Survey results lead to improved worship planning resources

The Commission on Worship is undertaking a major review and update of resources for congregations, particularly for pastors and lay people who prepare and lead worship.

According to Libby Krahling, the Commission on Worship Coordinator, the large number of people who responded to the commission’s recent survey (over 220) indicates the amount of use and level of interest in the Worship Planning Page across the church.

In response to feedback from the survey, the existing worship resources will be improved and made easier to access. Some of the recent additions to the website have been: printable, formatted Bible readings, ‘Resources Ready to Go’ (fully stocked service orders and PowerPoint slides), copyright-compliant images to accompany sermons and readings, and refreshed music suggestions featuring weekly ‘Top 5’ song suggestions and ‘Top 4’ public domain hymns.

Pastor Tim Ebbs has joined the Commission on Worship as Sermon Coordinator. He is recruiting a team of pastors to prepare sermons and another team to review them.

‘This will ensure that the sermons provided on the Worship Planning Page are excellent, as well as being suitable for a range of contexts’, says Libby. ‘Our aim is to continually refresh the sermons offered, so that the word of God is heard loudly and clearly around the church.’

Currently under construction is a new Worship Planning Page, which will reflect even more of the suggestions made in the survey. It will also be much easier to find and download resources, Libby says.

Over the next three years, the new website will be further expanded to provide a one-stop shop for worship resources in the church. Plans are underway to include videos, new music resources and many other aides to service preparation.

Church members can check out the new features on the Worship Planning Page here.