First of all a big thank you to all those who came to recent Parish Conversations on Service Patterns. It was very helpful to both of us (Gordon & Andrew) as we thought about the pattern for the future and then presented to the PCC and Churchwardens.
Over the last few years we have trialled and experimented with different services and ideas but now with the pastoral reorganisation upon us and including services for Bentworth, Lasham & Shalden churches as well as the four churches of The Parish of the Resurrection it is time to set a more sustainable pattern. We have finite resources to provide services and an almost infinite number of opportunities. Therefore decisions have to be made that maintain a good healthy balance of services yet achievable each and every month recognising that the ministry team need this sustainability to minister effectively and well. The pattern that we will begin in January 2022 recognises where there is need for continuity, brings more equity across the churches, uses the whole day of Sunday which makes resourcing easier, keeps the midweek communion at All Saints which has recently grown in number attending and helps the POTR and BLS identity to strengthen and grow.
This pattern was discussed at length at the September meeting of the PCC and with Churchwardens and all give it unanimous support. The following takes you through the new pattern week by week with some explanatory notes which follow.
There is no mention of The Greater Alton Project (GAP) services in this pattern. These services are planned by the GAP Covenant Council meetings and we will add them accordingly. Also there will need to be seasonal changes which we can communicate as they arise.
We are sure we will soon get used to it and that our worship and discipleship will deepen and flourish.
Best wishes
Andrew & Gordon
Week 1
8am BCP Holy Communion St Lawrence Church 1
10.30am POTR altogether service St Lawrence Church 2
Lighthouse groups for children will be held in The Parish Centre
10am Communion Service St Mary’s Bentworth
10am Communion Service St Mary’s, Lasham
Week 2
9.15am Communion Service St Peter’s Church
9.30am Communion Service Holy Rood
10.30am Morning Worship St Lawrence Church
4pm Afternoon Worship All Saints Church 3
4pm Church@4 St Lawrence School 4
6pm Evening Worship St Lawrence Church 5
10am Communion Service St Mary’s, Bentworth
10am Communion Service St Peter & Paul, Shalden
Week 3
9.30am Communion Service Holy Rood
10.30am Communion Service All Saints Church
10.30am Communion Service St Lawrence Church
Lighthouse groups for children will be held in The Parish Centre
6pm Choral Evensong St Lawrence Church & travelling 6
10am Communion Service St Mary’s, Lasham
10am Communion Service St Peter & Paul, Shalden
Week 4
9.15am Communion Service St Peter’s Church
10.30am Communion Service St Lawrence Church
4pm Afternoon Worship Holy Rood 7
4pm Church@4 St Lawrence School
6pm Evening Worship St Lawrence Church
6pm Bentworth, Lasham, Shalden Together Service 8
Week 5 – when there is one – we will advertise separately
Every Wednesday, 10am Midweek Communion – All Saints Church 9
1 This is the only 8am BCP Holy Communion Service. Many of the usual attenders of these services have transferred themselves to other services and therefore attendance has been low in recent months.
2. This is a chance to strengthen and encourage our identity as The Parish of the Resurrection – having a monthly combined celebration service. This will alternate month by month as a Service of Morning Worship and Holy Communion. We will often invite guest speakers, take time to introduce areas of parish life and ministry, get to know others within our parish community. We see this as a time to celebrate and to have good fellowship with each other. We will aim to provide refreshments from 10am and hope to continue with community lunches after the service. Lighthouse groups for the children will be available during the service with time for them to join the main service. If you would like transport to St Lawrence Church for this then in the first instance please speak to your churchwarden and we will arrange drivers.
3 This service will be preceded by some sort of Afternoon Tea from 3pm – a time to gather and get to know each other and build relationships. We see this service taking a variety of forms with things like a Songs of Praise, Taize communions, maybe Evensong. We would like to give some good invitations to those who live in Clover Leaf & Willow Courts and The Cooperage and to members of groups which meet locally to All Saints.
4 Church@4 will continue twice a month in St Lawrence Church of England Primary School. It attracts on average about 50 adults and children but all the church family are invited and can come along. We are looking at the possibility of another Church@4 beginning midweek in Holybourne and hopefully at Andrews Endowed CE Primary School.
5 This service is led by members of the parish congregations with occasional support from the clergy and is informal in its approach. There are contemporary hymns and songs, a time of teaching and prayers often led so that others can join in.
6 This is a traditional service of Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer containing hymns, sermon and intercessions. The aim will be that it travels around the parish and sometime across the Deanery. We will advertise where it will be each month.
7 This will be similar to the Afternoon Service earlier in the month at All Saints but with a more all-age focus. It will be begin with tea and cake from 3pm and the service will take varying formats.
8 This is a combined service for Bentworth, Lasham & Shalden which everyone would be very welcome to attend. Each church will take it in turn to host with refreshments available. The idea is to look at various seasonal themes for these services.
9 It is important to retain this midweek service at All Saints Church as it offers a good opportunity for people who can find Sundays hard or want something shorter and quieter or perhaps a top-up during the week, We have adjusted the time to 10am after some consideration. Once a month there will be a small group which meets after the service for discussion and prayer.