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Worship and Prayer Group – Angela Baker
Although no actual Worship and Prayer Group has operated this
PCC year, in the way that it has usually done, that does not mean
that nothing has been achieved in this area. We decided to
experiment with a “task-orientated” approach, in the hope that
individuals might opt for tasks that particularly interested them,
without feeling that they had to be involved in everything that
needed to be done. In this way, three quite separate sets of people
worked, before Christmas, to:
-
Deepen our awareness of Advent, by raising the profile of the
journey from darkness to light - processing the candles for the
Advent Wreath at the 10 o’ clock Service, providing Advent cards
on the same theme, for the congregation, and Advent calendars
for the Sunday School.
-
Make and display a colourful Christmas Banner on the theme of
the coming of the light.
-
Devise the Carol Service.
Since
Christmas, a Quiet Day was organised on the first Saturday in Lent,
to be led by Robert Cooper, Chaplain to Arts the many people who
participated. Robert helped us to discover a creative and novel way
of contemplation and prayer and recreation. This was entitled “Lent
through the Lens” or “The Springtime of the Soul” and was much
appreciated by in Lent and provided us with enough material to last
for the 40 days. This was to be seen either as an alternative or an
addition, to the Study groups based on the Lord’s Prayer, arranged
by Churches Together. The Maundy Thursday Watch has also been
considered and arranged.
In February, PCC
discussed the relative merits of Group work which takes its
authority from PCC, and the more “ad hoc”, task-orientated approach,
coming to the conclusion that both ways of working were important.
There seems to be a call for a group of people to meet together
regularly to re-evaluate what we do and to provide an overview. On
the other hand, it is useful to have other individuals who can be
asked to do more finite tasks – a challenge for the new PCC!
Music
Group – Julie Shave
The Music Group continues to lead
sung worship on Sunday mornings. Our usual pattern is to play at
1@11 on the first Sunday of the month and at the 10am Communion
Service once a month – usually on the third Sunday. There have been
some developments over recent months. Following her departure to
university Alison no longer plays her violin with us (although she
may join us at holiday times). However we have been pleased to
welcome Frank with his accordion. Also where we used to play
alongside the organ at the 10am service, organist availability means
that we now play for the entire service. We continue to practise
regularly where time allows and to introduce new songs occasionally.
1
@ 11 – Chris Pearson
1 @11
is a contemporary style of service that takes place on the first
Sunday of each month. It was launched in February 2007. Each month’s
service is put together collaboratively by a group of mostly lay
people and over the first year the creative talents of a large
number of people have been drawn upon. Material is presented in a
range of formats including music and images shown on a large screen.
Each service has explored a theme and developed it with drama,
interviews, readings etc. that have complemented a short talk that
draws the theme together.
A
distinctive feature of 1@11 is the use of prayer stations. Each
month a set of stations is set up around the church building. Some
are done every month and some are specifically designed in response
to the theme for the month. Members of the congregation are invited
to move around the church and engage with the various stations in
whatever way they feel is helpful. This could include, for example,
placing a candle on a specific country on a map as a way of praying
for that country or putting a stone into water as a personal act of
repentance or dedication.
The
service has proved to be popular with families wishing to bring
their children for a service of thanksgiving in advance of baptism
and thanksgivings are a regular feature each month.
1@11 is
establishing itself as an important part of the pattern of worship
and ministry within the life of St Mary’s. The services have been
well supported and it is hoped to keep on developing this format
over the months to come. |
