Here at Shepherd’s Grove, we are big fans of Sunday. It is the beginning of our week, and the perfect time to realign and motivate ourselves for the days to come.
Recently, we have had the joyous problem of an overflowing Traditional service at 9:25 am, and have launched an 8:00 am service to accommodate the blessing of growing attendance. This is a fantastic opportunity for both church members and newcomers alike, as our new timeslot has a few unique advantages. So, as our invitation to join us for the earlier time of worship, here are a few great reasons to consider the move!
- Beat the Crowd
First and foremost, this service is to alleviate the overcrowding caused by having only one Traditional service. If you’ve been with us on any recent Sunday, you know how difficult it can be to secure a seat in the pews. Again, this is an absolutely wonderful difficulty to have, as it means our message of love and dignity is touching people in our community, and compelling them to join us. We rejoice in God’s power to impact lives through our work!
Join us for the same, quality worship you’ve come to love!
By coming to our 8:00 am service, you will have the advantage of a more unhurried selection of seats. We want our congregation to feel comfortable in our church, as we attempt to be hospitable in God’s home.
- Enjoy your Sunday
As Bobby has often said, having a day to relax and enjoy is essential for spiritual health. SO often, our hurried lives can lead to stress and anxiety about what is happening and what is to come. Your Sunday should be a chance to decompress, and to experience life as God has called us to.
Consider our 8:00 am a chance to get a head start on your Sunday. Come, be filled with and inspired by the sermon, music, and church life, and go out with more time left in your day for that which brings you happiness!
Of course, church is not just something to be “gotten over with” every week, but rather to be the staring point to a Christ-centered life. The Christian week may begin with church, but it does not end with the doxology. Go out, and be rejuvenated with more Sunday to enjoy.
- Welcome Newcomers
One of the greatest joys in our faith is welcoming new attendees to our church, and helping them to become a part of our family. Our church is wonderful at
All your favorites, including the world-renowned Hour of Power Choir, will be there!
bringing in new people, as evidenced by our growing numbers!
Many things go in to whether a church feels welcoming to a new person or family, and we want to make every effort to put our new friends at ease. Numerous church analysts report that a key negative in a welcoming church environment is if a church service feels either too empty, or too full.
When a service reaches over 80% capacity, it can be unwelcoming to first-timers, making it feel like there isn’t a place left for them. When sparsely attended, a service can feel undesirable. Our goal as a church family should be to make these new friends feel as welcomed and loved as possible, no matter when they choose to attend.
So, we are asking those able to make the switch to our 8:00 am service to do so, as we continue to celebrate our growth, and not give reason for it to stop. This is our church home, and like any good hosts, we want to accommodate our guests to the best of our ability. By coming earlier, you are helping to show your love to our new attendees at that hour with a richer environment, and opening up space for others at 9:25 am.
- Support the Team
In order to bring the same level of quality performance and fellowship to our 8:00 am service, all of us – from the choir and orchestra, to the staff and volunteers – have committed to getting up even earlier (many arriving at 6 am or before!) to serve our congregation with the best of our ability. We are dedicated to
Our staff and volunteers will be there, and we’d love to have you as well!
making the very best church opportunities for our congregants and community, and have worked diligently to make this 8:00 am service a reality.
At our earlier time, you’ll get the same caliber of excellence in worship you’ve come to expect from us, with all the heart and support we can give. We love our church, and we are willing to do what we can to help that love grow. We invite you to join us in this effort.
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We are so blessed to have a ministry that reaches so many, from our growing number of folks in person here at Shepherd’s Grove, to our burgeoning audiences around the world through the Hour of Power with Bobby Schuller program. Our foundation of support lies in you, our wonderful congregation. You carry the message of love and dignity out with you from our services every Sunday, and we are grateful for the light you share with us all.