St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

A brainstorm for small services

The smaller services in our church’s programme have declined very much in attendances over the years, raising questions about what we should be providing.

Sunday evenings are regularly attended by about six people, of whom three (the vicar, the organist and the sidesman/reader) are “obliged” to be there, and Wednesday mornings sometimes fail to reach the minimum of four lay people necessary for Holy Communion (in which case we have Morning Prayer instead).

Some services continue to be well-attended. The last four “joint” evening services, where we’ve gone to other churches or they have come to us, have drawn congregations of 40, 60, 110 and 70; and the last Wednesday in each month draws a dozen people as the Mothers’ Union come and share coffee afterwards.

What should we do about it? I (the vicar) don’t mind conducting services no matter who comes, if that’s what the church wants - and there are some people for whom the smaller services are a lifeline. But maybe we ought to think more creatively. What are your suggestions on what we should do? Here are some thoughts: why not add yours and let me know?

Do some Wednesday services in local care homes, so the residents can attend?

Convert Wednesdays to a housegroup except for the last one each month?

Organise a regular programme of ecumenical joint services, and scrap our own individual ones?

Have aerobics or line-dancing after the service to attract more people?

Blame the vicar - sack him and get one who knows how to do midweek services?

Ask some local Christian rock bands / music groups to come and lead occasional evening services?

Make Sunday evening into a "teaching" slot and do mini-courses on different aspects of our faith?

Buy a minibus and take us all to visit other churches each Sunday evening?

Have the Day Centre and the midweek service on the same day so the clients can come?

None of these!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. November 2002, Page 6.
Home Page. Index of articles. Have your say: e-mail us and we'll put your suggestion on this page (no indecencies). Services: index, Regular 10.30am, "3+1" Sunday Club, Regular Joint, Evening Service, Small services. In this issue: (November 2002) Vicar's letter, Wildfire, Window, small services, bussing in USA, Iraq, Jelleys.	A brainstorm for small services The smaller services in our church’s programme have declined very much in attendances over the years, raising questions about what we should be providing. Sunday evenings are regularly attended by about six people, of whom three (the vicar, the organist and the sidesman/reader) are “obliged” to be there, and Wednesday mornings sometimes fail to reach the minimum of four lay people necessary for Holy Communion (in which case we have Morning Prayer instead). Some services continue to be well-attended. The last four “joint” evening services, where we’ve gone to other churches or they have come to us, have drawn congregations of 40, 60, 110 and 70; and the last Wednesday in each month draws a dozen people as the Mothers’ Union come and share coffee afterwards. What should we do about it? I (the vicar) don’t mind conducting services no matter who comes, if that’s what the church wants - and there are some people for whom the smaller services are a lifeline. But maybe we ought to think more creatively. What are your suggestions on what we should do? Here are some thoughts: why not add yours and let me know? Do some Wednesday services in local care homes, so the residents can attend? Convert Wednesdays to a housegroup except for the last one each month? Organise a regular programme of ecumenical joint services, and scrap our own individual ones? Have aerobics or line-dancing after the service to attract more people? Blame the vicar - sack him and get one who knows how to do midweek services? Ask some local Christian rock bands / music groups to come and lead occasional evening services? Make Sunday evening into a "teaching" slot and do mini-courses on different aspects of our faith? Buy a minibus and take us all to visit other churches each Sunday evening? Have the Day Centre and the midweek service on the same day so the clients can come? None of these! John Hartley
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