A Message from Daniel
Dear PCM Family,
Back in June, there was a weekend when I was in town, but had Sunday morning off from worship at PCM. I decided to go to Liquid Church – a place I’d heard a lot about, but hadn’t been able to visit because I’m usually otherwise occupied at that time. Amanda Tufts, PCM’s Communications Manager, joined me for the 10:30 am service at their flagship location in Parsippany. One of the first things you notice when you enter their space – a repurposed warehouse – is that the entire right side of the building is designed for their children’s ministry. The bright, easy to locate check-in and welcome area for families is hard to miss.
Now, I’m not suggesting that PCM should copy the ministry model that Liquid has adopted, but it’s clear they’ve made the experience for families with young children a top priority. That’s probably simpler to do when you are working with an old warehouse. For us and our historic split-campus facility, creating a seamless experience from Sunday school to worship – while offering childcare in a modern, fresh, fun environment – is a bit more of a challenge.
That’s why at its last meeting, our Session voted to continue offering Sunday school for children at the Howard House. By doing so, we have noticed an uptick in families staying for both the education hour and for the 10:00 am worship service. In addition, the Session approved a plan to convert the existing Music Room at the Church on the Green to a childcare space for our young ones. Moving childcare from its location in the Chapel to the Music Room will enable us to offer a dedicated, contained, safe, and exciting space for kids. This past year on Palm Sunday, we had 25 kids in childcare. Wouldn’t it be amazing if that were the norm?! We hope these changes help to foster that kind of growth! I’m grateful for the wisdom of the Session to make this decision – and for the staff and volunteers who are helping us to implement it.
With childcare moving into the Music Room, handbells will now be located in the north wing of the Chapel (essentially swapping places with the current childcare space). Several members of the Chancel Choir are also working to ensure that, with the transition of spaces, the choir will be minimally impacted. Adult Education programs like Doughnuts and Theology will continue to meet in the Chapel during the education hour.
I know that change can be difficult, especially when the familiarity and comfort of our own experience may become different in order to better accommodate people we haven’t met yet. In many ways, that’s not only the challenge that churches like ours face – but it’s the challenge of the gospel itself – to create environments in which the good news of Jesus Christ can be heard and received by more and more people. Our mission is to grow the community of believers.
I’m truly thankful for your patience and I pray that these space changes help PCM – and the Church of Jesus Christ – to thrive into the future.
In Christ’s love,
Daniel
