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Worship
June 2, 2008
Dear Friends,
“What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?” That is one of the 25 Questions on the form used by the “Mystery Worshipper” who visits Church Services and writes a report on behalf of the “Ship of Fools” website. www.shipoffools.com The questions included very factual things like: “What were the exact opening words of the service?” and “Exactly how long was the sermon?” plus who took part, who attended etc… However, there were also subjective questions like: “What part of the service was like being in heaven?”, “And which part was like being in ….er … the other place?”. “On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?” “Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?”
While I have been on sabbatical I have taken the opportunity to be a kind of “Mystery Worshipper” in over 20 different Churches and I have used the Ship of Fools Question Sheet to help me focus on what was happening. Therefore, instead of being among those who welcome and lead worship, I have hung around after the service to see what would happen!
So what did I learn from visiting other Church Services?
• The welcome a person receives can make a great deal of difference to how they feel. Informality and acceptance make that easier
• God’s Word can speak in all sorts of different ways
• What we sing and how we sing conveys an unspoken image about the relationship and relevance of the Christian Faith to the 21st Century. God, of course, loves all worship that comes from the heart but we need to keep in mind what we convey to others
• It is a shame to turn up for an advertised service and find it is not being held and there is no explanation!
• There are many very faithful followers of Jesus who are seeking to be obedient to Him and week by week are honouring His Name in the worship they offer
• Lots more too……
Is God’s Spirit at work today? Absolutely. The challenge for us all is, as the apostle Paul said is, “Not to grieve the Holy Spirit” but to open ourselves to His leading.
I would like to take the opportunity again of thanking all those who have done so much while I have been on sabbatical, especially Margaret Matthews and the Stewards, John Curnow and Pastoral Visitors and the Office Team. Thank you all for your prayerful and practical support of myself and our family. The Stewards have asked me to share some thoughts from my sabbatical at our General Church Meeting on June 8th, especially anything God might be saying to us individually and collectively.
Invitation Letter to the GGM are going out and we hope that everyone will come. The pattern will be: Faith Lunch after Morning Worship and then the Meeting. Children will be cared for during the meeting. There will be no evening service. June 8th is also the first Anniversary of the opening of our Halls and it will be our Gift Day when our “Thank Offerings” will go to reduce the amount we still owe for the Halls.
Please keep on remembering “Hope 08” in your prayers. There are still some leaflets available in the Halls that can be given to friends or neighbours.
It is good to be back. God Bless you
With warmest Christian Greetings
Kath
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