A Message from Nancy

for December, 2007

Piano or Drum Set Church

Except for funerals, I seldom visit other churches. I recently attended a memorial service at a large church in Hayden for a forester friend. Upon entering the sanctuary, I wondered, is this a piano or drum set church? Forget the theology, forget the usual Christian worship symbols-cross, baptismal font, communion chalice. Instead, the Hayden Friends Church is a piano church with no drum set anywhere in sight. Another funeral about a year ago took place in a Sandpoint drum set church-no evidence of a piano or pipe organ.

Isn't this an unusual way to assess a place of worship? Absolutely.

For what it's worth, our church is both a piano church and drum set church. And, we offer two worship styles to fit the preference of our congregation.

Our Session deliberated long and prayerfully to split into two services - one a traditional style, the other a contemporary style. We're not yet a month of Sundays into the two styles of worship.

As Session evaluates each of the two services, we ask your patience to allow each service to evolve and find its identity. Both services will always include the essential elements of worship as outlined in our Book of Order. The major difference is that one service will be in a piano church, the other in a drum set church.

As you settle into a worship style that meets your needs, remember this restaurant analogy. Neither service offer, an ala carte, cafeteria menu. "I'll take the call to worship, hold the confession, make that a half order of sermon and, oh yes, communion to go." Instead you'll find each service dished out as a plate lunch. Just remember, if you clean your plate, including the vegetables, you'll find the dessert delightful.

Corny analogy? Absolutely! But, we look forward to greeting each of you at either our piano church or our drum set church on Sunday mornings.

Don't forget the Thursday evening Advent- services, either. They begin with soup but skip straight to the dessert. Yum.

-Bill Love, Clerk of Session