Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born anew.” – John 3:3 (NRSV)
Dear Holman family,
I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ!
I begin by expressing my gratitude to the entire Holman community as Homecoming on July 27 was such a blessed time! We worshipped, reminisced and fellowshipped together. In ways that warmed the heart and soul. What a mighty God we serve!
I also write to share an update on our worship time discernment process. For context, as many of us are aware, coming through and out of the COVID-19 pandemic, worship attendance patterns for churches across the country (and the world) greatly changed. In response, at its February 2025 meeting, the Church Council began a six-month discernment process on worship and worship service times and at its March 1 meeting voted in favor of (1) shifting to one Sunday morning service and (2) to create a task force of Holman members to recommend a time that would best serve the needs of Holman and the wider community.
On May 18, the Worship Time Discernment Task Force presented at two town hall meetings their recommendation of 9:30 am or 11:00 am for a single worship time. In response, the Church Council approved distribution of a survey to gather feedback on what worship time would best serve the needs of the church to fulfill our mission for ministry. The Task Force encouraged the Church Council and the congregation that the priority for the church was to discern the time that best:
- fosters unity as a congregation with our diversity as the Body of Christ; and
- creates space for growth to strengthen current ministries and grow new ministries.
At its July 19 called meeting, the Church Council met to review survey results. Survey responses were shared anonymously (no names of survey respondents were disclosed) with council and congregation members praying to hear God and one another across different opinions and perspectives. To that end, a motion was made and approved for our single service time to be 11:00 am.
In taking account of written and verbal responses of the congregation, from a pastoral perspective, the rationale for 11:00 am is two fold:
- Ability to clearly relay to all people when Holman gathers for worship. Holman is unique in having three ways for the community to join together at the same time in worship. An 11:00 am worship time fosters a spirit of shared worship, whether in the Sanctuary, live on the radio or online. Regardless of how we worship, we are one people and one body of Christ!
- Opportunity to foster a Sunday schedule that builds synergy for ministry and growth. There is spiritual power when many groups meet at the same time and then transition to join with the wider community in worship together. As we press forward in ministry, there is also power in facilitating opportunities to respond to the Word in worship in outreach and service. That said, a working schedule for Sundays at Holman should include:
- Pre-Worship | Nurture the Word (church school, prayer groups, book studies, rehearsals, etc.) | beginning at 9:00 am;
- Worship | Witness the Word (worship in word and sacrament) | beginning at 11:00 am;
- Post-Worship | Respond to the Word (promotion of outreach and opportunities to serve in ministry) | beginning at 12:15 pm.
This was a long, deliberative and prayerful process. I have so much gratitude for our leaders, members and wider community, whose contributions we led by the Holy Spirit as we take our next most faithful step in worship. I pray that as we press forward, we continue to lean on the grace of God and stay open to the creative path God has in store for us to grow in faith, hope and love as followers of Jesus.
We’ve come this far by grace through faith! And grace shall lead us home!
Peace and grace,
Rev. Victor Cyrus-Franklin
Lead Pastor
Holman UMC