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Tuesday 24 July 2018

Change to The Pattern of Services

Letter from the vicar outlining changes to our monthly service pattern from October 2018

I am delighted by the diversity of the services we offer in any given month across our Benefice, and we remain committed to this principle. However, a number of issues with the pattern of those services have emerged over the last 2 years, which it has become necessary to address. These include:
  • The clash of Family Services in Long Crendon and Nether Winchendon on the 3rd Sunday
  • The forthcoming introduction of Messy Church in Chearsley immediately before Evensong on the 2nd Sunday
  • The difficulty in resourcing the 8 o’clock Communion Services in Long Crendon when the vicar is away
  • The uncertainty caused by varying the time of Evensong in Nether Winchendon throughout the year

In response, the Wardens Team, Ministry Team, and the 3 PCCs have agreed a new pattern of services, to come into effect this October. No changes have been made to the services themselves, only to the Sunday in the month when they are offered. In addition, Long Crendon’s BCP Communions will begin at 9am, and Nether Winchendon’s Evensong will consistently begin at 6pm throughout the year.
  •  This new pattern is sustainable given the size of our current ministry team, which is dependent on the voluntary service of lay ministers and retired clergy for which we are very grateful.
  •  This new pattern means that, for those willing to travel between our 3 churches, we are now able to offer a service in a particular style (known as our 3 ‘tracks’) in each week of the month.

The new service pattern is detailed below, together with an explanation of our 3 different tracks:

Long Crendon
Chearsley
Nether Winchendon
1st Sunday
10am Café Sunday
10am Family Communion
9am BCP Communion
2nd Sunday
10.30am Family Communion
9am Holy Communion
 6pm BCP Evensong
4pm Messy Church
3rd Sunday
9am BCP Communion
10am Chearsley Praise
10am BCP Matins
10.30am Family Service
4th Sunday
9am BCP Communion
 6pm BCP Evensong
10am Family Service
10.30am Family Communion


Key to our 3 tracks (styles of service)
Family Communion
Services with plenty of hymns and provision for children
Traditional
Quieter services, usually from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)
Informal
Gatherings with a 'less-churchy' feel for all ages to enjoy together
I appreciate that this will mean a change of routine for some of us, but it will achieve a pattern of services that we can sustain with our wonderful team. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me on reverend.richard.phillips@gmail.com or 01844 208987.

Yours in Christ, Richard