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Q: Our church is transitioning from a traditional worship style to a more contemporary style in order to attract younger families moving into our community. While the pastor's message and the music have already made this transition, we think it's time to update the look of the sanctuary, but we've run into resistance from longtime members who are worried about costs. Any suggestions on how I can convince them that change doesn't have to be expensive?

A: Simple changes may be the best way to start. Consider simply repainting the sanctuary with a color that more closely matches your contemporary vision. Maybe there are moldings or trim that can be removed to make the space look less traditional. Even rearranging the furniture can help make a sanctuary seem less formal. There might be an interior designer or decorator in your church who could give you some free advice.

One of the easiest ways to contemporize a church is to change the seating from traditional pews to flexible seating, such as chairs. It will cost more than paint, but the results will be dramatic. Bertolini, a manufacturer of stackable sanctuary seating, can be a great resource for you. They understand your members' fear of change and concern about costs, and have helped many churches make the transition from traditional furnishings to contemporary seating. They have even developed a kit designed to help you through the process.

The "Partners Together Media Kit" includes video and cassette tapes which address the concerns churches like yours have already faced. The tapes will help you think through the issues that come up as you make the transition, including ideas to help you raise the money needed to pay for new furnishings. The kit even includes creative letters and flyers to help you to get started.

Even though we clean our sanctuary carpets regularly, it still seems to get a lot of stains. How can we keep our carpet looking fresh?

First, check with your carpet manufacturer to see what they recommend. Second, always test any cleaning solution in an unobtrusive area before attempting to clean a large stain to ensure the solution won't hurt the carpet. Here is a short list of common "sanctuary stains":

Communion Wine: Try an absorbent powder; if that fails blot with warm water.

Fruit Juice: Blot the stain with clear warm water; if that doesn't work, try carpet shampoo. In both cases, try a 2 percent solution of sodium hydrosulphite.

Candle Wax: Blot the stain using absorbent paper with a hot iron. This should pull up the wax, but if not, try dry-cleaning fluid.

When it is time to get new carpet, look for solution-dyed carpets or those with special stain-resistant fibers. For high traffic areas, consider a patterned carpet that closely matches the color of your local soil, as it will camouflage the dirt. Some carpets can also be "tiled," allowing you to remove a section for heavy cleaning. Tiles can be rotated from heavily-trafficked areas to less-traveled areas, helping the carpet to wear evenly. And if a stain is particularly nasty, you can even replace that particular tile.

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