What is the Two Service schedule?

  • 8:30am— First Service
  • 10:00am— Sunday School
  • 11:00am— Second Service

When will the first Sunday of the Two Services be?

Sunday, September 11, 2022

WORSHIP Questions

How am I going to connect with people if we have two different services?

We have many avenues for connection and honestly the ministry of Madison Heights which may experience the greatest resurgence due to two services is likely our Christian Education   (Sunday School) ministry. Making the intentional choice to overlap with others, connecting during Sunday School and serving with each other is the best antidote to disconnection. Sunday Night Small groups are another way you can stay connected. It should not be missed that the segue time between worship and Sunday School on both ends is a vitally important 15-minute ‘cach-up’ and conversation time where plans can be made for deeper connection.

I don’t like Sunday School. How can I stay connected?

Our passion for SMALL(er) groups is significant. Many churches do what we have done in the past and say, “We have SMALL groups! Join one of the OFFICIAL ONES!” You can call them small groups, Life Groups, Supper Clubs or Community Groups but they have the same basic problem— you cannot customize the cookie cutter model to fit the multiple dynamics of a growing congregation. This is why we chose to embrace a SMALL(er) group model. You can’t grow as a believer if you are not known by others. You cannot be known if you are not connected in a group smaller than a worship service. Enter SMALL(er) groups. Whether it’s 5 ladies regularly having coffee at a restaurant or a gathering of men with good cigars on a back porch talking theology once a month BOTH accomplish the goal of connection, care and life-on-life ministry. 

What if we get TOO BIG to know everyone?

We are already large enough (almost 1,000 members) that many people wonder if someone is a guest or a member they just haven’t met. We are exploring ways to help keep the intimacy and family “feel” that drew all of us to MHC. We love to hear all the ideas you are willing to help own and implement! The reality is this: as we grow LARGER in size we must constantly think SMALLER in scale. Successful growth into a Larger church means intentional growth as Smaller communities. As we grow LARGER we must become SMALLER. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, the LARGER we grow the more you will hear about how much SMALLER we must become. 

CONNECT Questions

How am I going to connect with people if we have two different services?

We have many avenues for connection and honestly the ministry of Madison Heights which may experience the greatest resurgence due to two services is likely our Christian Education   (Sunday School) ministry. Making the intentional choice to overlap with others, connecting during Sunday School and serving with each other is the best antidote to disconnection. Sunday Night Small groups are another way you can stay connected. It should not be missed that the segue time between worship and Sunday School on both ends is a vitally important 15-minute ‘cach-up’ and conversation time where plans can be made for deeper connection.

I don’t like Sunday School. How can I stay connected:

Our passion for SMALL(er) groups is significant. Many churches do what we have done in the past and say, “We have SMALL groups! Join one of the OFFICIAL ONES!” You can call them small groups, Life Groups, Supper Clubs or Community Groups but they have the same basic problem— you cannot customize the cookie cutter model to fit the multiple dynamics of a growing congregation. This is why we chose to embrace a SMALL(er) group model. You can’t grow as a believer if you are not known by others. You cannot be known if you are not connected in a group smaller than a worship service. Enter SMALL(er) groups. Whether it’s 5 ladies regularly having coffee at a restaurant or a gathering of men with good cigars on a back porch talking theology once a month BOTH accomplish the goal of connection, care and life-on-life ministry. 

What if we get TOO BIG to know everyone?

We are already large enough (almost 1,000 members) that many people wonder if someone is a guest or a member they just haven’t met. We are exploring ways to help keep the intimacy and family “feel” that drew all of us to MHC. We love to hear all the ideas you are willing to help own and implement! The reality is this: as we grow LARGER in size we must constantly think SMALLER in scale. Successful growth into a Larger church means intentional growth as Smaller communities. As we grow LARGER we must become SMALLER. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, the LARGER we grow the more you will hear about how much SMALLER we must become.



SERVE Questions

I serve in the following area(s), how will this affect me?

CHILDREN’S CHURCH (approx. 8-hour commitment per year)

Service teams will be on a 10-week rotation with 2 teams serving each week.

-1-Year Commitment

-You are now able to attend worship in-person (one of the services)

-Serve once every 10 weeks

-Rotation schedule runs September 11, 2022 — July 30, 2023 

-Each team consists of 3 volunteers: leader, assistant and student helper

-Each team will serve at EITHER the 8:30am service or 11:00am service

NURSERY (approx. 10-hour commitment per year)

Service teams will be on a 10-week rotation with 2 teams serving each week.

-1-Year Commitment

-You are now able to attend worship in-person (one of the services)

-Serve once every 10 weeks

-Rotation schedule runs September 11, 2022 — July 30, 2023

-Each nursery team consists of 3 volunteers

-Each team will serve from 8:30-10:30am for the first service or from 10:30am to 12:30pm for the second service 

HOST TEAM (approx. 20-hour commitment per year)

-1-Year Commitment

-You are now able to attend worship in-person (one of the services)

-Serve once every 10 weeks

-Rotation schedule runs January 1, 2022 — December 31, 2022

-Same roles for the 12 team members as we have previously had

-Each team will serve for that entire morning from 8:00am — 12:30pm



GO Questions

This is a sincere question: Can you remind us WHY we are doing this?

Everyone was a visitor to MHC once. When this church was planted it was done with the goal of reaching Madison with the Gospel of Grace. Although many churches have been closing their doors after COVID we have continued to experience an influx of visitors week after week. The two-service decision is a strategic one made by the Session to accomodate all worshippers: members, friends and people who are not yet members.

Why don’t we just plant a church instead of going to two services?

Planting a church is a strategic decision to reach an underserved area of Madison County NOT a seating solution. It has been discussed in the past as a solution to our space problem, but the Session has said they collectively believe that fully-utilizing the current campus (whether that means building a permanent sanctuary or expanding the current one) is what we are called to do. Growing on-site doesn’t preclude another site or a daughter church. It is a precursor to planting or parenting a daughter site. 

How did the Session know that NOW is the time to go to 2 services?

The general rule of thumb and accepted ‘best practice’ in churches is that when churches reach near 80% capacity of their primary seating then they should go to two services as they consider expanding space options. We have tracked the data and have trended above that number for quite some time in our downstairs seating. Although some regular members have the preference of sitting in the balcony most visitors will not consider a ‘return visit’ if they perceive that there is ‘no room for me’ in the main sanctuary space. A first-time visitor who is relegated to the balcony or overflow is likely a last-time visitor. 

What if I would personally prefer to be part of a church plant rather than a larger version of Madison Heights? How long will I have to wait?

Conversations about personal calling are important. Please talk with an Elder or pastor about the burden that you feel for an underserved area of Madison County. It just could be that God is laying that burden on many people at the same time and you need to be connected to others who feel the same way. The Session feels called to help encourage and support you pastorally in your calling if you passionately feel called to ‘go’ at this time!