Music leaders at Sequim Community Church, 950 N. Fifth Ave., see their most recent change as a way to start a new tradition.

At the 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, service, Michael Webb of Oak Harbor will lead music for the new “blended” weekly service, formerly called the “traditional” service.

Nathan Funston, director of worship, music and arts, said there’s a misconception that the church is going away from using traditional hymns but they’ll be mixing in contemporary music to the service.

Funston said the church has hosted a traditional service with only hymns for 20 years but they’ve seen a decline in attendance in recent years.

Pastor Scott Koenigsaecker said incorporating the blended service still follows one of the church’s “core values” that “worship will be culturally relevant and biblically informed” which includes “a sensitivity to building a bridge to our community that will enable men, women and children to relate to Jesus Christ and His church.”

Funston said Webb will help bridge the gap for the community through his love for both traditional and contemporary music.

Webb has been leading worship services the last five years, two in Utah and the last three at First Reformed Church in Oak Harbor.

He and his family are former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, he said, with Webb converting to Christianity in 2006 and his wife Angie and children in 2012.

Webb was an LDS recording artist and recently released his first album in 21 years “Songs from the Journey Pt. 2” online.

“Ministry is what I’m about and it’s what I’d love to do full-time,” he said.

“With (the church), I feel blessed to be a part of it.”

For services, his wife Angie, a violinist, will help with music and two of his children, Ethan and Emma, sometimes as well.

Webb said he has a love for hymns and says he will perform them “in a little bit more contemporary way but still recognize the music and message.”

He also recognizes much of the audience will be retirees and senior citizens.

“They need to be ministered to,” he said. “Their need isn’t over at a certain age.”

Webb feels it’s important to grow because “if we just stay the same, people who only want hymns, they will be gone eventually and there won’t be a service.”

“We’re not leaving behind hymns but inspiring people with them,” he said. “God is still speaking through people with hymns.”

In the first year of leading services, Webb plans to commute twice a week for services and rehearsals and make a decision on moving to the area after that.

Sequim Community Church continues to offer three Sunday services including the 10 a.m. blended service and a “modern” 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. service. Koenigsaecker shares the same sermon at all three services.

Church staff plan to begin live streaming services online through Facebook sometime in October.

For more information on the church, call (360) 683-4194 or visit sequimcommunitychurch.org/ or facebook.com/SequimEPC.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.