Hi John,
I can certainly see a lot of what you identify in congregation members in the
churches I have responsibility for. I thought the idea was that we try to keep
to 30-45 minutes, so my few services so for have kept to that – I also have
continued to provide a full service sheet of the same material to be emailed or
posted as appropriate to those who can’t get into the building (and these are
appreciated).
One person at least has commented that they have really enjoyed the shorter
services that both virus mitigation and Zoom promote, not because of their
length, but because they are distilled down and some of the ‘filling’ has been
necessarily taken out. He also said he enjoyed the Zoom chat afterwards where
people have sometimes taken the subject further. I am thinking perhaps of
continuing to offer shorter services and then to offer discussion questions
over coffee for those who want to afterwards when we can get back to
refreshments and proper ability to ‘mingle’ (which I don’t necessarily think
will be immediately following June 21st!)
God bless
Wendy <><
Rev. Wendy Tucker
Methodist Minister for Cirencester Ashcroft, Fairford and South Cerney United
Churches in the Gloucestershire Circuit of the Methodist Church
Tel. 01285 653655
Please note my usual working week is Saturday to Thursday, emails received when
I am away from my office will be responded to as soon as practicable when I
return.
From: methmins-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <methmins-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of John Barnett (Redacted sender "jpbarnett" for DMARC)
Sent: 24 May 2021 11:46
To: methmins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [methmins] Back to Church
Yesterday I went back to church for the first time after well over a year. My
wife, Carole, has been going for a few weeks, but I've often been leading a
Zoom service and wasn't particularly keen on socially distanced and masked
worship with no hymn singing. I couldn't think of any excuse yesterday so
accompanied her to morning worship and was surprised how good it felt to be
back in the building again. The service was too long - listening to five hymns
and a 25 minute sermon whilst sitting on a hard pew and wearing a mask, with no
opportunity to stand up and stretch one's legs was a bit much. Perhaps
preachers need to be given more guidance about what is required of them while
these special arrangements for corporate worship continue. However, it was good
to see familiar faces (not everybody has been Zooming) and exchange a few words
in the fresh air outside afterwards. I missed the coffee.
Today I've been reading about an Age UK report following a poll of over 60's on
how they are feeling as lockdown restrictions are eased. Apparently 1 in 3 said
they had less energy, 1 in 4 were unable to walk as far as before, 1 in 5 were
less steady on their feet and 1 in 5 were finding it harder to remember things.
I can identify with the "less energy" response myself, in spite of having kept
up my exercise routines with weights and on the exercise bike. I think it's
partly psychological; I've enjoyed pottering in my own garden and just having
time to sit and read, and I'm not sure to what extent I want to take up my
community gardening and conservation activities again.
Reading about the Age UK findings, which were part of a longer article about
loneliness and the over 60's, started me musing about how privileged are those
of us who belong to a church. Sunday worship and other activities provide a
meeting place, a reason to get up and get out and a support network that
continues even when you are confined to your home. Having been a provider of
these services (and I still am, to a degree), I am now experiencing more of
what it is to be at the receiving end. I am grateful for what the church gives
me, and aware that its contribution to society, particularly the elderly, is
often overlooked and underrated. I am concerned about how long many churches
will be able to keep this up (at 73, I am still among the younger members of
our local congregation) but aware at the same time of opportunities for mission
to those of more advanced years.
Do these ramblings of mine, I wonder, strike any chords with others?
John Barnett
