Worship Debrief

Worship Debrief

You shared what you are grateful for:

Great musical leadership, especially for a smaller church

Excellent Prayers of the People and Homilies

Inclusive Language

Chairs instead of pews

When asked what you’d like more of you said:

Balancing singing of traditional hymns with contemporary music.

More praise music.

A time to reflect after the homily

Silence

Prayers for the troubles of the world

More politics in the homily!

When asked what you were missing, some of you said:

Being able to kneel for communion

Morning and Evening Prayer service

A suggestion was made to offer a full version of the Eucharistic Prayer and this will be made available as of this Sunday - simply ask for this copy if you’d like it as a supplement to your bulletin.  The reason the prayer is only offered in part in the bulletin is to keep the copy on one page.

We’ve also placed a few bibles in the narthex and if you’d like one so you can follow the readings, please take one with you and feel free to leave it in the chair slot for future use.

Morning and Evening Prayer and the Beloved BCP

Many of you grew up with sung Morning Prayer and Evensong services primarily, if not exclusively, from the BCP.  As I explained in our Worship Town Hall, I choose not to use a BCP service as a primary Sunday service, as do many Anglican churches now, because the language is so unfamiliar to many and those who come from other traditions and those who are visiting would find it challenging to engage.  Also, some of the language and the theology from which that language has come has evolved since first written. 

That said, I sincerely appreciate the comfort and blessing those familiar services bring to many hearts.  Though it is not our plan at this time to offer a sung Morning Prayer as a primary Sunday service, we are exploring the possibility of an Evensong service. 

It was suggested that I share when other churches in our deanery are offering a sung Morning Prayer, so that you might visit if you wish.  Very few offer this on a Sunday.  The next one will be at All Saints in Whitby in March of 2025 on the last Sunday of that month.

Moving Forward

From what we heard during these conversations we are implementing the following:

• Moments of silence for meditation and reflection, particularly after the homily
• Introducing more contemporary music, but keeping some of our traditional favourites on a regular basis
• We’ll continue with a contemporary chorus during communion that we’ll sing for a few weeks to help people learn new songs
• A copy of the full Eucharistic Prayer, available in the Narthex for anyone who would like it

Though there was a request to be able to kneel during communion, we have decided to keep to our current practice.  We’ve heard from most people that it is more comfortable and has become familiar.  It also allows us to offer anointing once a month in a less congested space. 

People are always welcome to remain at their seats and we will bring you communion.  Kneelers are available and can be placed wherever you are seated - simply ask the sides person if this is something you’d like.

Thank you for your input and consideration as we together navigate what it means to be a gathered community worshiping together.  You have shown grace and care in this conversation and in your willingness to listen to each other.  Never hesitate to speak to me, Ruthanne, if you have any further comments or questions about our life in worship together.

And on a last note - we have many volunteers who make sure worship happens every week.  I counted around 30 plus volunteers, some of them doing more than one job, who contribute solely to Sunday worship.  If you are not currently involved, we invite you to consider a way you might be.  Training is available and a conversation with me, Ruthanne, may help you discover a way to be more engaged.  Places to volunteer on a Sunday include: Sides people, livestream, altar guild, choir, server, readers, intercessors, chalice bearer, and anointer.   And also, very importantly, coffee team members!