After reviewing all survey data and prayerfully considering our congregation’s feedback, the Church at Litchfield Park will continue with our two current service times and formats for 2026:

  • 8:30 a.m. – Traditional Worship (choir, hymns, liturgy, doxology, and benediction, Scripture-centered teaching)

  • 10:00 a.m. – Contemporary Worship (band-led, modern praise music, Scripture-centered teaching)

Both services will remain in the Sanctuary, where worshipers have expressed a strong sense of belonging and connection. This schedule best reflects who we are as a church family and supports our commitment to both honoring our heritage and reaching the next generation.

Listening to the Congregation

Over the past several months, The Church at Litchfield Park invited members to participate in a Worship Survey to help guide future worship times and styles. We are grateful for the 187 total responses, including 176 members (94%), 9 visitors, and 2 who did not specify. The survey primarily represents the voice of our active membership, while also including a few newer guests who accessed the survey through the eNews link.

What the Data Shows

Survey results confirm that our congregation deeply values both Traditional and Contemporary worship. When asked for a first-choice service time and style,

  • 9:00 a.m. Traditional received 66 first-choice votes,

  • 8:30 a.m. Traditional received 34, and

  • 10:00 a.m. Contemporary/Blended received 20.

When we examined both first and second choices, a clear pattern emerged. Of those who selected 9:00 a.m. Traditional first, 26 also selected 8:30 a.m. Traditional as their second choice, and another 10 did the reverse. This indicates that most Traditional worshippers are comfortable worshiping within that earlier time frame.

By contrast, the 10:00 a.m. Contemporary/Blended service drew consistent support from families and newer attenders, while 10:30 a.m. received only 7 total first-choice votes (4 Contemporary/Blended and 3 Traditional). In open-ended responses, many affirmed the 10:00 a.m. Contemporary service as “what best helps us reach new people in our community.”

This observation is reinforced by additional data showing that the best way to reach new people is through the Blended or Contemporary worship styles, which were selected by 139 respondents combined, compared to 48 who selected Traditional.

Our Congregational Makeup

Our current membership reflects a congregation with deep, multigenerational roots. Approximately 81 percent of respondents are over age 55, while 10 percent are under 45. By comparison, the 2024 Pew Research Center studyreports that 55–65 percent of U.S. Protestants are over 50. CLP’s older age profile highlights both the faithfulness of our long-time members and our shared call to continue engaging younger families.

A Win-Win for Our Church

This schedule honors the preferences of our current members while supporting the continued growth of our second service. The 8:30 Traditional service remains a beloved space for reverent, liturgical worship. The 10:00 Contemporary service provides a welcoming entry point for families, guests, and those new to faith—where most of our new attendance is already taking place.

By keeping these two times, CLP embraces a genuine win-win: we preserve the strength and community of our traditional worship while making room for the Spirit to continue growing something new at 10:00 a.m.

Together, these two services reflect one unified church—rooted in Scripture, alive in worship, and growing in love.