Why are we making this shift?

We recognize that God has been doing a new thing!  Our church has been seeing significant growth, especially in the Second Service. While this is something to celebrate, it has also created urgent challenges with overcrowding in the sanctuary, parking and other logistics.  Our prayer is that this change will create space for every generation to worship together, for guests to feel immediately welcomed, and for a deeper spirit of unity among our congregation.  We are excited to see how God will use this shift to deepen our love for Him and for one another.

We’re shifting to the same content in both services - what does that actually mean?

Our First and Second Services will be identical every Sunday.  The biggest change is that the same worship songs will be led by the same worship team at both services.  The rest will remain as it has been - the same host will share the same Vision Moment and Benediction at both services, and the same pastor will preach the same message at both services.

Are we getting rid of hymns all together?

Not at all. While we won’t be using hymnals, we will continue to sing hymns regularly—some in their traditional form, others with fresh arrangements —alongside contemporary worship songs. The goal is not to eliminate one worship style in favor of another, but to bring the best parts of both our service styles together.

What will the Worship Team look like?

We are in the process of merging our First and Second Service worship volunteers into a unified team, so regardless of what service you attend, you will be seeing familiar faces on the platform!  Our congregation is multigenerational, and our worship team is, too.  One of our goals is also to include a worship choir on a more regular basis, adding another vibrant expression to our worship.

I’m worried I won’t know any of the songs.

Our worship leaders have always sought music that is theologically grounded, lyrically rich, spiritually formative, and accessible to the whole congregation.  With those standards in mind, we have selected a list of 40 songs we’ll be using for our Sunday services during this transition period, including an assortment of traditional hymns, modern hymns, and contemporary worship songs.  If you’d like to get to know these outside of Sunday services, you can view the list here or listen to a playlist* on:   Spotify |  YouTube  |  Apple
*Please note that the specific arrangements on these playlists are not necessarily the way you’ll hear them in our worship services.

I’m concerned that the music will be too loud.

We want worship to be engaging, but also comfortable for all ages. Our team will continue to monitor sound levels carefully and aim for a balance that supports congregational singing rather than overwhelms it. During this transition period, our sound engineers will purposefully be keeping the overall volume level slightly lower at the 9:00am service while still maintaining energy.

Will there be Children’s Ministry available during the First Service?

Yes! Beginning October 5, extended nursery care will be available during the first service for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Our full Kids’ Ministry programming — including Nursery, Preschool, Route 252, and Pre-Teen classes — will continue to be offered during the second service.  As always, children of all ages are welcome to worship with their families in either service. At the end of 2025, our NextGen team will gather feedback and prayerfully consider what adjustments may best serve families in the coming year.

What are other potential benefits of this shift?

• Simplicity: Guests no longer need to choose which service fits them best — both will offer the same welcoming experience.

• Flexibility: Identical services allow everyone to attend at the time that best fits their schedule.

• Stronger Community: Shared worship creates common ground across generations and strengthens our relationships.

• Spiritual Growth: Singing both hymns and contemporary songs broadens our worship vocabulary and helps us experience God in new ways.

• Consistency: Merging our worship teams allows for better planning and smoother flow each week.

• Serving opportunities:  Identical services mean the potential for more opportunities to lean into our “worship one, serve one” mentality. Pick a service to worship at and serve at the other! 

Do you have any other questions or concerns?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our church pastors, staff, or elders with any other questions or concerns! Any transition brings both excitement and challenge. Some weeks you may hear more of your personal preference, other weeks less. But every week, our prayer is that you will encounter the presence of God, grow deeper in faith, and experience the beauty of worshiping together as one church family.