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Crew brings options to youth ministry

Starting Sunday evening, members of the community will be able to try a new worship experience at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Dodge.

The informal services are called Crew.

Instead of traditional worship service, or even a contemporary service, the Crew service will feature a variety of stations or areas where people can gather to worship in their own way.

Libby Redmond, the youth and young adult coordinator at First Presbyterian said the format is intended to allow people to worship in a variety of ways, styles and places.

“People are more comfortable,” she said. “We want them to have a new experience.”

Each station will feature a different theme, for example, one area might be for people to talk about their faith experience, another to make crafts and another to study scripture.

Some evenings might include simply sharing a meal, quiet reflection or hearing one person share their faith story.

Redmond said the service is open to all, not just church members.

“I want it to be for everyone,” she said. “All ages, all backgrounds, whether you’re going to church or not.”

She said the emphasis is on worship.

“It’s more about worship and less about ritual,” she said. “We’re trying to avoid terms like sermon.”

The structure of the service comes from asking people a simple question.

“We reached out to people who don’t go,” she said. “We asked them, why not, we used those answers to help us create it.”

With the support of the Rev. Austin and Sara Hill, the new Crew worship is up and running.

Chris Helton, a member at First Presbyterian, is looking forward to the Crew worship.

“To me,” he said, “It’s exciting, I’m looking forward to the ability to be able to worship without the formal setting.”

He said that as people experience their own faith journeys, the worship experience they choose can change.

“I’ve gone through phases,” he said. “I needed the traditional service too.”

Redmond would like more partners to work with her on the worship, particularly those with a passion for music, the arts, food, various types of prayer, speaking or hospitality.

“Crew would love to partner with you,” she said.

She said that the experience may be unique in the area.

“I don’t think there’s another like this in Fort Dodge,” she said.

The Crew worship starts at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday night in the First Presbyterian Church’s Commons Area. They are located at 1111 Fifth Ave. N.

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