Service of the Word Planning Group - Guidelines
'A Service of the Word' is a service provided in Common Worship as an alternative to Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer.
The SotW Planning Group has overall responsibility, but seeks to find groups/individuals willing to undertake the preparation of individual services = the Preparation Team.
Initial Steps
The Planning Group will nominate one member to be the contact person responsible for each Service of the Word. S/he liaises with the Preparation Team chosen to plan a specific service, informing them of:
- the need to appoint their own liaison person
- the type of service (all-age, with/without communion etc)
- the clergy who are scheduled for this service, e.g. leader, preacher.
- the set readings.
- any special requirements / themes etc.
The contact person will ensure the Preparation Team has:
During the Planning
The contact person should ensure that:
- all required elements are included, as authorized.
- planning goes ahead in good time
- the planning group has consulted and passed on information to all appropriate people.
Important Checks
During the week before the service (at the latest), the contact person should ensure that:
- service sheets (combined with notices?) are ready, as are any special materials.
- All 'rota' participants have been notified of what is expected from them.
- the 'scheduled' clergy know what part they are expected to play.
Some General Considerations
- The main principles in the preparation of any service are to help people worship God and hear Him speaking to them.
We hear God through his word, so the 'Ministry of the Word' is the pivotal part of any service, and especially of a SotW.
We also hear him through the 'mediated word' of the whole flow of the service, which is why a SotW (which does not also have the ministry of the sacrament) requires particularly careful planning.
- Music in services should assist people to worship and be appropriate to the theme of the service.
The theme is determined by the Bible readings set for that day (in the lectionary).
SotWs should normally use at least one of the readings set for that day.
- Church Growth studies show that successful/growing churches use a variety of musical styles and instruments.
A mixture of musical styles and musical instruments is desirable in most services.
We should use the musicians we have to achieve the best possible music.
Music should be played on the instrument(s) most suited to the particular piece.
As a "parish church" for all our members, our desired worship style can be summed up as both/and rather than either/or.
27 August 2005