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.

The basics matter

I guess I am like an annoying cracked record on this one ... but it needs stating (it seems to me): Pay attention to the basics in order to get worship services working well:

- sound: people like to hear - what does it take to enable people to hear each and every participant?

- song choices: some work better than others, some suit this occasion but not that occasion ... it takes time, prayer and reflection!

- position: it matters where things are delivered from - be as close to the centre as possible.

- flow: want your service to be a 'great' service? then attend to the flow from one part to another, from one participant to the next.

There are other basics - 'cause they are basics, they all need attending to. But, in my view, the effort is always worth it.

What is the most satisfactory pew Bible?

This question is a little different to the question 'what is the best Bible translation?' or 'what is the least partisan Bible translation in publication today?' (see here and the comments on it on Anglican Down Under).

Some Bibles are better for reading aloud than others - even proponents of the English Standard Version, for example, have recognised (in my hearing) that it is not a great Bible for reading in church. Nevertheless, for some vicars and vestries, a determining factor will be the answer to the first two questions above: if people are going to follow the preacher, and preacher and people together are going to study the Bible, then the best ever or least partisan Bible is the way to go.

But the reality is that as one travels from church to church, and for whatever reasons it has happened, a variety of Bible translations sit in our pews. In my own circuits I have seen New Living Translation, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version. I think Today's New International Version is in one church nearby.

So, I am open to comments on the specific matter of 'the most satisfactory pew Bible' in your estimation! (I would prefer not to host a discussion about the best Bible translation ever).

What kind of bishop do you have in your diocese? Rogue or prefect!

Mostly this blog concerns lay worship leaders, lay preachers, deacons and priests. But we might permit ourselves from time to time to reflect on the episcopacy!

At least by pointing to an interesting reflection by another person, in this case the retiring Bishop of Portsmouth - Kenneth Stevenson's final presidential address!

Clips on preaching

Recently in the Diocese of Nelson we have been running some training sessions on preaching. Included in the sessions have been some clips from YouTube, or as we call it, The Lord's Own Worldwide Preaching School :).

Below are a few of those links:

Here

Here

Here

Here