Life

First Presbyterian launches contemporary service

By Bill Moss, Published: October 14, 2012

First Presbyterian Church has launched "King Street Worship," a new contemporary service led by a former Army chaplain, the church's youth director and a singing doctor.

The service is at 10:55 a.m. in First Presbyterian's chapel, at the corner of King Street and Seventh Avenue, at the same time that the traditional worship service meets in the main sanctuary. Preaching each Sunday will be by either the Rev. Bill Campbell, the church's senior pastor; Associate Pastor Carolyn Poteet, or worship leader Dave Winkle.
The music features guitars, hand drums, keyboard and other instruments aimed at presenting the word of God in a contemporary way.
"We will honor our roots in traditional worship," Winkle said, "but at the same time we will look for different and creative ways we can communicate the gospel to others. As the service grows, we hope to incorporate drama, liturgical dance, and all the arts in worship."
Winkle, a former Lutheran pastor and Army chaplain, is coordinating the service along with Director of Youth Ministries Sonny Huntsinger, local physician Dr. Andy Morris, and other volunteers. One unique gift the team has in common is a wide variety of international experience, and they hope to use this to bring out the best of worship around the world.
Winkle served overseas in the Army, Huntsinger coordinated worship teams with the mission agency YWAM for years, Morris and his family served as missionaries in Central America, and pastors Campbell and Poteet have worked with mission agencies in several dozen countries. Because of this, Winkle said, "we are able to look at the global expression of Christianity and bring out the best of the ways Jesus Christ is worshipped by the body of Christ around the world."
The King Street service will be thoroughly grounded in biblical teaching and enriched by the creeds and confessions of the Presbyterian Church but will be accessible to all ages and backgrounds.
"We can't wait to get started and see what God has in store!" Poteet said.
First Presbyterian Church is located at 699 N. Grove St. Nursery is available for all services.
Information: (828) 692-3211 and fpchendersonville.org.