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Worship was amazing last Sunday, and I'm not just talking about Bishop Terrell's inspiring words or me being installed as your rector. I'm talking about all of us coming together as one worshipping family. I'm talking about choir and praise team alike, all blending together as we are led into the throne room of praise. These "Combined Services" are electric; arguably when we are at our best as a worshipping community. To that end, wouldn't it make sense if we worshipped in this manner more often?

Working closely with Deb and Tom Bellamy, I have proposed to the vestry and staff that what we call the "Combined Service" be used as the new template for the further development of our Blended Service. We would still have organ and hymnody, Word and Sacrament, but we would benefit from the best that our Contemporary Service praise teams have to offer. We would also hold closer to the original vision of what the Blended Service was intended to be - an ancient/future blend of worship in the Anglican tradition. To help facilitate this change, look for these regularly scheduled "Combined Services" on the 4th Sunday of the month through the summer months.

As the Blended Service shifts, drawing on more and more of what the Contemporary Service has traditionally offered musically, there will be a commensurate shift in the Contemporary Service as it becomes something a bit more contemporary. To help hear the vision for this new contemporary service, I've called together a Design Team under the leadership of J. Walker Clarke. Team members include: Jonathan & Erin Angner, Mike & Becky Powers, Matt & Sayward Elliot, Beth & Ralph Sprinkle, Betsy & Bud Harper, Kevin & Jo Rapps, J & Dina Clarke, and myself. If you have any helpful idea or a concern, please feel free to pass it along to a Design Team member.

Our worship services matter a great deal to us. Even subtle changes can be difficult, so let me remind you of why we must allow for changes in our worship from time to time. As Archbishop William Temple once said, "The church is the only society in the world that exists for the benefit of those who are not yet our members". The changes I am proposing have in mind the interests of those who are not currently worshipping with us on Sunday morning. We are making a little bit of room in our Blended Service so we can make some room in our newly designed Contemporary Service.

As far as the 8:00 Sunday morning service, Holy Eucharist - Rite I, I envision no changes. There is so much to be excited about in what the Lord is doing in our worship services at All Saints.

See you Sunday,

Rob