I'm thinking of buying this book as a gift.

[nature boy]

[Duncan]

Yea, but as part of the worship team, we shouldn't have to accommodate to the late comers. If we start on time with our normal order of worship, and people don't want to miss the song portion, then they'll have to make a choice to come on time. Like i said before, we should start when we start to respect those who came on time. If we begin to cater to those who are always late (like what we're doing now), then it'll just give people who are always late more excuses to be late.

And besides, we're not there to perform, we're there to worship God. I know that's not what you meant, but singing to 3 people in the pews or 300 shouldn't matter because that isn't the point of singing. I know it sucks that we put in so much effort to serve those in the pews and if there are so few in the pews it feels like we're not being appreciated, but ultimately, i don't think it matters since we're there to praise God.

I just think it's appalling that we think it's unacceptable to be late to things like work/school but it's ok to stroll into service whenever we see fit. It's backwards if you ask me. Where are your priorities? God should be 1st and everything else is secondary. If you can make the effort to get to work/school on time, then you can do it for Sunday worship at 11 freaking 45. Just because you don't get into "trouble" for coming late to service doesn't mean it's ok...

sorry... /rant

[geForce]

I think it's okay to rant about it. It's a valid sore point that has gone on for way too long. I'm just surprised/disappointed that we haven't done something about it a long arse time ago. I mentioned it enough times in the past... And others have mentioned it too, I'm sure.

[geForce]

I think maybe one of the reasons is because we had a way bigger congregation before, so there were enough on time people to make the pews look full enough. It's a bigger problem now that our average attendance is 30 people, half of which are helping in some way or another.

[nature boy]

[geForce]

[se7entse7en]

Or we could have a draw at the beginning of the service. Give out $10 gift cards to Pilgrims. The only catch is you have to be there to claim your prize. /sarcasm

[Duncan]

[nature boy]

[geForce]

[nature boy]

[se7entse7en]

[nature boy]

[geForce]

[nature boy]

i think it is because from how you described it, the worship team is personally feeling hurt because people aren't showing up for the community worship.

then i'll ask (by playing devil's advocate), how would you define community? how many need to be present? who is being rejected with "not enough" people are showing up?

don't get me wrong, i totally get what you mean though. i think i have more experience in church leadership than all of you combined, so i know exactly what it's like when i hear about non-commitment and apathy. what i'm trying to say is that i've learned to accept it for what it is and not be bothered by it anymore.