Worship Hosts Meet to Review Role in Worship

Beginning in 2015, we moved from having clergy lead the majority of our worship services to congregation members in leadership. We call these volunteers Liturgists (read prayers and scripture) and Worship Hosts. Each Sunday, volunteers open worship, share announcements and offer prayer. Our opening prayers and offering prayers are written by church staff members (clergy and Susan Snow, Music Director), and our Congregational Prayers are written by the Worship Hosts.

At a recent gathering of Worship Hosts, we discussed worship leadership responsibilities and ways that we can improve the worship experience. It is the goal of our Worship Team to create worship that is relevant, transformative and transcendent.

Bruce Stark serves as a
Brighton First Worship Host.

The group determined that Liturgists, who read scripture each week, could be invited to write opening prayers and offering prayers that reflected their study of the scripture. I agreed to set a date for a prayer writing workshop for all who are interested. (The term liturgist is an ancient word that refers to the person in a worship service who leads the congregation in the regular prayers of worship and reads scripture.)

The Worship Hosts also talked about the movement of worship, the most effective way to share announcements, the introduction of worship leaders at the beginning of the worship service and prayer content. After discussing the format of the new band-led worship service that will begin in the fall, the group decided that Worship Hosts will not volunteer to lead in all three worship services on one Sunday. They will either host 8:00 and 9:30 worship or host 11:00 worship.

The group was excited to welcome our newest Worship Host, a high school freshman. We plan to grow the ranks of our Liturgists and Worship Hosts in the coming months and to offer training. Recently, six members of the newly formed 11:00 band led congregation expressed interest in serving as worship hosts.

Brighton First has had rich, effective ministry through the years
because the congregation values service. It is a blessing to have talented, committed people of faith offering service to God through worship leadership.

Worship Hosts Meet to Review Role in Worship

Beginning in 2015, we moved from having clergy lead the majority of our worship services to congregation members in leadership. We call these volunteers Liturgists (read prayers and scripture) and Worship Hosts. Each Sunday, volunteers open worship, share announcements and offer prayer. Our opening prayers and offering prayers are written by church staff members (clergy and Susan Snow, Music Director), and our Congregational Prayers are written by the Worship Hosts.

At a recent gathering of Worship Hosts, we discussed worship leadership responsibilities and ways that we can improve the worship experience. It is the goal of our Worship Team to create worship that is relevant, transformative and transcendent.

Bruce Stark serves as a
Brighton First Worship Host.

The group determined that Liturgists, who read scripture each week, could be invited to write opening prayers and offering prayers that reflected their study of the scripture. I agreed to set a date for a prayer writing workshop for all who are interested. (The term liturgist is an ancient word that refers to the person in a worship service who leads the congregation in the regular prayers of worship and reads scripture.)

The Worship Hosts also talked about the movement of worship, the most effective way to share announcements, the introduction of worship leaders at the beginning of the worship service and prayer content. After discussing the format of the new band-led worship service that will begin in the fall, the group decided that Worship Hosts will not volunteer to lead in all three worship services on one Sunday. They will either host 8:00 and 9:30 worship or host 11:00 worship.

The group was excited to welcome our newest Worship Host, a high school freshman. We plan to grow the ranks of our Liturgists and Worship Hosts in the coming months and to offer training. Recently, six members of the newly formed 11:00 band led congregation expressed interest in serving as worship hosts.

Brighton First has had rich, effective ministry through the years
because the congregation values service. It is a blessing to have talented, committed people of faith offering service to God through worship leadership.

Hospitality Team Refining Welcoming Efforts

Olivia Karaska leads
the Hospitality Team

The Brighton First Hospitality Team, led by Olivia Karaska, met on Sunday, April 3 to review current hospitality efforts and to set goals for the future. 

The Hospitality Team's discussion included enhancing Brighton First's welcome for parents and children on Sunday mornings, publishing the "faces" of staff members and inviting all worshipers to complete the sign in sheets and prayer cards. The team is also working to extend our greeter teams to all doors and to put a "front line" of greeters in the parking lot.

The Team has conducted training for ushers and greeters, and will continue to raise awareness, improving our Sunday morning hospitality as we strive to be a "welcoming" congregation.

The Hospitality Team is adding and updating
signage in an effort to enhance our welcome.

One of the most notable accomplishments of the Hospitality Team has been an enhanced fellowship time after every service. Donna Dibert has led the effort to provide plenty of coffee and healthy snacks. The Hospitality Team has also asked that worship leaders offer a consistent invitation for worshipers to stay for the fellowship time. The number of people who stay after each worship service to talk with each other has increased significantly in the last three months.

If intentional hospitality intrigues you or you are feeling called to this important ministry, please contact Olivia Karaska, Bruce Stark (ushers), Maggie Shrier (greeters) or Donna Dibert (food!).

Hospitality Team Refining Welcoming Efforts

Olivia Karaska leads
the Hospitality Team

The Brighton First Hospitality Team, led by Olivia Karaska, met on Sunday, April 3 to review current hospitality efforts and to set goals for the future. 

The Hospitality Team's discussion included enhancing Brighton First's welcome for parents and children on Sunday mornings, publishing the "faces" of staff members and inviting all worshipers to complete the sign in sheets and prayer cards. The team is also working to extend our greeter teams to all doors and to put a "front line" of greeters in the parking lot.

The Team has conducted training for ushers and greeters, and will continue to raise awareness, improving our Sunday morning hospitality as we strive to be a "welcoming" congregation.

The Hospitality Team is adding and updating
signage in an effort to enhance our welcome.

One of the most notable accomplishments of the Hospitality Team has been an enhanced fellowship time after every service. Donna Dibert has led the effort to provide plenty of coffee and healthy snacks. The Hospitality Team has also asked that worship leaders offer a consistent invitation for worshipers to stay for the fellowship time. The number of people who stay after each worship service to talk with each other has increased significantly in the last three months.

If intentional hospitality intrigues you or you are feeling called to this important ministry, please contact Olivia Karaska, Bruce Stark (ushers), Maggie Shrier (greeters) or Donna Dibert (food!).