Present: Wendy Astor, Shelagh Brawand, Tricia Carrick, Hector Davie, Martin Ellis, Sue Faillettaz, Cecily Klingler, Lori Oxland, Brian Summers, Veda Summers, Tony Wharton.
The meeting opened with prayer.
1.1 The family services on Christmas Eve and Good Friday went very well - they were short with modern hymns and excellent participation. Very appropriate for children.
1.2 Some people were disappointed that there was no Family Service on Mothering Sunday and there was genera! agreement that there should be in future.
1.3 A procession around the church on Palm Sunday would be welcomed by many.
1.4 The involvement of the children in "normal" services is welcomed - especially when they sing a song or present what they have been doing. Early liaison with Junior Church is needed.
1.5 The giving out of notices by different people has met with a mixed response - some welcome it; others say it disrupts the service and is too long. Continue with the experiment at least until the next council meeting. The speaker needs to take care not to speak while the children are coming in. Wendy will organise a rota.
2.1 Next Sunday the children will sing "Praise Him" with the congregation when they come into church. There will be a short children's talk too.
2.2 Evening Prayer: Tony will take the next two; Hector the last in April. Wendy is organising a rota for after that.
2.3 Tricia will help Tony choose songs we know for during communion. 2.4 Tony will take Thun services (and Marjorie will play piano).
3.1 Ascension Day Hector will get a team together to organise a service in the morning. To be followed by an informal picnic - advertise in magazine.
3.2 Whitsun (Pentecost) will be All-age Worship, but the children will meet separately at the start and prepare "something memorable" to bring into church to share with everyone. The children should come in around 10.30 and, after their presentation, join their parents for communion. Needs liaison with David when he's back.
4.1 The next All-Age Worship will be on June 1st with the theme "The People of God" involving the whole church. Many ideas in Scripture Union material.
4.1 For the time being Al!-Age worship should be once every 2 months (i.e. 6 times a year) excluding special services.
4.2 A team (Hector, Tricia, Wendy, Cecily) will prepare suggestions for a family communion service liturgy.
4.3 It would be best to have a group of people prepared to take responsibility for All-Age Worship and to liaise with David and JC in good time.
5.1 Tricia and Shelagh will meet to produce a definite suggestion for approval at the next council meeting.
5.2 Especially for All-Age Worship, it would be nice to have a separate sheet with suitable activities for children (plus a large box of pencils)
6.1 It was felt that it was too late after the AGM to hold the council dedication service now. We need to remember it earlier next year!
6.2 Several people would like to use the traditional (i.e. rite B) form of the Lord's Prayer. Others prefer the new words. Wendy will produce a sticker to put in the service books for Morning Prayer. The person taking the service should specify which form to use.
6.3 Additional help has been found for playing the organ. (In particular a Japanese organ and cembalo student will play for the first-time next week)
6.4 Martin repeated his comments from the AGM about wanting more lively and open worship. In particular a music group. We must continue to pray for the right person to lead such a group - not necessarily a musician, but someone led by the Spirit for this task. Active support and encouragement from the council would also be needed.
6.5 The group in Thun would welcome a pianist to help lead their worship.
6.6 There are still some difficulties with the timing of the children coming into church, especially on communion Sundays. One idea was to move the "collection hymn" forward to the point when the children come in - we should try this. But many people like to watch the children coming in and don't find it disruptive.
The idea of an audio-visual system, particularly for those doing crèche, was discussed again. There are arguments both for and against.
6.7 The next Archdeaconry seminar on May 31st is on Liturgy. This could be an opportunity for us to discuss two important issues
To help with the latter point, we need to do more teaching - in the service, adult education and in writing - so that non-anglican newcomers don't feel so strange.
6.8 People are stiff complaining about the removal of the altar rails. But it makes the church so much more open and unified that the general feeling was to continue. Hector agreed to write something for the magazine. People should be encouraged by word and example to stand if they feel awkward kneeling (particularly getting up and down)
6.9 Occasionally the person taking the communion service should remind people that nonAnglicans are welcome at the Lord's Table.
The meeting closed with prayer and the grace at 22.00.
TC / 10.4.97