A worship service is something precious we hold in our hands, fragile and beautiful. We cling to it tightly, so as not to let anything bad happen to it.

That’s how I felt Sunday morning at Church In The Round, our 8:45 a.m. service meant to inspire the faithful with its informal style and varied music. And yes, you can bring a cup of coffee to your seat. On this special Sunday, several enhancements were unveiled, arising from a survey of 200 church members. A committee pored over everyone’s best ideas and came up with several changes to deepen the warmth and energy of the worship experience: The singers and band were moved on stage and the seats brought closer to the front. Videos and visuals were upgraded – you can’t have a quasi-contemporary church service without song lyrics on a screen! More changes are coming, including improvements to the sound system. On what she called “A wonderful day for Church In The Round,” Rev. Ellen Robison told the congregation that all ideas are welcome. Reach her at Ellen@mpumc.org.

On the surface, big deal, right? Moving the seats. Putting up cooler graphics.
 
But it is a very big deal, because we’re not just talking about any hour of the week. We’re talking about that hour designed to draw us closer to God and one another, to embolden us to go back out into the world with renewed hope. This is our baby. Even the slightest tinker is made with sacred intentions, and, hopefully, sacred results. So we hold Church In The Round and the three Sanctuary services in the palm of our hands, knowing how fragile and beautiful they are, knowing that the fate of our faith rests on keeping them safe and sound.