FROM THE MANSE

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Last week we had a very positive worship consultation, to gather ideas about future planned services and to feedback on what works well and what we’d like to improve upon in our church services.

One request was for more modern worship songs, and more creativity within services. I hope that you will notice a difference over the coming months! Feedback and constructive criticism is always welcome, as worship should be of the very best we can offer to God.

One of the ruts we can get into is what is commonly known as the ‘hymn sandwich’. Now sandwiches are all very well in their place, but a diet solely of one particular food doesn’t always help us grow!

Each act of worship needs at least three elements, adoration, celebration and transformation. An uplifting praise service which doesn’t challenge or transform us is lacking a vital part, as we don’t (or shouldn’t!) just be attending church to sing our favourite hymns or worship songs. John Wesley spoke about the Eucharist being a ‘transforming sacrament of grace’, bringing people closer to God, and in preaching services too, we need to be challenged and hopefully transformed, and one of the strengths of Methodism is the freshness with which this happens via our circuit system and Local Preachers. We also have ‘Local Arrangements’ where our own members are responsible for organising the service – which gives the opportunity for others’ talents to be used.

We are fortunate at Abbots in that we now have three different styles of worship over a month, our ‘normal’ Sunday worship, a shorter and possibly more informal ‘Shopper’s Service’ on the third Friday of each month, and now our ‘Messy Church’ on the second Wednesday. This new venture has as its core a short, family friendly time of worship. Last month we explored the journey that Abraham and Sarah made, and God’s promises to them. Hopefully it will be the type of worship that is accessible to those who might not be familiar with a church setting.

I would also urge you to give serious thought to exploring other possibilities and styles of worship both locally and through the circuit. Occasionally worshipping amongst a larger congregation can be really uplifting, and forthcoming circuit services will be held on the evenings of June 8th& July 13th (farewell to Revd Chris Jones) – so get them in your diary now!

Don’t forget too that you would be very welcome to attend St Lawrence’s Sunday evening services, or mid-week Wednesday communion, and also the Free Church services at St Alban’s Abbey which are held at 11am on the first Wednesday of each month.

Variety is the spice of life!

Every Blessing

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We believe in the energy of God’s Spirit,
Stirring in our being
With a rhythm of courage and passion,
Moving our feet
To risk Christ’s way again
As those who are always called to be
The humble, human witnesses
To the faithfulness of God

Dorothy McRae-Mahon, 2000

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