Thank you for the tremendous feedback and support you have provided as our church prepares to move to two services on September 7th! After processing initial congregational input, coupled with further prayer and deliberation over what is best for the church, the elders decided last week to implement an adjusted schedule as we make changes this fall.

Here's a visual depiction of the new schedule:

• 8:30-9:45 -- 1st Service
• 10:00-10:45 -- Sunday School
• 11:00-12:15 -- 2nd Service
• 12:15-12:45 -- Coffee Cafe

This schedule maintains the importance of Christian education at SLPC for all ages, and allows Sunday School to be a time for substantive interaction between folks attending either of the services. We are hopeful that the later Sunday School hour will facilitate greater participation from our families who benefit from a slower morning. Further, keeping Coffee Café at the end of the morning preserves our open-ended fellowship and (importantly) maintains the critical context where visitors are welcomed into our community. We are excited that this format preserves the things we love about SLPC while keeping in line with our long-term discipleship goals.

In order to make this manageable for our faithful volunteers, we will not offer any children's ministry (nursery or Roots & Shoots) during the 1st service. However, we will consider doing this in the future, if there is a need and we have the necessary volunteers.

Parents, as we look toward possibilities in the future, please contact Joni Mindrebo if you think your family would regularly attend the first service.

Although change is hard, we are excited to see SLPC growing, and long to see the Kingdom go forward as friends and neighbors come to know Jesus through our individual outreach as well as programs like Alpha. We want to make room for all those the Lord will call to himself! 

Finally, in order for SLPC to flourish, we all need to be engaged, using the gifts God has given to us (see Ephesians 4:11-16). Note: It is only as each of us is serving that the whole Body reaches maturity! Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to use the gifts you've been given to bless SLPC. There are a myriad of opportunities: A/V support (we'll train you!), children's ministry, coffee cafe, greeters, nursery care, ushers, welcome team, worship team, and youth ministry. And a blessing of two services is the opportunity to serve without missing the chance to worship! 

We look forward to all God has in store for us in the months ahead! If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your shepherding elder.

For the sake of the coming King, 

-Dave White (on behalf of the elders)