Change can be both threatening and exciting: that which is familiar is replaced by that which is to a degree unknown.The familiar may not always be the best for us, and we can be unsure as to whether the new will be beneficial. Everything that is alive changes. Some changes happen to us, other changes we choose.
The Churches of St. Paul’s here in Chipperfield, and our near neighbours at Holy Cross in Sarratt, are discovering together what it means to move from being two “independent” parishes, to two churches in one “benefice”, with one parish priest. Over the past weeks first the Church Councils, and then members of the two churches, have been looking at the pattern of Sunday morning services in the light of this change. This has not been an easy process, but has been one which has been conducted in a good spirit and with a readiness to make sacrifices for the sake of broadening and developing the life and service of the church in the two communities.
The basic changes are as follows:- Early morning Holy Communion services will continue to be shared between the two locations, but will now begin at 7.45am. On the first Sunday of each month both congregations will be together at 10.00am for Holy Communion, one month at Holy Cross, the next at St. Paul’s. On all other Sundays the main morning services will be at 9.15am at Holy Cross, and 10.30am at St. Paul’s.
This new pattern of services starts from Sunday 4th September. This change of time will not mean the loss of what is familiar in the content of services held, as the week by week details given below make clear; the changes do give a greater variety, provided worshippers are prepared to travel between the villages. Appropriate worship and learning will be provided for all ages at every service other than 7.45am. It is unlikely that we will “get everything right first time”. This new pattern is planned for 9 or 10 months and will be held under review, and constructive comments, made in the light of appropriate personal experience, are more than welcomed to the Church Wardens in either church or to me.
This new pattern also means that the monthly 11.30am Communion service at St. Paul’s which was suspended during the recent inter-regnum, will not be re-instated. Instead, there will be a celebration of Holy Communion every Wednesday at 10am, one week at one church, the next at the other. My hope and prayer is that as we give ourselves first to God, and then to supporting and encouraging one another, we will all be enriched, and see the life and service of the Church continue to grow.
With my greetings and prayers,
Jim Stevens