PROCTORVILLE — It may be a first for a Lawrence County Methodist church.

The New Hope United Methodist Church, located in the Proctorville area, has begun having a regularly scheduled, contemporary worship service in additional to its traditional worship service on Sunday mornings.

The new service began in November after some church members suggested that the contemporary service may be a way to appeal to a more people in the community by offering different styles of worship.

Although other Methodist churches in the Huntington, W.Va., area are trying the two-service idea, New Hope may be the only one in Lawrence County to adopt the idea and some church members say they like it.

“Attendance has increased. We’re excited about the way it’s going,” church member David Michael said. “We saw the need in the community that could be met with a contemporary style of worship. We still have people who prefer the traditional style of worship. This will allow the church to appeal to more people with two separate and distinct styles of worship.”

The new service includes music by a praise band. It follows a traditional Methodist service offered at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Sunday School and a fellowship time are sandwiched in between that and the contemporary service at 11:30 a.m.