It was a Sunday in the pews for me yesterday. This gave me an opportunity to reflect on worship, as this is part of the CFA my assessor and I haven't touched on too much yet.
Well, why does my assessor start the service (call to worship, opening hymn and prayer) from the pulpit? This only happens for the 11am service, not the 9:30. I would have thought there should be consistency.
Prior the call to worship to quote my assessor "the choir sing while we prepare ourselves for worship. Why is this necessary? Again, the choir is only there for the 11am service. Also, it has to be said the choir can't sing...really, there's only one who can. I found this actually quite distracting - it felt as though the choir didn't really care about the words they were singing. This did not prepare me for worship...
If all the intimations are on the printed order of service, why read them all out? Also, where should they be. There's a bit of me thinks intimations, although necessary for a whole load of reasons, aren't part of worshiping God. Why not have them prior to the "official" start of worship (i.e. call to worship).
If there's anyone ill or recently bereaved in the congregation (or maybe parish too - I'll need to check), their names are read out prior to the intercession prayer, for thoughtful inclusion. Is this really appropriate? My assessor (and I'd agree with her, broadly) feels intercession prayers should be worded to be inclusive, rather than exclusive. That way the prayer can speak to all - the leader of prayer will not know the troubles of an individual and, having an inclusive prayer will support them in their troubles, rather than them thinking "what about me?". Given that, does reading out the list of ill and bereaved just before the intercession contradict that philosophy? I think there is a place for those who are ill and bereaved to be included, but not necessarily just before the intercession (and as an introduction to it).
I've mentioned it before, (here) and I'll mention it again. Where should prayer be? My assessor explained she has all prayers before the sermon as it disburdens the congregation before the breaking of the word. I had mentioned about the theme of the sermon - the congregation may empathise with the intercession more once they're heard the sermon. Her rational was the whole service leads to the sermon (which, to be fair, it does), so the theme should come across via the hymns and bible readings (to an extent the children's address, but there isn't one during the 9:30 service). With that in mind I was looking out for the theme - love always with us, I think - so I'd be aware of it for the intercession prayer. Well, I didn't really hear the theme reflected in the prayer, but perhaps I'd got the theme wrong?
Why does the pulpit have to be used for preaching?
At the close of the service, after the benediction, there is a recessional hymn. Why? I think that may be custom and practice at my placement as I've never experienced it anywhere else.
And, following on from last week's post, I hadn't really noticed how little my assessor doesn't change her voice at all. I know it's difficult to put the right balance of inflection into the voice, but I feel it's necessary so it doesn't sound like reading off a message line. I hate to say this, as my assessor is lovely, but there was certain point where I really didn't care what she was saying as some of what she was saying sounded as though she didn't really care. I know, from working with her, that's not the case, but how presentation can make a huge difference to the same words.
So, lots to think about and discuss at my next meeting. Tonight, I'm attending the pastoral care meeting then, if there's time, doing a hospital visit.
There's lots in your blog that I would want to comment on, but I won't because I'm supposed to be sermon writing. However th two things I will pick up on I pick up because they are comments that I have received.
ReplyDeleteWhy read printed intimations? Because often that is the only way people "hear" them. It wouldn't be the first time when I haven't read them that a few weeks later I'm told people didn't know something was happening when it has been in the sheet for three weeks. However there is also a vague snobbery in believing that all people read. For the most part we live in a literate society, however for a number of people reading is still difficult. I might think I live in a middle-class area and therefore everyone can read - experience tells me differently. So reading church notices for me is about ensuring that all "hear" them not matter age or ability.
The other thing was why use the pulpit for preaching. Much a the disability information churches receive these days suggests that pulpits are the best place for preaching from for those with hearing difficulties. No matter what our hearing is like, we tend to look at people's lips when they speak. A pulpit puts the preacher in a visible place with often a light shining onto their faces - thuse illuminating the sound.
You have lots of good questions here and I hope you have the courage to carefully (remember ministers are a sensitive breed) put them to your supervisor as you sort through your call.
Hi Wonderer
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I must admit, the rational behind these points is pretty much what I thought they would be, but I thought they'd make a good discussion starter.
Mrs G