Holy Trinity - New Service Times

from April 20^th 2008

Introduction
The District Council have been considering our pattern of worship on Sundays. Following our discussions and consultations, it has been agreed to try new service times, with extra services. This will begin on 20th April 2008. These changes are for an experimental period of six months, and are intended to enable our congregation to grow by offering different types of services at different times to suit more people. Experience in other parishes has shown that broadening the services and styles of worship offered, together with an opportunity for everyone to get together for refreshments and fellowship, leads to growth, both in terms of numbers attending church and spiritually.

What will the service pattern be?
Each Sunday, times will be:

What will the services be like?
8:00am
This is a said service, without hymns. On the first and third Sundays of the month it will be according to the Book of Common Prayer (1662), and on other Sundays the modern Common Worship service. This pattern has been running for three months now, and has resulted in more people attending than in the same period in the previous year (an increase of 22% over four months).

9:15am
This is a new service. On the first and fifth Sundays in the month it will be 'Morning Praise' - that is a service with hymns but without communion. On the second and fourth Sundays the service will include communion and on the third Sunday, when there is no Sunday School, it will be a simpler, family service without communion. The service will normally be led by two ministers, who will, initially, take responsibility for readings and leading intercessions. Each week the music will be led by piano/keyboard rather than organ and choir. This less formal style of service, with a talk rather than a sermon, will normally be about 45 minutes long.

11:00am
This will be a sung service of Holy Communion, with hymns and a sermon. Music will be led by the Organ and Choir. This will be our more formal service of the day that will maintain our tradition of weekly Sung Eucharist.

What about the Sunday School?
This will meet each week (in term time), except the third Sunday, at Langley Hall at 9.15am and the children will normally join the end of the 9:15am service when there is communion. When consulting people on proposed changes, it was generally felt that those with younger children would prefer an earlier, rather than later, start.

What about 11+?
This will meet, as now, on the first Sunday at 9am in the Tea House. It is to be hoped that by providing a 9:15am, less formal, service, that younger people will wish to attend Church on other Sundays. We hope to encourage them to participate by being readers, sides people, servers and musicians.

What about coffee?
This will now be available between 10:00am and 10:45am, and it is hoped that this will attract more people to enjoy fellowship together, either after the 9;15am service or before the 11:00am.

What about baptisms?
These will now be on the first Sunday of the month at 12:30pm. We may, of course, conduct baptisms in the 9:15am or 11:00am services if requested, but it is anticipated that these would normally be for existing 'Church families.'

How long will this experiment last?
For an initial six months, with a review planned for October 2008.

How can I express an opinion?
There will be a chance for general feedback after a 10:00am service shortly (to be announced). But please feel free to talk to a member of the clergy team, or one of the wardens, at any time. Alternatively, write to us/ e-mail us via the Parish Office.

How can I get involved?
We will need more sidespeople and servers to cover the extra services. We would love to have more musicians to lead music at the 9:15am services, and more members of our choir for the 11:00am services. If you would like to offer to be involved, contact Linda, our Parish Administrator, at the Office, and she will pass your details on to the appropriate person.

How do I get in touch?
Contact the Parish Office - Telephone:  01344 867383, or e-mail admin@bracknell-parish.org.uk
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