RiverCity GospelJazz seeks to provide a setting for worship, not mere entertainment. One person remarked, "It's great fun, but it's not just fun."

It may seem to regular church-goers that the traditional church service is nowhere in sight when RiverCity GospelJazz begins their service. But the tradition is there. It's the tradition of the black church. And it's great! If anyone should think that the style of music being played is not suitable for a church service of Christian worship, remember this music originated in church, the black church.

The service begins with what we would call a Prelude, an instrumental number played in a sort-of Dixieland style. Then all join in singing what has become a kind of theme for RiverCity GospelJazz, "Shall We Gather at the River," and continues with several well-known songs of praise or discipleship.

There is a quiet period as we contemplate our need of God's grace, and words or a song of assurance of God's pardon. There are scripture readings and a sermon. The latter is often taken from a compilation of sermons and prayers collected by a black lawyer and poet, James Weldon Johnson, in the first half of the 20th century.

There is a time when people are called to respond to God's grace, to God's call, with prayer and dedication to God's service, and finally a rousing exit to "When the Saints go Marching In," or in this case, marching out, to live out our faith in God's world.

During the coffee time following the service, someone remarked once, "You don't see anyone yawning during that last hymn!"