FROM THE VICARAGE STUDY

My dear People,

As some of you already know, there is an important change being made in our Sunday services, beginning 7th March, the first Sunday in Lent. On that day there will be a Parish Communion service at 9.30 a.m., and thereafter on the first Sunday in each month.

This seemed to me a natural and proper development of the Day School Eucharist (to which we have been coming more and more used these last two years) and of the Family Service that we have been holding recently at 10 a.m. once a month; and indeed it is also a development of the longstanding Sung Eucharist at 11 o'clock on the fourth Sunday. It seemed right that these three strands should be gathered up into one main act of worship by the whole parish at an hour when all members of the family, including the mother, could attend. By making it a Parish Communion it also brings into correct focus the Communion service which is the central act of worship of the Christian Church.

The emphasis of a Parish Communion, even more than with other Services, is on family worship, in all senses of this phrase - the whole of Christ's family in a parish and each family unit within that parish coming together in the "breaking of bread", bringing themselves and their basic material needs to offer to God, for Him to bless and send out again into "the daily round and common task".

With this in mind - the Service has been arranged at an hour which will enable mothers to be home in time to cook the midday meal and yet also at an hour when one's communion can be made fasting; it will be a simple sung service, lasting only 50 minutes; special children's communion manuals will be available; children aged 4-7 years will be withdrawn for instruction in the School, unless parents wish otherwise. It is hoped that, with the encouragement and help of parents, the Primary School choir (under Mr. Snape's direction) will lead the singing. This leaves the regular choir free to sing at Mattins, which will continue at 11 a.m.

I very much hope that this 9.30 Parish Communion will meet the need of parents with children to worship as a family unit. I hope, too, that it will give them and many others the opportunity of reviving the habit of regular, corporate worship of Almighty God, at the one Service commanded us of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

JOHN GREEN.