Worshipping Together

 

St. Mary’s mission grows from our worship, nourished by the Holy Eucharist and the Gospel in the words of the Bible. How much more authentic reverence will we contribute to our community and our world if we include more quiet and peace in our worship?

 

On this page are reports from meetings on Worshipping Together

May 11, 2007

August 8 and 26, 2007  

 

Worshipping Together May 11, 2007

 
Present: Janet Dorman, Allen Mellen, Liz Mellen, Dorothy Ross, Bill Smith
Themes
·       St. Mary’s feels like “home”
·       There is a faith feeling, a spirit at St. Mary’s that is unlike at many other churches
·       Diversity and inclusiveness
Active in early days of women in the priesthood
Integrity Together services
·       Open communion – no questions asked
·       Valuing each person
Prolonged peace
Acceptance of everyone
Open announcements
Welcoming visitors individually
Even when we start late, it is to include everyone present in starting the service
·       Spirituality is integrated with social action
·       “Small is beautiful” – we don’t want to be a megachurch
·       Music – balance of different traditions
·       We appreciate aspects of being Episcopalian
          Lectionary
          Generous scripture readings
          Liturgical drama, worship of the body as well as the mind and spirit
          Liturgical seasons
          Weekly Communion, going up to the altar
          Episcopal traditions maintain quality and balance
Wishes
Wishes fell into two types – broad wishes that included a number of aspects, and specific wishes. The broad wishes were (1) more variety and contrast in worship and (2) more learning incorporated into worship. Suggestions offered were:
More Variety and Contrast in Worship
·       Quiet – a big wish was for periods of quiet during the service. We do not want to change the basic celebratory mood of worship at St. Mary’s, but to highlight it by offering contrastive periods of quiet. Specific ideas were:
“Holy Hush” – 5 minutes before the service, everyone, including the priests, deacons, organist, choir and congegation, sit quietly in the congregation. At the end of the 5 minutes, the prelude would begin and the officiants and choir would assemble in the back for the procession.  Might create more attentiveness during the service – being quiet together
·       A few moments of silence for reflection after the sermon or after the readings
·       Quiet communion hymns
·       At 10 AM service, use a variety of readers for the intercessory prayer
·       Introduce a new hymn once a month
·       Differentiating the liturgical seasons more – this is done somewhat now, but do more
          Different service music for each season – perhaps not use service music during Lent
          Different consecration prayer for each season?
Learning
There was a desire for ongoing learning, partly to be done in groups, but partly to be done during the service. Some examples of how this could be incorporated
·       A short piece in the announcements each week about worship/church history/Episcopalianism
·       During the service, occasionally stop for a moment and talk about what is happening in the service. Those who have the benefit of going to seminary should share with those who do not. One way to incorporate this might ostensibly be a children’s message – of course, the adults would listen, too! Another way is to mention some things when they fit into the sermon topic. Examples, baptism, the peace, why we have the lectionary, what happens during the consecration.
·       More pamphlets in the back of the church
Specific Wishes
·       New service books!
·       More direction during service
Telling congregation the hymn number or page number in the BCP
Telling people when sitting or standing is appropriate
·       Choir leadership and development
Maintaining a worshipful atmosphere
“Holding back” sometimes -
·       More celebration during Advent to contrast with commercialization of Christmas
·       Acknowledge St. Mary, our patron saint
·       No applauding? – there was debate on this issue – perhaps  “Amen” responses instead?
·       Incorporate a cycle of prayer like the Anglican cycle of prayer into the intercessions
Would require some planning – make sure whoever is doing the intercessions has a copy of the cycle for that Sunday
·       Incorporate Morning Prayer into the Eucharist occasionally
Perhaps try it during the 8 AM service?
·       Plan opportunities for congregation to give feedback on worship
          3 times a year
          Plan meeting for October
 
 
Meetings August 8 and August 26

Feedback on changes from the choir and the congregation

 

Appreciative Inquiry Follow Up

 

 

 

August 8, 2007

With choir

 

August 26, 2007

8 AM

August 26, 2007

10 AM

      Silence

Most people liked or were OK with the silence

One person voiced strong dissatisfaction

“It’s not me”

“Fabulous!”

“It’s OK”

“Good as it is now.”

“The silence is a stumbling block to spontaneity. Maybe Janet could play music during the silence? If people want to meditate, they should do it during the week.”

      Teaching

 

 

“Keep it up!”

“It’s a captive audience, and it’s the Earl”

Irene’s intercessory prayer group is very good.

      Music

Everyone was OK with the variety of music

 

 

“Great!”

“Fabulous!”

“Keep a base of familiar hymns”

“Variety is perfect just the way it is.”

Likes having different service music during the different liturgical seasons

Recessional hymn should be more uplifting and familiar.

 

Other Comments

 

Overall worship experience - “I’m satisfied”

 

Microphone on the lectionary side is spotty.

 

It’s good that announcements are shorter.

 

Don’t like exclusivity of prayer at the end of the service at the back. Maybe the whole congregation could be included? – two people mentioned this

 

More amen’s or other words instead of clapping – two people mentioned this, and another agreed. Some people feel that clapping after the sermon seems to be rewarding a performance, rather than responding to the Spirit.

 

More spontaneity and openness to the Spirit during the worship service.

 

A visitor from Holy Trinity liked the simplicity of the service.

 

Choir should take communion last, not first.

 

Other services – Wednesday evening prayer be revived, perhaps a daily prayer service?

 

One person had heard Ishmael Wallace’s musical composition on the last words of Christ and was impressed. This person suggested that perhaps some time we could have a musical response to the Gospel reading, instead of or in addition to the sermon.

 

Would like to have children bring up the offering and the elements.

 

Other Thoughts

 

After the 10 AM, we also talked about other topics besides worship. Although not directly related to the main topic, there were excellent ideas to consider. Here are the comments.

 

Find out what are concerns in the neighborhood. How can St. Mary’s tie into that?

More concerts for the neighborhood

Address concerns of young people – talk to the interns for ideas

Housing & programs for ex-offenders

Support group for graduates of the Exodus Project?

 

Educational Offerings

 

Classes or Bible study after church on Sunday or on Wednesday evening

How about a topic after church once a month, or once per liturgical season. Perhaps like a mini-retreat.

 

Have post-confirmation follow through. Ask confirmees how they would like to be supported after their confirmation.

 

Anne Ditzler has to do a 1-hour workshop for her job on Stewardship and Evangelism. She offered to do it for St. Mary’s if we could do it in October.

Possibly this would include an AI for individuals on our personal gifts, for service, witness, & personal growth, and connecting this to stewardship.

 

Anne is also interested in doing something about the sacraments, because these were highly valued during the AI workshop in May.

Possibly an AI retreat during Lent?

 

An idea for Wednesday evening – a class/group to develop leadership and Christian growth and service. One idea is to incorporate AI for individuals and supportive circles.


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