Worship Times Survey Results

Thank you to all who responded to our Worship Times survey! We received 72 responses, and very much appreciated the thoughtfulness of each response. What respondents valued most about the 9:30 am summer service included the connection of worshiping together in a fuller sanctuary; lighter demands on the Pastor, staff and volunteers; a later start time that still ended by 11:00; and the opportunity for fellowship activities following the service. The main concern was the loss of flexibility for those tied to a specific time, especially for work commitments and health concerns. While there was a drop in total attendance from the previous summer, some participants noted that other factors besides the time change likely contributed to that as well. Across it all, what people said they value most about worship at Muhlenberg was music and choir, community and fellowship, the sermon, and liturgy/ communion — not the service time itself.

Responses were split almost 50/50 when considering moving to one service year-round. And for those who would like to move to one Sunday service year-round, the preferred start time varied greatly. Concerns about moving to one service included the timing of Sunday School, overcrowding in the Sanctuary and parking lot (not an issue over the summer when many are traveling, but more likely to be an issue during the school year), and potentially excluding people whose work schedules or health conditions make a 9:30 am service difficult or impossible to attend. However, support for a single service over the summer months was nearly unanimous.

Members of Congregation Council and staff are carefully considering all of the comments and feedback as we plan for the future. We are fully committed to our current schedule (8:30 worship / 9:45 Sunday School / 11:00 worship) through this program year, and will take up the question of summer 2027 worship times (and beyond) in the spring. Please don’t hesitate to engage Council members in conversation about this or other topics related to how we structure our life together in community here at Muhlenberg, as we continue to strive to be a Wellspring of God’s Grace in Jesus Christ in a changing world.