JOY CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY - FALL, 2007
TALLY OF RESULTS
Of our current Sunday morning schedule, which service do you normally attend?
8:30 am : 31 SURVEYS 10:00 am: 39 SURVEYS
How often do you attend?
8:30am: 29 2 1 1
10am: 21 14 4 1
Would you and your family be interested in a Saturday evening service during the school year, at about 5pm?
Very interested 5 4 3 2 1 No interest
8:30am: 5 2 6 3 16
10am: 8 2 4 3 17
Your worship style preference:
Traditional Blended Contemporary
5 4 3 2 1
8:30am: 24 6 5 2 0
10am: 0 1 15 12 11
Your music style preference:
Traditional/Hymns Blended Christian Praise
5 4 3 2 1
8:30am: 18 8 8 1 1
10am: 2 2 10 11 12
How important is it to have children worshiping with their families?
Very important 5 4 3 2 1 Less important
8:30am: 19 4 4 1 0
10am: 16 5 12 5 2
Please explain your answer:
8:30am:
1. WORSHIP IS A FAMILY ACTIVITY.
2. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY A CHILD LEARNS TO DEVELOP A HABIT FOR WORSHIP ATTENDANCE AND IT SHOULD BE A FAMILY EXPERIENCE.
3. CHILDREN WORSHIPPING HAVE A STRONGER FOUNDATION OF FAITH WITH A CHILDREN’S SERMON DURING WORSHIP
4. THIS IS IMPORTANT BUT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE DISRUPTIVE IN HEARING THE MESSAGE.
5. CHILDREN SHOULD WORSHIP WITH THEIR FAMILIES. VERY IMPORTANT TO WORSHIP AS A FAMILY.
6. IF KIDS DON’T ATTEND WORSHIP FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE – A PART OF FAMILY ROUTINE – THEY’LL NEVER LEARN HOW TO DO IT THEMSELVES.
7. SUNDAY SCHOOL THREE SUNDAYS A MONTH AND THEN ONE SUNDAY IN THE SANCTUARY TO LEARN THE WORSHIP SERVICE.
10am:
1. ALL CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SIT IN CHURCH, BUT WHEN THEY BECOME LOUD, THEN THEY SHOULD GO TO THE NURSERY.
2. KIDS SHOULD HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH WORSHIP SO THEY KNOW WHAT IT’S ABOUT.
3. YOUNG CHILDREN CAN BE A DISTRACTION DURING SERVICE. (BUT) IT IS NICE IF FAMILIES CAN WORSHIP TOGETHER.
4. FAITH IS FOR EVERYONE – YOUNG AND OLD.
In considering new programming, we may need to look at adjusting and/or adding worship times. Please indicate your preference.
A 8:30 (traditional) & 11 am(contemporary) worship
9:45 a.m. adult ed., Sunday School, fellowship
Strongly agree 4 3 2 1 Strongly disagree
8:30am: 13 6 0 4
10am: 6 4 6 21
B 8:00 (traditional) & 10:30 am (contemporary) worship
9:15 am adult ed., Sunday School, fellowship
Strongly agree 4 3 2 1 Strongly disagree
8:30am: 6 7 2 8
10am: 16 3 9 5
C 8:30 (traditional) & 10:30am (contemporary) worship
9:30 am – adult education, fellowship 10:30 am- Sunday School
Strongly agree 4 3 2 1 Strongly disagree
8:30am: 10 3 3 8
10am: 13 5 4 8
Would you be in favor of:
An occasional traditional service at the later worship hour (perhaps once a month)?
Yes No
8:30am: 14 11
10am: 19 13 1 MAYBE
An occasional contemporary service at the early worship hour?
Yes No
8:30am: 20 18
10am: 17 11 1 MAYBE
What is it that brings you to worship?
8:30am:
1. FAITH AND FRIENDSHIP.
2. THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND JOY.
3. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE, AND WOULD BE LOST WITHOUT IT.
4. THE LAYOUT OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE.
5. MY NEED TO BE THERE. IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD AND I ENJOY ALL THE PEOPLE I KNOW THERE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.
6. NEED FOR WEEKLY WORSHIP WITH COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS.
7. FAITH, INSPIRATION FROM PASTOR, MUSIC, FELLOWSHIP, FRIENDS
8. SERMON - MUSIC - PEOPLE
9. TRADITIONAL SERVICE.
10. TO FULFILL MY SPIRITUAL NEEDS AND STRENGTHEN MY FAITH.
11. WELCOMING CONGREGATION AND NEED SPIRITUAL RENEWAL.
12. I LOVE TO WORSHIP JOY, AND VISIT WITH FRIENDS.
13. PASTOR NORM’S SERMONS. HYMNS.
14. FELLOWSHIP – MUSIC.
15. REAFFIRMING MY FAITH AT WORSHIP AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY – “JOY FAMILY” IS AN EXTENSION OF MY FAMILY.
10am:
1. THE ATMOSPHERE OF JOY LUTHERAN AND THE WAY PASTOR NORM CONVEYS THE WORD.
2. MUSIC AND PRAISE TOGETHER.
3. GOOD, MEANINGFUL SERMONS, STRONG YOUTH PROGRAM AND THE PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
4. MY CHILDREN’S EDUCATION OF GOD/CHRIST, AND MY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP W/GOD.
5. FAMILY – TEACHING KIDS THAT CHURCH IS PART OF LIFE.
6. WHAT DO WE WANT IN WORSHIP? GRABBING, APPLICABLE SERMON, FELLOWSHIP< MUSIC THAT MAKES US GO AWAY SINGING SONGS TO THE LORD.
7. SENSE OF BELONGING.
8. MUSIC AND MESSAGE.
9. FELLOWSHIP, RENEWAL, PRAYER, MUSIC
10. THE NEED OF A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, AND THE BAND SO I CAN SING (BADLY) AND SONGS THAT I REPEAT ALL WEEK AND NOT BE HEARD BUT BY GOD.
11. CONTEMPORARY SERVICE, MUSIC, FELLOWSHIP, TIME TO WORSHIP, SPIRITUAL RENEWING.
12. SACRAMENTS, PRAISE, SCRIPTURE, FELLOWSHIP
13. THE PEOPLE BEING WITH OTHER PEOPLE OF FAITH.
14. FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP.
15. NEED TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP WITH OTHERS. TO RESTORE MY PERSPECTIVE..GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT.
16. THE RELAXED ATMOSPHERE, FRIENDLY MEMBERS, BUT MOST OF ALL THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES OUR KIDS HAVE AND WILL HAVE BY BEING A MEMBER AT JOY. I HAVE FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT MY CHILDREN FIND CHURCH “FUN”, AND ARE ALWAYS EXCITED TO GO
17. THE MUSIC AT 2ND SERVICE ~ THE FELLOWSHIP AND THE PASTOR!
18. CONTEMPORARY SERVICE BAND (BART, KEN, SCOTT, MARY, ETC), CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, PASTOR NORM.
19. FELLOWSHIP, SINGING AND PASTOR NORM!!
20. PARISHIONERS, MUSIC, SMALL TOWN CLOSENESS (FEEL WELCOMED)
21. MY FAITH, OTHER MEMBERS, PASTOR NORM.
22. TO EXPRESS FAITH AND BE WITH OTHERS. MUSIC IS GREAT, TOO. GOOD PASTOR ALSO.
23. ENJOY THE PEOPLE – PASTOR IS GREAT – MUSIC.
24. A BIG REASON WE JOINED JOY WAS DUE TO THE SS PROGRAM RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SERVICE. IT ADDS AN EXTRA REASON TO GET TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS.
25. WE ATTEND TO HEAR GOD’S WORD AND THE SERMONS.
26. MUSIC – PEOPLE.
What might Joy Lutheran Church do to encourage better worship attendance?
8:30am:
1. VARIETY
2. BETTER ATTENDANCE WILL BE REACHED AS WE SEEK TO GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUR WORSHIP SERVICES.
3. MORE SMALL GROUPS – MAKES CONNECTIONS STRONGER
4. ENCOURAGE FAMILY WORSHIP, HOLD SS AND BIBLE STUDIES BETWEEN SERVICES.
5. I THINK TRYING TIME CHANGES MAY WORK BETTER.
6. FRIENDS AT CHURCH ARE SO BENEFICIAL. HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE THIS? BUDDY AT CHURCH….LIKE A SPONSOR? OR A SPECIAL FRIEND…..
7. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
8. COFFEE TIME BEFORE, BETWEEN AND AFTER SERVICES – A RELAXED TIME OF COMMUNICATION. I’M READY TO RETIRE FROM ANY LEADERSHIP! I’M SATISFIED WITH THE YOUNG TAKING OVER! THE LORD WILL LEAD! (FROM AN “OVER 85”)
9. CALL AFTER SOME AMOUNT OF ABSENTEES….
10. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DISCIPLINE IN THE SANCTUARY. ADULTS WITH FOOD AND BEVERAGES DURING WORSHIP SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED. WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEWS IN SANCTUARY EVENTUALLY.
10am:
1. MORE DIVERSE KINDS OF MUSIC – SUCCINCT MSG – SERVICE STARTS WITH MUSIC OCCURRING – CUT LENGTH OF SONGS IF SERVICE RUNS LONG – CONTEMPORARY SERVICE SHOULD BE 50 MINUTES.
2. ADDITIONAL SERVICE(S), GUEST SPEAKERS? MUSICIANS FROM COMMUNITY AND/OR RENOWNED CHRISTIAN LEADERS.
3. MUSIC OF CONTEMPORARY SERVICE NEEDS MORE VITALITY. I LIKE A FEW SONGS BY HILLSIDE LONDON (etc) BUT IT’S TOO LIMITING IN USING MUSIC TO INSPIRE. NOT EVERY SONG NEEDS A FULL BAND. NOT EVERY SONG NEEDS TO BE LONG (LOTS OF REPETITION). THE AUDIENCE GETS BORED. A MORE POWERFUL SERVICE COULD BE OBTAINED BY VARIOUS TYPES OF MUSIC (TO BUILD DURING SERVICE). ACOUSTIC GUITAR SOLO, PIANO SOLO. GUEST SINGERS (FOR A DIFFERENT SOUND). ALL TYPES OF MUSIC (INSTEAD OF JUST CHRISTIAN PRAISE.)
4. A CONTEMPORARY SERVICE COULD ALSO CONTAIN LESS STRUCTURE AND MORE PARTICIPATION. FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF READING A SCRIPTURE< ACT IT OUT. REDUCE # OF COMMUNIONS PER MONTH AT THIS SERVICE. USE SCRIPTURE THAT ISN’T ON “USUAL”/STANDARD LIST OF CHRIST STORIES – USE MORE THAT SPEAK TO HUMAN (DAILY) ISSUES.
5. HAVE MORE THAN TWO SERVICES ON SUNDAY. ADD ONE TO SATURDAY EVENING.
6. CUT SECOND SONG AT INTRO, 10-minute SERMONS WITH ONE MAIN IDEA. SERMON IS GOOD AND END/SUMMARY SHARED, THEN ANOTHER THOUGHT DISCUSSED – LOSES PEOPLE’S ATTENTION.
7. OFFER WORSHIP/MESSAGE BASED ON THEMES AND ENCOURAGE OR ALLOW FOR FAITH TESTIMONIALS. I WOULD ENJOY MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS DURING WORSHIP – FOR EXAMPLE, HOLDING HANDS DURING THE LORD’S PRAYER WOULD BE AN EASY WAY TO START.
8. DO NOT HAVE S.S. AT A SEPARATE TIME FROM WORSHIP. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SERVICE TIME BEING TOO LATE IN THE DAY. PEOPLE’S SCHEDULES/LIVES ARE SO BUSY (UNFORTUNATELY). WE DON’T WANT TO LOSE THE GREAT CROWD THAT WE GET FOR THE 10:00 SERVICE.
9. MORE VARIETY, MORE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE.
10. OFFER MORE FOR THE YOUTH...INVOLVE THE YOUTH DURING WORSHIP….MORE OPEN WORSHIP, MONTHLY THEM FOLLOWING A BOOK FROM THE BIBLE - DON’T USE START OF SERVICE FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS IN BULLETIN.
11. SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE IS A GOOD OPTION FOR PEOPLE WITH CABINS AND OUT OF TOWN TRIPS.
12. HAVE BREAKFAST SERVED 1 MONTH (GAVE HER PHONE # TO CALL FOR MORE IDEAS)
13. SHORTER WORSHIP SERVICE, KEEP WHOLE THING UNDER 1 HOUR.
14. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SAY THE NICENE CREED EACH SUNDAY AT THE 10:00 SERVICE. THE BAND IS GREAT, BUT SOME SONGS ARE TOO JAZZY OR WILD AND THEY DIMINISH THE PRAYERFUL SETTING FOR ME. I’D PREFER A MORE TRADITIONAL SERVICE WITH SOME CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC @ 10AM.