Running of Church Services

Each Cell Group is encouraged to plan and run a Service at any one of the 3 churches.

PURPOSE
The church is YOU! So it is helpful to the life of the church if we all – not just a select few - take responsibility for its worship. If it is left just to (say) the usual preachers, choosers of songs, people who pray, who welcome, ‘others’ (ie the usuals) create their own, often very set and unimaginative, ways of doing things. These then get institutionalised as the church’s way. It stifles imagination and creativity. There is also much that the Lord is teaching you in your cell groups: it would be great for the whole church to learn of these.

‘BUT I COULD NEVER DO THAT’
No-one will ever get trained to do anything if we never branch out to do things we have not done before. And, dare I say it, we have many very experienced professionals and home-makers attending our Cell groups. How do they suddenly become incapable when it comes to this area? Please also be aware that we are a church that can manage mistakes. Even with ‘the old guard’, in my time we have managed Gospels read which are not Gospels, hymns which have the wrong words, sermons which have been only part-prepared. And, dare I say it, many very unimaginative services (which is, after all, the Anglican norm). I suspect that the Cell Groups will help in all these areas.

BUT NO-ONE IN OUR CELL GROUP CAN PREACH!
Nigel is happy to preach if needed. But he would prefer that one in the group preach. If that person needs help, he is very happy to help that person, both in resources for preparing the sermon, and in delivery. Please note that in July and August 08, the person preaching is choosing their own subject for the sermon: there is no sermon theme. This makes these months ideal ones in which you can do what you want. For instance the sermon might share some of the lessons from the Cell Group’s meetings. It might not be a sermon at all, but different people might share what the Lord has been speaking to them about within the Group etc.

WE NEED TO GAIN MORE CONFIDENCE
Then just do the basics. Choose 2 people to read the lessons, someone to lead the prayers and others to compose prayers, someone to choose the songs (though check through with the worship leader(s) to make sure what is chosen fits the service and has not been done the week before etc). As you gradually watch other groups do them, make mistakes, get away with them (!) etc, confidence will come.

SOME NECESSARY GUIDANCE
In the longer term, Okewood’s style of worship is going to be modern. So this church is the one to be imaginative at. Please try to develop the one theme of the service (usually chosen by the sermon subject) in imaginative ways. Choose modern songs for here. St Margaret’s, Ockley’s style of worship is going to be traditional and liturgical. Please do not see this as the one to alter! Please choose hymns from Hymns Ancient and Modern New Standard. Holy Trinity, Forest Green uses hymns from Songs of Fellowship. Please let the parish office/ worship leader know hymns as early as possible, so that the Service can be prepared on Projector and with the musicians’ singing group as early as possible ie at least 2 weeks in advance. If you are unsure on anything, check with Nigel. If you need resources, ask Nigel. Judi or Jan, as appropriate.