The Flexibility of Worship Groups

Dear Friends: Two ideas in the September/October Western Friend stood out to me and seemed to be connected. First, all three of our Western yearly meetings seem worried about our aging populations, dwindling numbers, and under-filled committees. Second, my own yearly meeting, North Pacific, has more worship groups than monthly meetings.

Friendsview Worship Group, where I attend, has 100% old people, increasing numbers, and no committees at all. We are not worried. We are in a retirement facility, so being old is a requirement for entry. Other folks are welcome to worship with us and have done so. We average about one death a year, but about twice as many move in and become part of us. We don’t have any committees.

We hold mostly silent worship for about 45 minutes every Sunday morning, followed by open discussion for another 15 to 30 minutes. Then we go to lunch together, all who can – every week. We help each other get to appointments, care for each other’s pets, share cars, go on outings, and celebrate holidays.

I grew up in a Mennonite church that drew about 400 people for its early service and 900 for its late service. It had a significant staff, and many programs, committees, and ministries. Later, I joined a Congregational church, which was also busy. Those activities were meaningful to me, but I don’t miss them. I now invest my energy where it brings me joy and satisfaction. I have left a lot of the “shoulds” behind. Yet good work still gets done.

Our worship group adapts to what brings us meaning, rather than trying to maintain set patterns or functions. We held a Wednesday service for a while, until it faded, and we let it go. We tried following a set of queries at the start of each meeting, until the practice felt like a bit of a rut, then we started taking turns bringing queries.

If someone brings a concern, we discuss it, but there’s no set pattern from there. Some of us joined a demonstration at our county courthouse to stop ICE from snatching people there. Some of us participate in local PRIDE events. One does prison ministry. Others work at the food bank. Nothing is formal or official, but we’re fairly decent at nurturing each other in this work.

Will we eventually die out? Perhaps. But if we do, it will be okay. Our goal is not to perpetuate an organization. It is to follow and be involved where we are led, as long as we are able. The future will be in the hands of others.

– Brian Smucker, Friendsview Worship Group, Newberg, OR (NPYM)