Family Service tips

I went to a well constructed family service today. Points which stand out are:

(1) Involving the whole congregation in acting out the gospel story: once Jesus, Bartimaeus, and Twelve Disciples were selected out, the rest of the congregation became the crowd.

(2) The 'message' came through the mix of reading and acting and modest additional comment.

(3) The intercessions also involved the whole congregation - divided into groups per major topic, and requested to come up with items for prayer. No one was asked to pray - the intercessor did the praying - so no embarrassing pressure on people.

Value in variance

Preached twice in one parish today with significant variation in the two liturgies. One by the book, three hymns, well led intercessions: lovely. One just a little by the book, quite a few songs, but good choices, lovely charismatic feel to the service, plus good informality around some community life (notices, catching up on a significant funeral which took place during the week past): lovely also!

Preaching from the lectionary

Lectionary preaching offers challenges, especially speaking from all the readings in the one sermon. But it is worth doing. One 'trick' I find useful is to major on one of the readings, but to use the other readings as minor contributors to the sermon.