THE VICAR'S VOICE / Leland B. Jones
‘The Work of the People’

Recently, a member of the congregation asked about the timing of our worship services; specifically, the period of silence between readings. It seemed that there was concern that the lectors were drawing attention to themselves by not stepping right up to the ambo to commence one lesson at the conclusion of the previous one. I indicated that this was a planned time of quiet to encourage a few seconds (we request a count of 10 from the Lay Eucharistic Ministers) for meditation on God’s word.

Another congregant recalled in a time of discussion that the best experiences she’d had in worship came in a church which kept the service to 60 minutes. Some church-growth gurus encourage this liturgy-by-the-time-clock methodology as well. Later, I recalled that in my youth, the early service—always a communion—was considered overly long if it went beyond 35 minutes. Now our early service runs just about 60 minutes with no music. Of course, in pre–1979 Prayer Book days, there was never a sermon at the early service and no prayers of the people with congregational participation.

When one adds music to the later service, nearly 100 more people, and more announcements from the congregation, then it’s wondrous that we are usually done within 75 minutes. (When you do Palm processions, dramatic Gospel readings, commissioning of various ministries, all-generation Eucharists and youth choirs, the time can extend a bit more.)

I.iturgy is so much more now than it was in my early days in the church; it truly has become "the work of the people." We have so much more participation than we used to—and much more than churches which "perform" worship—and we always have the Eucharist, not just the ministry of the word (Bible readings and sermon).

Perhaps we are so much of a ‘fast food culture’ that any attempt to take a measured amount of time, to experience the family meal of the week—a kind of Sunday dinner with as many of the family present as possible—and to have a few moments of silence, are foreign to the culture we’ve adopted or adapted to. And, if you add coffee hour (really not an hour, and there are other options besides coffee) the time of worship and fellowship with one’s family of faith can extend to an hour and 45 minutes.

Can we "speed it up"? Yes, we can carve away at what we do, choose fewer options, talk faster, move more quickly, do away with this and that (what fun we’d have trying to decide what is "unnecessary"—there might be differing opinions on that subject). We might consider a trial period of shorter worship; perhaps advertise "short Sundays" on a regular schedule. We do need to look at what may be gained and what may be lost—and ask ourselves what we are trying to achieve—and what is truly being communicated.

The Worship Committee meets April 28. Any ideas you have are welcome, as are your thoughts or prayerful suggestions. (Worship Committee members are listed elsewhere in this edition of The Net.)

In the meantime, participate in and know the power of the services of Holy Week—the Triduum, the Three Great Days—and of the worship service that defines all others: the Sunday of the Resurrection, Easter Day!

In Faith,

    Leland

P. S.: Let’s remember to set the clocks forward one hour on Saturday, April 3—or our best intentions to get a good seat on Easter will net us lots of frustration.