Two or More Services
with Different Styles
Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton
2505 Yorba Linda Boulevard
P. O. Box 4178, Fullerton CA, 92834-4178
714-871-6844 FAX (714) 449-8787
Website: www.eastside.com
Senior Pastor: Graydon Jessup
Minister of Music and Creative Arts: David L. Musgrove
Minister of Worship: Byron Burns
Services Sunday at 8am, 9:15am, 10:45am
Serves 2000+ people
A marketing approach to worship in this mostly white congregation. Go to all three services in one day--you'll receive receive a unique perspective. The first service appeals mainly to builders, the second to boomers, and the third to Gen X'ers. The second service has more of a cross-over function between generations.
The builder service contains a blend of beloved hymns (1-2) and choruses (3-4), and usually features an adult choir of about 60. Worship singers (8) with mikes. No organ. Piano plays a strategic role. Subdued use of bass and percussion.
The boomer service substitutes more choruses for the hymns--that's the main difference. The order of service remains the same. Bass and percussion a little more active.
The Gen X service (10:45am) is a night and day change! This is the most dynamic service of the three. Pastor changes into casual clothes--no ties on any leaders. Sound men spend 15 minutes between service remiking and reconfiguring the stage. The piano is rolled off, and two synthesizers are brought in.
During the Gen X service, the synths play a supportive role--mainly funky pads and rhodes sounds. The bass, two guitars, and percussion play the major role instrumentally. Some worship singers (6 in all) improvise against the worship tunes. No hymns. There is a much higher level of participation and involvement by the worshipers: a strong emotional connection exists between the worship leaders and the people. Worshipers do backbeat clapping on most songs, raise their hands, and hoot and whistle, particularly when turned on by something said or sung. The pastor's sermon remains essentially the same. They are reaching the unchurched in this service. Last year the number of conversions in the church doubled; seventy percent of those decisions came from this Generation-X service.
In each service, communion is celebrated every Sunday. Lyrics projected on slides in all services. Hymnbooks rarely used. The announcements and the offering come after the sermon in the builder and boomer services, and before the sermon in the Gen X service.
Byron Burns and David Musgrove have a mutually supportive relationship. Byron recruits the vocalists for the worship teams, selects the worship music, and is responsible for the flow of the service. Byron is the front person leading the congregation.
David Musgrove conducts the choirs, organizes the instrumentalists and plays a key support role in the worship services. He organizes and directs the seasonal musicals and dramatic productions. He improvises at the keyboard and relates well to all three services. He plays the acoustic piano in the 8 and 9:15 services, and synths in 10:45 service. He shares the leadership with others--doesn't dominate visually. Churches employing different styles usually require a set of different musicians for each style--it's not an easy matter to cross over.
Grace Church of Glendora
1515 South Glendora Ave
Glendora, CA 91740
(626) 335-4067 FAX (626) 335-1968
Web site: www.grace-church.com
Senior Pastor: Gene Wood
Music & Worship Pastor: Jeff Ellsworth
Conservative Baptist
Serves 1100+ people
Sunday Services at 8:15am (Celebration), 9:30am (Adoration), and 10:45am (Connection)
Grace made a transition from a one-worship style church to a two-style worship church about four years ago, and experienced significant growth. They have just started a third worship style service. Jeff was recently hired as the music & worship pastor.
Their early Celebration Service (8:15am) meets in a gym-like structure and mainly serves a boomer audience. No hymns. No choir. Flowing-praise led by a worship team. Keyboard driven. Instruments: synth, bass, guitar. Lyrics projected on slides. Attendance: about 500.
The Adoration Service (10:45) meets in the church sanctuary and mainly serves builders. This service extensively uses organ and piano accompaniment, and the sanctuary choir contributes significantly. More than one hymn is sung: the congregational singing is quite good. Attendance: about 300.
The Connection Service (10:45am) meets in the gym. This service tends to serve college students, is more guitar driven, and has a more casual, camp-like atmosphere. Attenders dress in jeans. They do sing hymns. Attendance: about 175. Excellent use of computer-projected images reinforcing the sermon outline.