Present: H. Davie (Chairman), D. Wotherspoon, I. Butler, D. Hildebrand, H. Wenger, B. Wotherspoon.
It was foreseen that on the first and third Sundays of the month, the 9.15 service should be Holy Communion and the 11.00 service Morning Prayer, and vice versa on the second and fourth Sundays.
Junior Church would be at 9.15, but this would be reviewed at Christmas.
It was felt that the two services should aim to be broadly similar, since otherwise the congregation would not have a real choice of which service to attend. Both services should aim to allow all to give and receive in worship. However, since those with young families would be attending the 9.15, there was bound to be a different "feel" to the two services.
It was agreed there should not be a great contrast between the music at the two services. The music should be more dynamic. There was discussion about the poor singing at the 11.00 service: some felt the congregation would "draw strength from the organist", others that the right atmosphere was needed for the singing to become stronger. It was agreed that the music group would sing at the Communion Service wherever possible, whether it was at 9.15 or at 11.00.
It was agreed that for a two-month experimental period children should come in at the end of Morning Prayer, when there would be a formal Peacegiving, followed by the offertory hymn.
It was suggested that once a month members of the junior church should be involved in the service and take some active part in it.
It was suggested that, if time was short, the creed and the versicles and responses might be omitted from Morning Prayer. The sermon would be followed by intercessions, followed by the Peace, followed by the offertory hymn.
There was scope for shortening the Preface and Prayer of Consecration at Communion, as well as sometimes omitting the creed.
There was scope for adding a period of liturgical silence, and for having a time when members of the congregation could contribute with prayer or testimony. Occasionally drama might replace the sermon. Teaching songs might be valuable.
The Welcome at the 11.00 was not working well.
It was agreed that newcomers should be welcomed at the Peace: they should be encouraged to introduce themselves.
There should be a welcome table in the porch or outside the church.
There should be a bell in the hall to call worshippers to the 11.00 service. There would continue to be coffee after the 11.00 service.
D. Hildebrand would assist H. and J. Davie with finding intercessors and readers for one of the services.
D. Wotherspoon wished to widen the numbers of those administering the chalice.
It was agreed to meet at least quarterly with the aim of planning the services for the coming three months.
It was noted that 27 October and 29 December were in the holidays and not suitable for a family service. It was proposed to hold a service on 20 October, incorporating music and drama. Planning could take place during August, to be crystallized at the next Worship Committee meeting on 16 September.
It was proposed to have a praise and worship service on the second Sunday of the month incorporating a semi-informal communion. During communion there would be an opportunity for the healing ministry to be exercised.
The current Evensong would be retained in its present form, for the time being at least.
THINGS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT
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