New Sunday

We have been attending FCC for over 12 years. It is the church that both Emily and Hannah were born, dedicated and raised in. Through the 12 years, it has gone through many many changes. (For those of you who used to attend FCC awhile ago, you might appreciate seeing these new changes.)

First significant change is our Atrium. A year ago it was just a large corridor where people come and go as they walk to and from the Pavilion (aka our sanctuary/school gym/meeting hall). Now it is has become a meeting place, an area to gather, chat, drink coffee/tea and/or just hang out.

 We have a place for little ones to read and hang out comfortably.

 We have a spot honoring our founding pastor, his wife and their family. (And if you were wondering, yes they are still at FCC.)

We have a place to display our talented congregation members works of art...

We have a place outside of the Pavilion for you to sit and enjoy the service via TV monitor. The Digital Arts Studio is a place where our KHA students work on their video assignments.

 Not only did we change the physical appearance of the Atrium, but we also combined all of our services (we used to have three: two different services on Sunday mornings and one Saturday evening) to now just one service at 10am. We combined the styles of structured-contemporary and relaxed-contemporary to hopefully one that met everyone's needs. 

The stage was changed to accommodate more people and the feel of being closer to the attendees. We added a vocal team along with two worship leaders (instead of just one). The choir still sings twice a month on stage. The youth (high school +) have a small portion of the stage every Sunday.

Matthew played on this Sunday in the band.

We have three main preachers (our lead pastor, our women's minister and a licensed minister) along with  our other pastors (we have five more) who take to the pulpit.

We have an extended time of Ministry of Prayer where anyone can come up and receive prayer or an anointing with oil for healing at the end of the sermon. The pastors, elders and leaders of the church are available all around the sanctuary to be prayed with. I personally feel that this is our strength. Every Sunday many come up for prayer. It is because of this great need that the service changed to a 'soft' ending where you can leave whenever you feel like after the sermon. You can stay for prayer or participate in the extended worship time or exit your corporate time of worship time with God that morning. Before we had a 'hard' ending or 'official closing' benediction and exiting song.

Overall, I'm liking the new service and all the newness it brings. I don't like change but the one thing that hasn't changed at all is our love for Christ, focus on God's Word and that from His Word we are challenged to be better Christians in a world that so needs His salvation and love.