Worship Forum pt2 (9am)

There were approximately 40 people present

- Everyone loves the music and the band. The only suggestion was maybe more diversity and more upbeat music. They also all loved that we try and do a hymn each week. 
- Community sharing time is important to people, it helps build the sense of 'community' that they feel the 9 am service provides.
Though sometimes it's hard to hear people during that time and also joys and concerns.
- It was shared that a lot of people worked hard to save Historic Trinity and that it should be used. Everyone loves the 'energy' they feel in HT, the less formal setting, and the tight-knit community feeling they get from being in the smaller space.
- Love the addition of the violin, suggested trying to get a keyboard player.
- It was brought up that we've already attracted four new young families to the service which was our goal in starting this.
 
Thoughts on a 'blended service'
- Many think it would not draw in new people as the 9am already has. And that we would lose some from both services if we tried.
- Some would not come to a service that consists of both contemporary and traditional in the new building. They feel the sense of intimacy would be lost and do not like the traditional choir or organ music, even if it's mixed in.
- A lot of people don't like the idea of moving to the new building and losing the intimacy of the smaller sanctuary in HT.
- They don't think it would solve the problem, and if the church's attendance is up isn’t that the main thing?
- Some view it as a solution to appease a certain crowd rather than a solution to attract new people and help the church grow.
 
 
Thoughts in general
- We should try and advertise more to spread the word about the contemporary service
- We should view having the three separate and distinct services as a strength rather than a 'dividing' of the church
- Maybe once every quarter have a combined service so people could visit. This was said by a number of people and re-iterated to me afterwards .
- One person shared the reason they love Trinity so much is that it does offer a multitude of ways to get involved in all aspects of the church.
- Many thought that the schedule should be left the way it is.
 
To sum everything up, the general consensus was that everyone truly loves the 9am service where it's at, what time it's at, and the style of it.  That is why many people have started coming back to church regularly instead of just twice or three times a year.  It's brought in new people already and that's because it offers a tight-knit community feeling that would be lost if we joined services or moved the space.  People were not opposed to moving to a bigger space but didn't think we had enough people for that yet.  While they miss some of the people attending the other services, the 9am crowd is very pleased that the church has taken a step and is offering something that fits their worship style and need.  Otherwise, a lot would not be at church every week.  Everyone does love the idea of a once a quarter church service that does combine both services and gives everyone the chance to fellowship together.  That was their solution to the lack of fellowship between the two services.  It is felt by almost all that if we try and combine the 9 and 10:30 into some hybrid you will lose many from the 9am service..  It was also agreed upon that the church does offer many, many different varieties of ways to get involved in the community and that those should be taken advantage of by the ones who are feeling a sense of loss.  Everyone feels that while there may be this sense of "disconnect" felt by some, that the two services are not working against each other but rather side by side in an effort to help the church grow and to meet the needs of a lot of its members that otherwise would not be at church.  And also, it was said by many that you really can't please everybody.  And if attendance is indeed up and growing then we should stick with what we're doing since it's obviously working.