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St
Mary’s PCC has been discussing some changes in the life and worship at St
Mary’s. Some of these changes will be implemented from this month October
and some will be implemented next month in November and others will take
place in the New Year.
These changes are in response to changes within our ministry team and also
in response to ideas and needs which have been put forward by people from
within the congregation. At the time of writing the consultation process on
some of the proposed changes has not been finalised but hopefully a
consensus will be reached on these changes at the PCC away day on Saturday
30th September.
Reading the Scriptures in Church
The immediate change as agreed by the PCC is to end the service of Compline
on a Saturday night together with the rehearsal of readers for the services
on the Sunday. Readers of the Scriptures are being asked to take
responsibility for rehearsing their readings and if they require help to
contact one of the clergy. The readings for the month are to be found in
the diary within this magazine. If you are not able to read when asked to
do so on the rota please find a replacement reader and inform the parish
office in good time. In any case, it is essential that the church
wardens have any information about changes to the reading rota by the day
concerned. We shall still have rehearsals for readers before the two carol
services at Advent and Christmas and during Holy Week.
By
giving more autonomy to the scripture readers I hope that it is more
convenient for people and that the high standard of scripture reading at our
services will be maintained.
On the Agenda
Other matters under discussion are changes to weekday services, the patterns
of worship during Holy Week and the observance of Saints days. I shall be
interested in any views people may have on any of these subjects. There is
no suggestion at this stage to make any alterations to our pattern of
worship on a Sunday.
Young people and children's work
With reduced ministerial resources (with John leaving the parish when the
sale of his house has been completed) it is an opportunity and a challenge
to look afresh at how we are using our resources in a sensitive and
contemporary way to meet the worshipping and pastoral needs of all members
of our community. We are also reviewing the work of Sunday Club, the Praise
service and provision for young people.
Some
contemporary commentators are suggesting that the church needs to listen to
the needs of its community and not any longer assume that we know what is
best for the spiritual needs of the people who live around us. In a world
of consumerism, often driven by market research, has the church anything to
learn in order for us to be effective in the 21st century?
Monday October 2nd Bishop of
Kingston
Visits the Parish
Bishop Richard will spend the day in the parish and a varied programme of
worship meetings and hospitality has been arranged. The visitation ends
with an evening meeting of the PCC chaired by the Bishop. Report on the
visitation will appear in next months magazine. Meanwhile please remember
this day in your prayers.
All Saints/All Souls 29th October
We
shall be celebrating the great feast day of All Saints on the above Sunday
at the morning services. At
6.30pm
we have our annual All Souls service when we remember all those loved ones
who have died recently and also remember the loved ones as requested by
members of the congregation and the community.
The
month starts with Dedication and ends with sanctification – not a bad
pattern for the Christian life.
Your priest and friend
Tom
Leary
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