NEW BETHEL PONTIAC Worship Survey 2013

Transcription

1 NEW BETHEL PONTIAC Worship Survey 2013 The worship ministry is asking each member of this congregation to provide insights into our worship services. Please complete the following survey and return it to the box at the front doors. It is imperative that each person provide honest input so that improvements to our worship experience can be made. The surveys are anonymous only if you identify that you are willing to participate it on-going discussion groups about worship at New Bethel will your name be requested. If there is a question that does not pertain to you, please leave it blank. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! 1. In what year did you start attending this church? 1a. How often do you attend worship services at New Bethel? Today is my first day Rarely (<4 times/year) once a month 2-3 times/month once a week multiple times per week. 1b. Please indicate how many times per month you attend: Sunday Morning Worship Sunday School PHAT Tuesday 1c. Which service do you like the most? (Please select one answer) Sunday Morning Worship Sunday School PHAT Tuesday 1d. From answer 1c, why do you like this service the most? 2. If you are a visitor, what would encourage you to join? (Please rank in numerical order those that apply to you. Choice continue on next page) Earlier start time for Sunday Worship Later start time for Sunday worship Less time spent in Sunday Worship More time spent in Sunday Worship 1

2 A more traditional (hymn and anthem) service A more contemporary (gospel and praise & worship) service Better singing/more engaging music from the choir and praise team Better preaching/more engaging word from the Pastor A weekly children s ministry/church service Friendlier staff and members Other: 3. Before joining this congregation, or if you are a visitor and attend another church regularly, please identify the type of congregation: Another Baptist Church Methodist Presbyterian Episcopal Pentecostal/Apostolic Church of God in Christ Seventh-day Adventist Catholic Nation of Islam Jewish Temple/Synagogue Jehovah s Witness Non-Denominational Other Did not attend church before 4. What encouraged you to begin attending New Bethel Church? (Please check the box of all that apply, and then rank them in order of importance on the lines that follow.) neighborhood location preaching music fellowship youth program education program the building itself it is my family s church Friends attend here Other: 5. If you could select your preferred service time, which would it be? early AM service (10:00 am or before) 2

3 later AM service (11:30 am or after) keep it as it is (10:45 am start) other: 5a. If you could select your preferred service style, which would it be? Contemporary/ Praise & Worship Traditional Blended Other: 6. What part of the music in worship is the most meaningful to you? (Please indicate your preferences in order: 1 2 3) Congregational Hymn Singing Congregational Praise and Worship with the Praise Team Music by the choir Music by small groups, special ensembles or soloists Instrumental selections 7. In the chart below, we have included the following elements found in many Sunday morning services of worship. Please select a rating: creative/meaningful, acceptable, needs improvement, not needed for each worship element. Introit/Prelude Music Processional by Worship Leaders Choral or Spoken Call to Worship Invocation Opening Hymn Praise and Worship Scripture Reading Altar Prayer Altar Prayer Selection Pastoral Welcome Welcome Song Video Announcements Pastoral Announcements Short Talks or Presentations Offering with Instrumental Music Creative/ Meaningful Acceptable Needs Improvement Not Needed 3

4 Creative/ Meaningful Acceptable Needs Improvement Not Needed Offering with choir or praise team singing Choir Selection(s) Use of Organ in Use of Piano in Use of Drums in Use of Sax in Use of Tambourine in Use of Dancers in Use of Mime in Sermon Invitation to Church Membership Benediction Spoken Benediction Sung Extroit/Postlude Music Communion in Sunday morning service Communion at 9am before Sunday School Communion at 6pm in the evening Baptism in Sunday morning service Baptism during PHAT Tuesday Leadership Meeting on First Saturdays Prayer Breakfast on First Saturdays 7a. What should we consider adding to our worship experience? 4

5 8. Which of the following statements comes the closest to your view of the use of hymns in worship? Hymn singing is essential to worship Hymn singing adds an important ingredient to worship but is not essential to it. Hymn singing is an enjoyable aspect of worship but is neither essential or important Hymn singing is an insignificant aspect of worship Hymn singing is irrelevant to today s worship experience 9. Which of the following statements comes the closest to your view of the kind of music to be used in worship? All styles of music are appropriate to worship Any music is appropriate as long as it is sung or played with sincerity Any music is appropriate as long as it is sung or played in perfection Any kind of music is appropriate as long as I find it enjoyable Since music in worship is an offering to God, only the best is appropriate Any kind of music is appropriate as long as the congregation can use it to praise God 10. In each service, we use at least one lay worship leader in one of a variety of assignments (for example, prayer, Scripture reading, etc.). How do you rate the importance of this participation? Important: use laypersons regularly Optional: use laypersons occasionally Unimportant: use laypersons seldom or never 11. At the present time, we provide a printed order of service for Sunday morning only. In your opinion, this guide is: (please choose one) important and should be provided Sunday morning only important and should be provided for every service Optional and should be provided only on special occasions Unimportant and should not be provided 12. At the present time, our morning worship service is scheduled to begin at 10:45am and conclude at 12:15pm. Please circle your preferences. Please note that all of your preferences do not have to be in the same row across the page (e.g. beginning time 10:45am, ending time 12:45pm Beginning time Ending Time Total Time 10:45 12:15 45 minutes 11:00 12:30 1 hour 11:15 12:45 1 hour and 15 minutes other: other: other: 5

6 13. Throughout the year, a number of special services or emphases are featured on Sunday. Please evaluate the significance of each one for yourself. Feel free to make comments as needed. Creative/ Meaningful Acceptable Needs Improving Comments Church Anniversary Youth Week Sunday Father s Day Youth Explosion Holy Week: Palm Sunday Good Friday Easter Sunday Recognition of Graduates African-American Heritage Sunday Mother s Day Seniors/Golden Voice Fifth Sundays Mission Emphasis Sundays Thanksgiving Advent & Christmas s Christmas Eve New Year s Eve Pastoral Anniversary 6

7 14. How often would you like to sing new or unfamiliar songs (hymns, songs, or choruses) in worship? One per service One per Sunday One per month Rarely 15. Listed below are a number of general characteristics which can be applied to the style in which worship is conducted. Based on your understanding of these terms, indicate the direction in which you would like to see our services move in the future. Please answer once on each line. Formality and dignity Spontaneity and extemporaneousness Reverence and holiness Congregational participation & lay involvement Liturgy & planned worship aids (prayers, responsive readings) Drama, pageantry, & banners Innovation and experimentation Humor, laughter More of this Characteristic About the same as the present Less of this Characteristic 16. There are a number of musical styles for congregational singing. Based on your understanding of these types, indicate the direction in which you would like to see our services move in the future. Please answer once on each line. Traditional hymns that are widely recognized to have a quality tune and text Gospel songs largely out of the revivalist tradition that primarily express one s personal testimony Contemporary songs and modern praise and worship whose texts address current issues and whose tunes reflect more recent musical styles Brief choruses, usually learned and sung by memory, that typically stand in the tradition of religious folk singing Liturgy & planned worship aids (prayers, responsive readings) More of this Characteristic About the same as the present Less of this Characteristic 7

8 17. How many non-congregational musical presentations that are sung should be in the Sunday morning service: One by the Adult Choir Have at least two, utilize ensembles and soloists, and keep the number of congregational songs the same Have one and vary the participation of the choir, soloists, and ensembles Have a minimum of two and decrease the singing by the congregation Other: 18. When do you arrive for Sunday morning service: Before 10:45am At 10:45am After praise and worship After altar call Just in time for the choir selection Just in time for the sermon Other: 18a. If applicable, please explain why you don t attend service on time at 10:45am 18b. This summer, we are not taking any breaks from ministry activities: bible study, rehearsal, etc. In your opinion: This is a good thing. We should have ministry opportunities all year long I don t have an opinion, my frequency of participation will be governed by my will. I think this idea is insensitive to the needs of families to enjoy this time together. Other: 18c. Please identify your two main reasons for attending worship services at New Bethel (Please mark the primary reason with a 1 and the secondary reason with a 2 ) To worship of experience God To receive Communion For encouragement and inspiration For fellowship with my church family To hear a fresh, encouraging preached word 8

9 To hear fresh, encouraging music To make sure my children are exposed to God It is my duty Out of Habit 18d. Have you contemplated leaving New Bethel? Please explain why you have thought of leaving or why you are committed to stay? 18e. When you attend services at New Bethel, which best describes your experience (mark one) I sense God s Presence I am inspired I feel joy I feel like I have fulfilled my obligation to the church I feel service is spontaneous and Spirit-led I feel service is scripted and controlled by the preferences of our leaders I am bored I am frustrated Other: 19. Each week New Bethel Church uses audio/video technology to enhance service. Do the pictures and graphics help emphasize: Praise and Worship yes no Altar Prayer yes no The Video Announcements yes no The Offertory yes no 20. In the video announcements, which do you prefer (please check one): The voice that is currently used each week A variety of voices that reflect men, women, boys, girls, elders, youth 21. Are the video announcements (please check one): Too long Too short Just long enough Other: 9

10 22. Are audio/visual presentations shown before or after service effective? Yes No 23. Would you be more likely to purchase New Bethel Church paraphernalia: CDs, Videos, Books, T-Shirts, etc., if a regular area were established in the vestibule/hallway to serve your purchase needs on a weekly basis? Yes No 24. Would you order New Bethel Church paraphernalia: CDs, Videos, Books, T- Shirts, etc., if this service were provided online at the church website? Yes No 25. Please suggest areas in which the Media Ministry could improve: 26. Are you: male female 27. Are you: Married single divorced widowed Other: 28. Do you: have children have no children 29. If you have children, do they attend New Bethel with you? yes no 29a. If your children do not attend with you, please explain why: 30. If you have a spouse/significant other, do they attend with you? yes no 30a. If your spouse/significant other does not attend with you, please explain why: 10

11 31. Please provide a brief narrative to describe your overall thoughts about worship at New Bethel: If you are willing to participate in an on-going discussion group about worship please provide your name, number and 11