Groome Church starting non-traditional 5 p.m. Saturday service

“Oh, God said to Abraham, ‘Kill me a son’ 

Abe say, ‘Man, you must be puttin' me on’"

Back in the raucous and blooming ‘60s, Bob Dylan sang about the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. He titled the song “Highway 61 Revisited.” A non-traditional approach to the Bible? Yes.

Dylan’s approach stuck with Groome United Methodist Church Pastor Will Crossan.  “Those were my formative years.”

Another thing has also struck a chord with Crossan.  “The Roman Catholics do great with their 5 p.m. Saturday services.”

Now he and the parishioners at Groome want to put it all together with their own 5 p.m. service.

It starts this Saturday, Aug. 6, and will continue as long as it does.  “It will be different than what others are offering,” said Crossan.

“An alternative service that a committee has been working on for a while. Coffee shop intimacy.  We will be setting up downstairs.  People sitting in a circle instead of looking at the backs of other people’s heads as in our traditional services. The service will include scripture readings, people sharing stories, and a celebration of the arts with music ranging from jazz to folk.” There will also be discussions of literature, poetry and the visual arts - all with a spiritual bent. “It will all evolve and take time, but we’re going to give it a try.”

Crossan said the service will last about 50 minutes. “We want to keep it relevant and short. No more than an hour. That’s the great American way.  Religion is an hour.  Then people start looking for the clock.”

The first week’s service will include music by Mike Truitt.  “He plays guitar and harmonica, like Dylan, so that’s kind of appropriate. Mike and Lorraine Messitt, who are part of our congregation, will also be providing music.  We want to bring people in from the outside too.”

The Groome folks are calling their new service an Anchor for the Soul, relating to the sentiment expressed in the New Testament book of Hebrews. The anchor symbol is appropriate for a church whose history includes connections with the maritime roots of Lewes.

“Everyone’s invited,” said Crossan. “Come out and try something new. Of course we still have our traditional service on Sundays at 10 a.m.”

Groome United Methodist Church is located on Savannah Road in Lewes, a few doors away from Lloyd’s Market.