Review from the General Board of Discipleship: Worship in Small Membership Churches

By Robin Knowles Wallace and Terry R. Heck

Lyle Schaller, author and consultant, wrote in the 8/3/07 issue of Newscope that in 2004 there were 169 UMC congregations (0.5% of the total number of UMC congregations) reporting an average attendance of 1,000 or more, and there were 10,976 UMC congregations (32.2% of the total UMC congregations) reporting an average attendance of fewer than 35. This is a book written for those nearly 11,000 small membership congregations as well as for the thousands of larger small membership churches.

The authors believe that small membership churches are the perfect size for a variety of worship experiences, that each congregation has gifts for worship, and that small membership churches can meet and deal with any challenges that come their way. They make these points while providing a wealth of information and suggestions in many different areas relating to worship, preaching, and music. In this small 80-page book they discuss:
Introduction -- Passionate Worship , A Theological Understanding of UM Worship , Gifts of Worship in Small-Membership Congregations
.Planning for Worship:
+The Christian or Liturgical Year
+Hints to Altar Guilds
+Where Do We Begin?
+Hospitality in Worship
+It’s More than a Children’s Sermon
+The Ministry of Greeters
+The Ministry of Ushers
+Information for Liturgists, Worship Leaders, and Readers
+Transitions and Movement
+Instructions for Acolytes
+The Prayers of the People
+The Sacrament of Baptism
+Serving Communion

.Resources for Worship -- Lectionary , The United Methodist Book of Worship , The United Methodist Hymnal
.Meeting the Challenges of Worship in Small-Membership Congregations -- Music Leadership,
Maintaining Inspiration
.Best Practices: Some Ideas that Have Worked Well: The Advent Wreath and the Light of Lent,
Good Friday Tenebrae Service , Creating Worship Memories Including an Idea for World Communion Sunday , All Saints’ Celebration , An Alternate Celebration of Holy Communion , The Day of Pentecost , and Encouraging Singing, Including Choruses for Introits, Prayers, Offering, Baptism, Communion, Closing
.Worship Ideas from Our Wesleyan Heritage -- Coventant Services and Resources, Love Feasts, Journeying in Grace
.Other Resources

Though intended for small membership churches, there is much in this small volume to commend itself to churches of all sizes. This book will help your congregation to achieve the primary goal of worship – to bring the people into the presence of God among the people of God.

Robin Knowles Wallace is Professor of Worship and Music at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Terry R. Heck is an ordained elder in the West Ohio Conference and pastor at Bellbrook UMC in Bellbrook, Ohio and assists in pastoral responsibilities at Oldtown UMC in Oldtown, Ohio.

For more information on this book, or to order, go to:
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=416212&ep_id=1500

Dean McIntyre, music@gbod.org Director of Music Resources
GBOD The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003Nashville, TN 37203-0003
www.GBOD.org/worship
Toll-free: (877) 899-2780 Ext. 7073