New Sunday Schedule to Begin Sept. 5, 2010
July 26, 2010
On Sunday, September 5, 2010, First Congregational Church of Berkeley will transform its way of worshiping, celebrating, learning, serving and being together as a community on Sunday mornings.
The new schedule calls for two services—a 45-minute service at 9 am in the Large Assembly and a service in the Sanctuary at 11 am that will be over by noon. Between the two services a Learning Hour will provide a variety of opportunities for both adults and children at 10:00 am.
The worship planning staff is developing plans for the two services that will be quite different in style and character but may also include similar elements. The same team of two assigned to design worship for a particular Sunday will be planning both services. The ministers are committed to taking part in both services.
The early 9 am service will be 45-minutes long, and is expected to be lively as well as centering. New music will be explored along with a variety of ways to experience the Word and connect with each other. Children will be fully included and communion will be served each week.
The later 11 am service will feature many of the elements that FCCB members know and love: inspired music of all sorts, powerful preaching, stories from the Bible coming to life, opportunities for silence and stillness—all in a sanctuary that invites in the spacious light and love of God. The commitment of the worship planning team is to shape this service to fit in one hour each week so that we will be out on time!
Having the Learning Hour between the two services provides wonderful opportunities for all of us to be involved either as leaders or participants without missing worship. The time will also provide an easy overlap between those who come for the early service and those who come later.
Food will be another exciting addition to Sunday morning! FCCB member Aimee Giles is working with Shelly Dieterle to create a café in the Small Assembly at church that will provide simple and tasty food that will get you and your family energized for the morning. Don’t have time to pull together breakfast before you get to church? Stop by the café and grab something substantial. Need a snack for the kids mid-morning to avoid those unexpected meltdowns? You’ll find what you need at the café. Prices will be low and the food yummy. We will also continue to provide the free refreshments that we have always had.