When the pastor says, 'Praise the Lord,' those in attendance at this Sunday church service are sitting comfortably on plush seats, on a slight incline.
If those sound like comfortable confines for a congregation - it is, according to Pastor Dan Rockwell of the Good News Bible Church, which rents the Cinema Center on West Fourth Street to hold its services.
The fundamental Bible-based church that used to be based in Cogan Station wanted a place it could expand that wouldn't break its coffers.
Cost considerations and expense of building or buying led the church leadership team to see the unique potential of the Cinema Center as a place to rent for a few hours each Sunday morning.
Now, on every Sunday, the sign at the corner of West Fourth and Hepburn streets invites congregants to worship.
The hallway between theaters is transformed into what Rockwell called the "Imagination Station." That is where children's ministries staff hold services for children ages 10 and under, he said.
Play panels and dividers are erected and the teachers and workers have themselves a separate area from which to hold service for the little ones.
At the morning service, the optimal word is casual: Casual clothing and casual atmosphere, including hot coffee and a lot of smiles.
Guests register at the guest relations table and are handed a church bulletin. Service begins at 10 a.m. with musicians, a five-piece band, providing background for time of singing songs worship Jesus Christ and God the Father, Rockwell said.
There's a teaching time or sermon followed by the singing of praise music that is relevant to the topic Rockwell discussed.
During Rockwell's sermon, people are encouraged to text questions to a single individual who writes them down on paper and gets them to the pastor.
This past week, the church was focused on the Gospel of Luke and how it applies to life.
"I think the cinema setting breaks down traditional barriers that a non-church-goer might feel," he said.
Rockwell, who is a workforce development consultant with the Pennsylvania College of Technology, grew up on a farm in Maine.
"Good News Bible Church has been around for 30 years," said Jason Wolf, youth adult pastor. "It has a solid group of older families and over the past couple of years has developed a reputation that resonates with college students," he said.
"We welcome anybody," Wolfe said. The emphasis is always on Jesus, grace and salvation through faith."
Wolfe also is involved in the musical ministry.
The contemporary musical selections are played on guitars, drums and other instruments of praise, he said.
"It's upbeat music for people who focus on Jesus," he said.
