Some worshipers dance on the dance floor. Others create masterpieces using a variety of media. Some worshipers join via the church’s website.
The Village sanctuary
It’s all part of the broad spectrum of worship at The Village in Tucson, Ariz., an emerging congregation of the Christian Reformed Church.
Villagers, as they are known, create their own eclectic order of worship based on Scripture, creeds, and confessions. “(In one Sunday), we might sing in a Gregorian chant, Seattle grunge style, followed by a hymn sung a capella. Our worship is a celebration of creativity,” said Rod Hugen, one of the pastors of The Village.
The Village’s venue is as unusual as its worship. The sanctuary is an assortment of chairs, couches, and traditional church pews. There is also a full kitchen where Villagers dine together after their Sunday evening worship service.
Approximately 100 people worship at The Village weekly. About a third of those are children under the age of 10.
Villagers also worship online through the church’s website. Not your typical church website, it offers the congregation’s own version of Facebook. Villagers can blog and post pictures, invitations, and videos on this site.
“Probably seven out of the last 10 visitors came here after browsing the website. Some have worshiped online for months before attending Sunday evening worship. They know us before they get here,” Hugen said.
Villagers meet in Pilgrim groups of three to five people, working toward deeper relationships with each other and Christ. They also meet in three larger groups called monastic communities to fellowship and to plan and implement their missional activities.
Hugen said their dream is that the three monastic communities will eventually become three churches.
About the Author
Shashi DeHaan is the Banner's regional news correspondent for classes Arizona and Red Mesa.
