Friends,
A few months ago as we prepared to move into our new space at the Perch, we asked for experiences (specifically benefits and challenges), ideas, and observations concerning our current 4:30 pm meeting time. We included a survey to help us determine when the best time is for us to hold our weekly worship gatherings. A number of y’all put a good deal of thought and energy into the responses and the leadership team likewise spent considerable time evaluating and discussing what we heard and read.
It’s good to remember that we were limited to meeting in the afternoons while we were gathering at CUMC, it allowed us the opportunity to creatively address several existing areas of concern: better accommodating people who are prohibited from worshiping on Sunday mornings due to job or other obligations, how we could best serve families who need at least one morning “off” from getting kids dressed and out the door for school, sports and other activities, what could work best for those who serve on Sunday mornings and often have to arrive hours early to set up and prepare for the service, and what might enable the best chance for times of fellowship and study around the service.
Connecting all these issues was the overriding question of how to best honor and practice Sabbath? What meeting time best encouraged and facilitated the deep rest and transformative practice we as Christ followers are called to? What best reflects the rhythms and seasonality of our lives and the life of the church?
The feedback we received was incredibly helpful to see our collective experiences and the benefits and challenges that need to be carefully considered moving forward. Though preferences varied, as expected in any group, there were some consistent ideas shared. When considering our experiences meeting in the afternoons, it was noted that this allowed for slower and more relaxed Sundays, increased flexibility and freedom, improved quality of rest and well being, better weekend flow, family time and new and better rhythms. Also noted were challenges like scheduling conflicts with family and friends we have relationships with outside of our church community, emotional and mental isolation on Sunday mornings, struggles with getting kids home for dinner and to bed before the week starts again, and interference with other community commitments and events. Speaking broadly, our meeting in the afternoon aids personal and small group Sabbath practices while hindering larger community-based Sabbath practices.
Like any decision involving more than one person, there’s no single idea that satisfies everyone, answers every question and overcomes every challenge. We’re grateful for the grace and generosity of everyone knowing that inevitably some of us will be put to a greater inconvenience than others, and that some of us will face greater challenges than others whatever decision is made.
Another factor we are facing is that of sharing our building with Sicaru. While we originally wanted time in the building before beginning to share it, time and financial constraints made that impossible. As a result, we began utilizing our space at the same time as a new business began operating and establishing their own schedule and patterns. We’ve also worked closely with them to understand how our collective operations impact one another and ensure our collective success in both the short and long term.
To this end we feel after much discussion and prayer that we should continue meeting in the afternoon for the foreseeable future. We feel this rhythm allows for us to get established in our new home, provide consistency that has been lacking and the best opportunity for us to reach out to and welcome those whose only option is an afternoon meeting time. It gives us time to lean into and learn the rhythms of the neighborhood and gives our business partners that opportunity as well.
Our goal between now and next Fall (2026) is to work to get to a point where we can orient our meeting times seasonally aligning with our liturgical calendar, aligning our afternoon meeting times after Easter, Pentecost and Ordinary seasons (roughly the week after Easter through Fall Daylight Savings time) and our morning meetings times with Advent and Lent (Fall Daylight Savings time through Easter). We feel an alternating rhythm would align us more with the liturgical seasons and best accommodate the variable needs of our community in different seasons. It also reminds us that the discussions around when we meet was never intended to be driven by convenience, but rather a prayerful response to the needs of our community and how best to honor Sabbath practices.
As with any new, outside-of-the box initiative, it will also require us to pay attention, lean into, and imaginatively address the needs and challenges of our community in every season. This change will involve some negotiation with our friends at Sicarú who share our space and are contingent on our ability to make arrangements alongside them that can be mutually beneficial to our shared use of the space. These conversations will happen between now and the early spring as we evaluate a longer term agreement with Sicaru. We will share updates based on these conversations as soon as we’re able.
Thanks so much for all your patience, input and prayers concerning this matter. Of course this is an ongoing process and we’re always open to more discussions and evaluations as we walk through this life together.
Grace and peace y’all,
John Ray and the Leadership Team
