other words, we value diverse cultural
expressions, kids of all ages are welcome (and involved!), and
we try to stay open to different approaches. First
Presbyterian’s contemporary service is not just a lot of singing
and a brief talk. We strive to be Biblically-driven, creative,
liturgically sound, and, still, pretty down-to-earth. Our
casual worship space is often accentuated with seasonal
liturgical colors, banners, or visuals; but the focus is always
on the ordinary family of faith and our response to God’s
grace. We enjoy trying new things, attempt to be warm and
inclusive, and always trust that God’s Spirit will move in big
and small ways to touch people’s lives and equip us to make a
difference for the Kingdom of God.
We invite you to join us if you need a worshipping family, if
you like high quality contemporary music, and if you would
appreciate a blend of ancient and modern styles – all
experienced in an informal, comfortable, and intergenerational
setting.
