St. Paul Lutheran to begin contemporary services
On a recent Saturday morning in a church sanctuary, contemporary Christian music eliminated from a rock band complete with drums and electric guitars.
Lyrics flashed on a projection screen, and the atmosphere was definitely upbeat and informal.
St. Paul Lutheran Church members, including the Rev. Bob Byrne and diaconal minister Beth Barkhau, were rehearsing for a new service that will debut Sunday, April 11.
This is not a departure for St. Paul but an addition. The church will continue to hold its traditional worship service with hymns and organ at 11 a.m. and its "blended," less structured service with piano at 8:30 a.m.
The new service at 9:45 a.m. is open to any current St. Paul members and is targeting those who are not involved in any church or are disaffected from the church. The service will be called "YaWaY," taken from Yahweh, the biblical work for God.
"The common thread to my ministry is outreach," said Byrne, a vocalist with the band. "There's a sense of urgency in offering and sharing and saying there really is a better way."
He acknowledges the third service is a radical step that has caused some anxiety among more traditional churchgoers, and that's understandable, said Byrne. He wants to gain their trust and ensure as a pastor that he's nurturing those members, too.
But he and church leaders are concerned that in this day and age, half of the people in the nation don't attend worship services. Even at his own church, just over half the membership comes on a given Sunday. He wants to help people become more regular in the life of the church, but again, wants to reach out to others.
"I've learned from True North Church and Cedar Creek Church," said Byrne. "They're able to take the message and convey it in a way that will cause people to want to give it a second look and find out that Jesus was who he said he was."
A key part of this decision has been the hiring of vocalist and instrumentalist Jamie Anderegg to lead the alternative service. He brings an intriguing credential: During a three-year stay in Japan to teach English, Anderegg also was involved with the choir at a Baptist church in Tokyo, which brought gospel, contemporary and traditional music to the church.
"It's a pleasure to work with the people here at St. Paul," Anderegg said. "Their spirit is so gentle, which only comes from loving the Lord. My wife and I have felt so welcome, and, hopefully, we'll carry that into this new service."
Church member Tammy Ayotte moved to Aiken with her husband Jim about 18 months ago and soon became active at St. Paul. When the discussion began about the alternative service in April 2009, Ayotte was asked to coordinate that process. She and a committee started researching churches through South Carolina, Georgia and Florida that were adding services.
"I really think there is a need for it here - a church with a traditional setting that will speak for alternative settings for those who are comfortable with that," Ayotte said. "It's been an incredible experience. We are creating a legacy for this church, and I feel really blessed that I came here."
Another committee member, Lauri Yeargin, said she wants her children to enjoy church beyond Sunday school. Yeargin's daughter, Sarah, a fifth-grader, said readily she was looking forward to the new service. St. Paul is also adding a second Sunday school at 11 a.m. for those attending the alternative service.
Barkhau looks forward to the opportunity to bring people to worship for the first time or to bring them back. The alternative service considers how people hear, learn and speak the word of God.
"There will be sights and sounds that are not traditional yet that doesn't negate the value of those traditions," she said. "The sound from a glorious pipe organ is to be celebrated, but we're also seeking people who hear and see in different ways."
For more information about St. Paul and its new service, call 649-4021.
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.