Worship Styles Reflecting People’s Preferences
At Union Church of Guatemala we have four styles of worship, reflecting four different ways in which people choose to worship.
Our Traditional Service incorporates lively liturgy, hymns, choral music, prayers and other elements familiar to and appealing to many older and especially young adult worshipers. My message is a bit shorter than at the other two Sunday services. We celebrate Communion each month.
Our Contemporary Service (really, it’s a “90’s” style service, but we don’t tell them it’s getting datedJ ) includes several rotating praise bands, clapping, prayer, message and monthly Communion.
The Postmodern Worship Experience meets Sunday nights around tables in the fellowship Hall. Refreshments are available throughout the service, setting a friendly atmosphere. By the light of the fireplace and candles, people worship God through various means. An art center provides worshipers an opportunity to express their love for God in visual form. At the kneeling bench people pray, while some light candles. Music incorporates the best of 2000 years of Christianity (praise songs, chants, hymns and Taize songs). Worshipers interact with each other and with me during the message through questions and discussion. This service always concludes with Communion.
The Contemplative Communion Worship meets Thursdays for 30 minutes during the lunch hour. This service has 2 hymns or a Taize song, prayer, 2 Scripture readings, a brief meditation and several pauses built in for moments of silent reflection. It ends with Communion by intiction.
