New contemporary service makes
headlines in Lampasas newspaper

The new contemporary worship service at First UMC, Lampasas, made local headlines in July.
The twice-weekly Lampasas Dispatch-Record carried a story on Page 7A July 15 headlined: “First things first: Methodist church’s new service focuses on worship, discipleship.”
Staff Writer David Lowe reported that the 9:30 a.m. “FirstWorship” service was intended to create a family atmosphere.
“We’ve designed it to be a very casual service,” the story quoted the Rev. Ricky Burk, pastor, as saying. “There’s a sizeable segment of our society that has either never been to church or has been so few times that going to a structured church service is something they only associate with weddings and funerals.”
Church leaders hope the service will have special appeal to married couples with young children as well as to teenagers, the story said.
Young parents worry less about their children disrupting a casual service, Burk was quoted as saying.
The number of teens participating in the congregation has grown from six to eight four years ago to more than 50, the story said.
Don Peterson, a contractor at Fort Hood, was hired recently to lead the contemporary Christian music used during the service, the story said. He plays keyboard and serves as lead vocalist for the praise band. A drummer is to be added soon.
Song lyrics are projected onto a large screen, the story said.
Refreshments served after the service allow worshipers to mingle, the story said.
“We wanted to come up with something that was different, something creative,” Burk was quoted as saying. “Just like there are different kinds of music, there are different kinds of ways to worship.”
The service name, “FirstWorship,” indicates that it is the first worship offering of each Sunday, the story said.
The theme, “Where love of God is first,” reminds worshipers to praise God continuously, Burk was quoted as saying.
Worshipers at the contemporary service are encouraged to become involved in fellowship small groups, Burk was quoted as saying. Groups are designed to strengthen people’s relationships with God and each other.