Preparing
Nearly everyone knows that more people attend worship in churches on Christmas and Easter than at any other time. Many churches add services to welcome the larger than usual crowds. Regardless of congregational size, most leadership bodies opt to do whatever is possible to make all who come feel welcome (including ensuring each guest has a seat).
At Naples United Church of Christ, we opted to take a rather traditional approach by adding:
- Services – expanding from two to four, and
- Seats – adding chairs alongside pews in the Sanctuary and chairs in the Narthex.
Additionally, we used technology to webcast our service in the nearest building appropriate for such: a music hall.
Experiencing
I had the privilege of serving as a pastoral presence in this overflow space during the two services for which we anticipated the greatest attendance. During the first such service, our music hall easily accommodated the 80+ who were unable to find space within the main Sanctuary or Narthex. During the second and final such service, the overflow area filled quickly. With the help of several caring and creative folks, we quickly transformed the space so that over 150 people were able to participate in worship in the overflow venue (of course this meant folks sat any and everywhere – even just a few feet away from the screen!).
So What?
In life as in worship, overflow happens. Overflow and abundance can result in realizing new possibilities or simply experiencing frustration. Planning and preparation alongside flexibility and willingness to attend to the guidance of the Holy Spirit often determine your response. How prepared are you for what may well become the next overflow experience in your life?