Every Sunday morning throughout the summer, hundreds of people gather in Anderson Auditorium for worship at Montreat Conference Center. Guests experience inspiring music, meaningful liturgy, and a thoughtfully planned service, but what many do not see is the preparation and creativity that happens behind the scenes each week.
Each service features a guest preacher whose unique message is supported by music and liturgical art. Together, these elements create a worship experience that engages people through sight, sound, and reflection.
Planning for worship begins well before Sunday morning. Once the scripture and sermon themes are selected, members of the worship planning team work together to build a service where every element connects. Music, liturgy, visual art, and production all play a role in supporting the message of the day.
One of the most visible parts of the Summer Worship Series is the Summer Singers, a choir made up entirely of Montreat Summer Staff. Staff members come together throughout the week to rehearse and prepare music for worship, as well as liturgy for the upcoming week. The music performed by the Summer Singers is carefully chosen to complement the theme of the service. Songs are selected not only for their musical quality but also for how they connect with the scripture and sermon. By participating in Summer Singers, staff members are able to contribute to the spiritual life of the Montreat community while creating meaningful worship experiences for guests.
“It [Summer Singers] has become a real piece of community life for summer staff,” states Eric Wall, conference center musician.
Alongside the music, liturgical art plays an important role in shaping worship throughout the summer. This year, Meredith Welfare is serving as Montreat’s Liturgical Art Intern, creating artwork that reflects the themes and messages explored during the Summer Worship Series.
Unlike traditional decorations, liturgical art is designed with a purpose. Each piece is created to support worship and provide another way for people to engage with the message. Before creating artwork, Meredith spends time studying the scripture and worship themes, then she develops visual pieces that connect to the overall focus of the service. Meredith states, “The scripture serves as a roadmap for the art.”
From colors and symbols to materials and design choices, every detail is selected intentionally. The artwork becomes a visual reminder of the themes being explored and helps connect the sermon, music, and liturgy into one cohesive experience.
What makes the Summer Worship Series special is the way these different elements come together. The guest preacher provides the message, the Summer Singers help communicate that message through music, and liturgical art offers a visual expression of the same themes. Behind the scenes, musicians, artists, worship planners, and staff work together to create a service that feels unified and meaningful.
For guests attending worship each week, the service may appear seamless. In reality, each Sunday represents hours of planning, rehearsing, creating, and collaborating. Through the work of the Summer Singers, the liturgical arts program, and the many people involved in worship planning, Montreat continues to create meaningful worship experiences that inspire and connect its summer community.
Olivia Abela is on summer staff as a marketing assistant at Montreat Conference Center. She is from Greenville, SC and attends Lander University as a rising senior. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as doing anything creative.