Making Room
Making Room Update: December 15, 2024
The Lead Team has concluded our listening sessions and reviewed the feedback we received from the congregation about our proposal to experiment with two services this winter and spring. See the attached letter and video for a more detailed review of what we heard in our sessions and where we are planning to go from here.
Based on our discernment process the Lead Team has decided on the following next steps:
We think that it seems like the right next step to proceed with experimenting with two services this winter and spring. We plan to launch this interim season on Sunday, February 2, and run this through the middle of June. These will be identical services at 9 am and 11 am. We will continue to hold our life together groups and classes for all ages between the services. Our main kids program will happen between the services and we will have breakout sessions for kids in both services during the sermon time.
We are approaching this interim season as a continued time of discernment. We are going to specifically pay attention to whether the recent growth we have experienced will continue, whether this model will be sustainable for staff and volunteers and whether this model will allow us to preserve our core values as a congregation.
During this interim time, the lead team will conduct a more in-depth feasibility study of expanding our sanctuary and report on our findings at the end of the season.
We will also begin a more in-depth exploration into whether there is an emerging vision for church planting.
We plan to hold some town hall meetings in late May and early June to review how the interim season has gone and what we have discovered in our continued discernment.
As we head into this season of change we ask you to join us in the following ways:
Pray for our church as we step out in faith together. We are going to host a day of prayer for our church in the week before we launch our second service.
Engage. During this time of change and transition, we would invite you to lean into community, be present on Sundays as much as possible, and make this a season of active engagement in the life of our church.
Serve: In anticipation of our launch date of two services on Feb 2nd, we are going to be providing a number of small commitment volunteer opportunities that will enable us to host two services. Be watching for opportunities to help with some increased needs we will have with kids ministry and Sunday hospitality (coffee, communion prep, ushers/ greeters, kids check in). Consider attending one service and serving at another.
In Christ,
Doreen Olson, Annie Graham, and Pastor Phil Rushton
On Sunday, November 17, Pastor Phil shared an overview of the Lead Team's discernment process regarding the growth we've been experiencing at BCC. This year we have been regularly running into capacity limits in our sanctuary.
In the coming weeks we are going to be hosting some listening sessions with the congregation to receive feedback on some proposed next steps. The Lead Team is proposing an interim step of experimenting with two services for a few months this winter and spring. We are envisioning two identical services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Our life-together classes for kids, youth, and adults would take place between services. Kids would also be dismissed for a half-hour break-out session during both services. To read more about the Lead Team's discernment process and proposal, check out Phil's letter and sermon posted below.
Next Steps | Timeline
Congregational Input/Listening Sessions
We want to invite you to join us in a time of prayer and reflection in the coming weeks. We have scheduled a number of listening sessions that will be facilitated by our Lead Team. Here are the available times:
Next Sunday, November 24 from 10:45 am to 11:45 am and from 11:50 am to 12:50 am in the Sanctuary.
Tuesday, November 26 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the Foyer.
Sunday, December 1 from 11:50 am -12:50 am in the Sanctuary.
We will also be scheduling listening sessions with specific ministry groups like worship team members, children's leaders, and so on.
Lead Team Decision
After the listening sessions, the Lead team will reflect on the feedback we receive and communicate a final decision about this interim step by mid-December.
Interim Two-Service Season
If we proceed with the interim two-service experiment, it would likely begin in mid to late January and run through the winter and spring. During this time, the Lead Team would continue to discern the effectiveness and impact of this plan. We will concurrently be exploring other options of church planting or sanctuary renovations. We would reconvene at the end of May for further discernment with the congregation about whether to continue.
Please join us in prayer as we continue to seek God’s guidance and learning during this time of growth and change!