A Different Rhythm for Sunday Morning
How many North Americans think church services run too long?
Only a pollster could tell for sure, but the people who started Community Bible Fellowship in Azusa, California, a few years ago decided to address the objection anyway. They split their morning worship into two halves, with coffee and doughnuts between.
"We begin at 9:30 with a few choruses, a prayer, and then the sermon right away—when people are awake and attentive!" says David DeLoach, associate pastor. "Our children are in Sunday school during that time. At about 10:20 we introduce visitors, make announcements, and then take a half-hour break."
Community Bible Fellowship is a daughter of Sierra Madre Congregational Church and currently involves about 90 people. It meets in a school and has access to kitchen facilities. 'The fellowship time kind of energizes everyone again for the second half, which begins at 10:55, " DeLoach continues. "The children join us then for singing, prayer, sharing, and on some Sundays, Communion. By 11:30, we're finished."
The break, of course, lets some people show up late or leave early, but this has not proven to be a major problem so far. "We've attracted a number of people who were not comfortable in a more structured church. People like the informality of our schedule."
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