MUTUALLY RESOURCING LIFE-GIVING

AND RELEVANT WORSHIP IN WAIAPU

A summary of the responses made by parishes and individuals to this survey. I have attempted to include most of what was provided, but in some cases the responses were not such as would actually resource anyone else!  I apologise for anything omitted unintentionally.

First, a lovely quotation provided by Arthur Hughes, to set the tone for a context in which change is often met with resistance:

"There are several reasons for objecting to new trends in church music. One, it's too new. Two, it's often worldly, even blasphemous. The new Christian music is not as pleasant as the established style. Because there are so many new songs, you can't learn them all. It puts too much emphasis on instrumental music rather than godly lyrics. This new music creates disturbances making people act indecently and disorderly. The preceding generation got along without it. It's a money-making scene and some of these new music upstarts are lewd and loose."

- A minister attacking Isaac Watts, (now regarded as a father of hymnody) in 1783!

Best overall changes we have made:

Te Hapara

renovations to the sanctuary / chancel area of the church (including a fresh coat of paint with the use of a deep shade of blue on the back wall to bring the end of this very long thin building forward visually) This has included removal of "right across" communion rail (and flexibility to remove altogether when required). These changes have given a more spacious, uncluttered feeling. We have also moved the pews forward to give a better gathering space at the back.

range of service styles (9.30am family communion or all-age informal service, Taize evening worship, quieter reflective weekday communion, 8am or 11am more formal communions twice a month) across the week / month caters for differing needs within the congregation (but keeps as one group) There are no real "8 or 11 o'clocker's" here at Te Hapara! First Sunday of the month and all major festivals there is 9.30am Family Communion only

more involvement of congregation in "the tasks & roles" of worship have helped people to "own" the worship; this includes the informal involvement of children in the "tasks and roles" e.g. bringing forward