You may have heard of biker church. Or cowboy church. Why not Bluegrass church?
And why not right here in Owensboro, since Bluegrass music is so ingrained in our community?
This Sunday, February 19, 2017, Settle Memorial United Methodist Church is launching a new church service centered around Bluegrass music. They’re calling it simply Bluegrass Church.
“We see this as another expression of the body of Christ in Owensboro,” says Greg Rose, Associate Pastor at Settle Memorial, who has been working with a team of church members on the concept of Bluegrass Church. “Our thought is this approach might appeal to people who are not attending church but may be attracted to a worship service lead by a Bluegrass band on a Sunday afternoon.”
Like the music in its namesake, Bluegrass Church services are designed to be very casual in dress and atmosphere. In addition to Bluegrass music, the services will consist of a testimony highlighting God’s grace in someone’s life, a brief message based on scripture, and prayer. “There won’t be much preaching. I will give a very brief message on scripture and the testimony will come from a different person each week,” Rose said.
Services are expected to average around 45 minutes start to finish.
There will also be an outreach aspect to Bluegrass Church, where members have the opportunity to serve the needs of others in the community.
To help introduce the concept of Bluegrass Church, Settle hosted a free Bluegrass concert by Blue Diamond Bluegrass Band last Sunday. The concert featured a mix of secular and sacred Bluegrass songs. Blue Diamond will show up regularly at Bluegrass Church, but not every week. Worship at the services will be provided by a rotating mix of Bluegrass musicians who will serve as a “house band.”
Bluegrass Church services will be Sunday evenings from 5-5:45 at Settle Church, 201 East 4th Street, in the chapel behind the main sanctuary, starting this Sunday.
