The Newsletter

Please find below the information that was shared at the Spring Business Meeting on June 10, 2026. Scott Myles, Chair of the Board of Deacons, shared some slides during his presentation on the Sunday Service Transition Plan.

SLIDE 1

Sunday Service Transition Plan: A guiding framework for our Fall pilot project
Brunswick Street Baptist Church | Congregational Meeting | June 10
Purpose: share the structure, the heart behind the change, and how we will learn together during the pilot.

SLIDE 2 – The Why

Why We Are Making This Transition: The change is rooted in growth, stewardship, and mission.
- Accommodate growth: Make room for our church body while reducing pressure on a single Sunday morning service.
- Steward our sanctuary: Use our historic sanctuary well while giving each worship expression appropriate space and focus.
- Reach across generations: Protect both traditional and contemporary worship so each can thrive.
- Guiding principle: one church family, two worship expressions, one shared mission. Experience the Love of Jesus. Live it Out Everywhere.

SLIDE 3 – Schedule

The New Sunday Morning Schedule: A sequential model with an intentional shared connection hour at the center.
9:30 Traditional Service: Sanctuary – choir, soloists, liturgical elements
10:30 Shared Connection Time: 45 minutes – coffee, fellowship, library, transitions
11:15 Contemporary Service: Sanctuary – full band, modern worship elements.
The 45-minute break is not “dead space” – it is the centerpiece for connection and unity.

SLIDE 4 – Core Values

Our Core Values for the Pilot: The schedule matters, but the culture we build matters even more.
- Unity: 'We' over 'Us vs. Them' – The connection hour is designed to keep us together as one church family across worship styles and generations.
- Grace-filled pilot mindset – We will begin, observe, learn, and adjust. We do not expect every operational detail to be perfect on day one.
- Protecting volunteers – We will not rely on the same few people to do double the work. Teams should generally serve within their preferred service time.
Measure success not only by logistics, but by whether people feel welcomed, connected, and called together.

SLIDE 5 – Connection

Connection Time: The Heart of the Morning – A planned ministry hour for hospitality, prayer, and cross-generational connection.
45 minutes: 10:30 to 11:15 am – A shared center point where traditional attendees can stay, contemporary attendees can arrive early, and families can transition smoothly. Hospitality makes the model work.
- Round tables and comfortable seating in the gym

- Coffee, refreshments, and a dedicated Hospitality Team

- Library access coordinated with children’s ministry flow

- Possible overflow or family-friendly viewing space

- Sunday School

- Baptisms

- Brunch instead of BBQ

- Other Events

SLIDE 6 – Worship

Supporting Both Worship Expressions

- Traditional Service at 9:30 am: Choir, soloists, handbells, liturgical elements and our rich musical heritage in the sanctuary

- Contemporary Service at 11:15 am: Modern worship architecture, full band instrumentation, and contemporary creative elements.

- Permanent sanctuary setup: Contemporary instruments remain positioned in a low-profile, safe, visually appropriate way to reduce Sunday setup strain.

- Operation boundaries:

- Traditional service must conclude by 10:30 am

- Contemporary service should conclude by 12:30 pm

- Clear stage plot and cable safety are essential

- Ensembles like Kids Sing may need restructured practice schedules

SLIDE 7 – Volunteers

Protecting and Equipping Volunteers: A sustainable Sunday model depends on clear roles and healthy rotations.

Volunteer commitments

- Serve within preferred service time when possible

- Cross-service support reserved for emergencies

- Simplify roles so new volunteers can be trained

- Use Planning Center to reduce Friday/Sunday stress

AV/IT production: separate the load

- Slides: lyrics & visuals

- Camera: livestream view

- Sanctuary sound: in-room mix

- Livestream audio: online mix

SLIDE 8 – Families

Children’s Ministry and Family Flow: The experience of young families will be a key indicator of pilot success.

Pragmatic care approach: Leadership will evaluate childcare needs for the 9:30 am service over time without over-engineering an unsustainable model.

Clear transitions: Parents, teachers, and directors will need clear pick-up/drop-off paths and clock-watching protocols during the 45-minute break.

Pastoral care for little ones: Because the second service ends at 12:30 pm, simple healthy snacks in KidzTown can help support lunch and nap rhythms.

Design question for the pilot: Are families able to worship, connect, and move through the morning with clarity and ease?

SLIDE 9 – Operations

Operational Support: Making Sundays Work: Behind-the-scenes systems must adapt so the morning remains welcoming and secure.

Tellers and offerings: Current immediate counting after the final service is not workable for traditional-service tellers. Leadership should choose a secure model, with Monday morning counting strongly recommended to reduce Sunday stress.

Ushers and sanctuary flow: Each service needs a minimum usher team. The 10:30 am transition requires gracious clearing, wayfinding, bulletins, and seating preparation.

Secure planning: A secure alternate counting space may be needed if the current teller room is used for Sunday School. The gym should be intentionally arranged so it feels welcoming, not empty.

SLIDE 10 – Evaluation

How Will We Evaluate the Pilot: A defined pilot protects trust and gives us room to learn.
4–6 months – recommended pilot window with a predetermined evaluation date. Not open-ended. Not permanent without learning.

Key measures to monitor

- Volunteer health – sign-ups, absences, rotation frequency

- Attendance balance – sanctuary density and healthy participation

- Children’s ministry – teacher-to-child ratios and room usage

- Congregational feedback – monthly stakeholder check-ins plus digital and paper surveys

SLIDE 11 – Next Steps

Timeline and Next Steps: What happens between this meeting and the Fall launch?
June 10: Congregational business meeting and shared discussion

Summer: Finalize ministry team plans, volunteer structures, room use, and communications. Combined services.

Fall (*Sept 6): Launch sequential service model as a pilot project
Monthly: Review stakeholder feedback and operational data

4 – 6 months: Evaluate, adjust, and recommend longer-term direction.

Immediate priorities: communicate clearly, recruit sustainably, prepare rooms and workflows, and keep listening.

SLIDE 12

What We Are Asking of the Church Family
Pray – for unity, wisdom, and a spirit of hospitality

Participate – in the connection time and help it become a true ministry space

Serve – in sustainable ways that match your gifts and availability

Give Feedback – with grace as we learn and adjust during the pilot
One church family. Two worship expressions. One mission.

Thank you.

Feedback

To send your feedback to the Service Structure Planning and Consultation Subcommittee, please email:servicestructurefeedback@bsbc.nb.ca.