You still haven't gotten those back?
Sounds like your church could use a little of this
http://www.openchurch.com/
When I was stationed in Georgia, I attended a church that had a traditional service sunday mornings and an open service Sunday nights, where all the chairs were in a semi-circle like what you described. It was great.
Ah yes, the shooooooes of power were returned, but they ventured to Wedding-moot and on to the chicken ranch. I do not know where their journey will take them next...