Wednesday
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At the close of Wednesday's worship Brethren were invited to come to the communion table.

One of the underlying threads running through the 2002 Annual Conference in Louisville, Ky., was a focus on the ways we worship. Insight sessions, in particular, addressed different forms of worship services and the various audiences for which they are intended.

At one session looking at children and worship, several methods of sharing worship time with the youngest members of the Christian family were explored. Some congregations prefer to have children share in adult worship, some have separate services for youngsters, and others have children split time between adult worship and a children's service.

Whatever the schedule used, participants were urged to stop regarding children as the future church and recognize them as part of the present church; to make sure elements of worship and proper worship etiquette are included in children's programs; and to provide times when children can actively participate in worship opportunities.

Author and consultant Sally Morgenthaler was the feature speaker at this year's Congregational Life Ministries dinner, where she focused on creating sacred space in changing times, and also led several insight sessions on worship.

Another session discussing the incorporation of contemporary worship elements into church programs, led by Dick Shreckhise of Lancaster, Pa., covered both blended and purely contemporary styles of services.

"Worship is worship. Period," he said. "If it connects your heart with God, it's worship."

Advanced preparation is the key to success, he said, and new methods of worship should not be instituted before the leaders and the congregation are prepared to implement them.

Monday evening's worship offered a prime example of a successfully blended worship service.

Music included traditional favorites like, "The Matchless Grace of Jesus," along with praise songs such as, "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High," complete with audience-participation motions.

The organist played a traditional prelude, and the choir sang a formally arranged piece during the offering, but a contemporary band led worshippers in a rousing version of, "I'll Fly Away."

Music is not the only element that makes a worship service contemporary. Different methods of worship reach a variety of people, so drama techniques, visual aids, and even appealing to each of the five senses can send powerful messages.

"It should be a little unpredictable," said Shreckhise. "There's no sleeping through the gospel message. God wants it to come alive in you."

Additional insight sessions addressed clowning, outdoor ministries, singing from the hymnal supplement, and other various worship techniques. An impromptu drama group performed at unannounced places throughout the week, and several musicians lent their talents to worship services each day.