PROVO — Sick of hard pews?

That's no longer a complaint for members of the Rock Canyon Assembly of God church, who take their place each Sunday on plush, reclining seats in a Cinemark theater at Provo Towne Centre.

But comfy chairs are just one part of a unique worship experience that's attracting new churchgoers each week.

"We show (movie) clips," Rev. Dean Jackson explains. "We do a lot more media stuff than we've done in the past. And the stuff we do is a lot higher quality than we've done before."

Last Sunday, for example, members watched a five-minute film highlighting Jackson's recent humanitarian trip to Peru. Other weeks, short films depicting Bible parables are shown.

In a smaller theater dubbed the "prayer room," a screen flashes the needs of national and community leaders, as well as church members, to encourage prayer on their behalf.

And in yet another theater, children gather for games and activities centered around spiritual teachings.

"They've capitalized on something that every age and every interest can understand," said Jewel Morgansen, who recently attended Rock Canyon services for the first time.

"In this day and age, we're all so different, but things like technology are our common thread. It's not such a stretch to think it could unite us in our faith."

Worshipping before the big screen may sound unusual, but Jackson wasn't after tradition when he decided several months ago to shake things up for his congregation.

The Provo chapel on Canyon Road used by the church for more than 30 years had gone into disrepair, requiring pricey improvements.

But rather than remodel or relocate to traditional digs, Jackson decided to try something new.

"We just really liked the atmosphere and mood that is able to be created (in a movie theater)," Jackson said. "We've found that, not surprisingly, when we show up to worship God, he shows up, too."

While several Utah County congregations meet in unusual locales, Rock Canyon is the only church that calls a movie theater home. But nationally the trend is catching on.

Before moving to Provo Towne Centre, Rock Canyon church member Barbara Orylance went with Jackson to Washington, D.C., to attend church in a theater there.

"I loved it," she said. "I actually didn't even feel like I was in a theater. I felt like it was a church."

But for some, Jackson admits, the change of scenery was too much. And in the weeks leading up to their first service at Cinemark, Jackson said his congregation dwindled a bit.