11.15 Service time change 

I need to apologise for having forgotten to communicate with the 11.15 congregation what the PCC decided at its last meeting.

At the last PCC meeting views were expressed that the trial had not gone on for a sufficiently long period of time and was requested that the trial period be extended into next term and for a decision to be made at the November PCC meeting.

So this is where we are at now with the trial extending up until the new year but with the decision being made in mid-November.

As we’re now in the summer holidays we enter a time where we can reflect on how effective the trial has been so far.  I have asked Bob and Lynn Legrove to be the conduit for your feedback. So do please be in touch with them in whatever manner you wish so that they can represent your feedback.  Email Bob here: boblegrove@btinternet.com

I thought it might be helpful just to give you a little bit of the background as my sense is that many don’t understand how difficult a jigsaw puzzle Sunday mornings are.

We have not embarked on the change of service time in order to meet any needs of the 11 am congregation nor to find favour with you all.  I’m not really expecting anyone to prefer the 11.15am start time over the 11am start time. What we are hoping and praying is that this relatively short delay to the start of the service is bearable because it provides us with some significant benefits.

Let me outline some of them:

I had many complaints to do with the noise and chaos between the end of the 9.30 and the start of the 11.

We all know how crucial it is to have time for pastoral conversations and fellowship at the end of services. This was simply not possible with only 30 minutes and I found myself having to shoo the 9.30 congregation out to make way for the arriving at 11am. 

People were upset by the noise, children running around and a lack of quiet to prepare for their act of worship. 

This was why it was agreed that we needed 45 minutes between the two services.  We find the time between the two services now much more relaxing, much more conducive to pastoral conversations and a much healthier way for clergy to prepare themselves for the 1115 service. This extra 15 minutes has made a massive difference to those who are involved in leading and producing the services.

So do we bring the 9.30 forward or delay the start of the 11am?

You should all know that there is an 8am service two Sundays month. Setting up for the 9.30 service requires time so bringing forward the start of the 9.30 would eat into that time and also many of the 9.30 congregation considered 9.15 to be too early to try and get young children and families ready for church.  Stopping the 8am service would be an option but that is the decision that could not be taken lightly.

So we decided to slip the start of the 11am by 15 minutes but in order to get you home at the same time have agreed to cut the sermon down so that the service finishes between 12.10 and 12.15 which is the same time that the former 11am service finished.  I have not heard very much feedback so far but from the few people who have been in touch I hear the comment that the new service time means they get home later. I must confess to simply not understanding this criticism as we are now finishing at the same time as we used to finish at previously. 

The one criticism which I am unable to answer is that some are dissatisfied with having a shorter talk. Many however I think appreciate a shorter sermon/talk but what we could do to create an extra five minutes for the sermon is to bring forward to start time to 11.10am.  A slightly odd time but does that matter?

So do let the Legroves know what you feel about this but do try and understand the reasons too.

With much love

Will