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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Tips for Clergy during this Christmas
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Anglican_Brat
Shipmate
# 12349
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Posted
I found this article interesting:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/the-trials-and-triumphs-of-church-clergy-at-christmas-1.2468903
The audio commentary includes some anecdotes like:
1) The Christmas service where the organist played the wrong setting of "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The rector actually stopped the organist mid playing to get him to change it.
2) Standing your ground when two members of the Flower Guild argue over the Christmas flowers is not a bad thing to do.
How do Clergy handle the Christmas stress? I'm personally interested because this time, next year, I might be working on the 24th and 25th (God willing, and the Bishop willing ![[Razz]](tongue.gif) )
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It's Reformation Day! Do your part to promote Christian unity and brotherly love and hug a schismatic.
Posts: 4332 | From: Vancouver | Registered: Feb 2007
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
I've read the article but not listened to the programme. I think it's the "trying to handle sentimental aspirations" more than anything else - Christmas is invested with so many memories and traditions that and people do, indeed, want it to be "like it was in 1973".
Yet we cannot baptise that point of view, and not just because we know it is impossible. For Christian leaders are surely duty-bound, even at Christmas, to lead our people in pilgrimage and that can involve "unsettling" them. Clearly one must do that with sensitivity - hopefully clergy, over time, build up a certain "credit" with their congregations which they can "spend" in being a bit different.
The biggest problem, I have always found, is music - not only the question of "traditional carols" vs. less-familiar material, but also trying to eliminate well-loved carols which are not true to the Bible story. One year I succumbed (it was my last year in that Church) - I included all the carols that the "once-a-year" folk wanted. They were all delighted and I felt I had betrayed my soul.
On a different point, the sheer amount of work and disruption involved in "doing" Christmas - whether that be in decorating the church, preparing music or cooking lunches for the old folk - inevitably creates stress. One year I lost two good church members because of the fuss involved in re-siting a Christmas tree.
[ 23. December 2013, 07:17: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Barnabas62
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# 9110
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Posted
Watch Rev?
Particularly re Midnight Mass.
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Who is it that you seek? How then shall we live? How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?
Posts: 21397 | From: Norfolk UK | Registered: Feb 2005
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daronmedway
Shipmate
# 3012
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Posted
Thank everyone, preach the incarnation and grow a thick skin.
Posts: 6976 | From: Southampton | Registered: Jul 2002
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Oscar the Grouch
Adopted Cascadian
# 1916
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Posted
I think that it important not to fall into the trap of "there will be lots of people at the services, so we must preach the gospel and challenge people."
If you have lots of infrequent attenders and visitors, don't drive them away. Make them think "this was really nice, perhaps I should come more often." So give them (most of) what they want - the familiar carols and traditional readings. As clergy, that brings a bonus for you too, in that instead of having people exit the church with barely a smile, you'll have complete strangers stop and congratulate you on the service. A little bit of praise is nice from time to time.
Decide in advance which battles you really want to fight with the choir, organist, flower arrangers etc. You can't fight them all so choose your battle grounds carefully.
Remember that once you hit Advent 4 (if not before) you will be swept along by all the events and won't have a moment to think or prepare. So get all your services and sermons planned and printed in advance, so that you just have to pick up the relevant pile of papers and stagger to the church (or the school, or...).
Expect the unexpected. At some point, something will go wrong. Someone will fail to appear to do the thing they have been asked to do; the heating will have been incorrectly set; the duplicator will break down or else someone will only do half the order of service. Don't get too freaked - learn to breathe deeply, smile and just get on with things.
And don't plan anything for Christmas Day after the services. NOTHING. That's the time to collapse in a heap and sleep.
And remember the thick skin (why do church members regard Christmas as THE time to tell you what you've done wrong?)
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Faradiu, dundeibáwa weyu lárigi weyu
Posts: 3871 | From: Gamma Quadrant, just to the left of Galifrey | Registered: Dec 2001
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daronmedway
Shipmate
# 3012
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
I think that it important not to fall into the trap of "there will be lots of people at the services, so we must preach the gospel and challenge people."
If you have lots of infrequent attenders and visitors, don't drive them away.
![[Eek!]](eek.gif) You think that's what the gospel does? Really?
Posts: 6976 | From: Southampton | Registered: Jul 2002
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Arethosemyfeet
Shipmate
# 17047
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by daronmedway:
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
I think that it important not to fall into the trap of "there will be lots of people at the services, so we must preach the gospel and challenge people."
If you have lots of infrequent attenders and visitors, don't drive them away.
You think that's what the gospel does? Really?
If you call people to repentance before they have belief then, yes, you will drive them away.
Posts: 2933 | From: Hebrides | Registered: Apr 2012
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andras
Shipmate
# 2065
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Posted
Scene: University College Chapel - very much on the High Church side of things.
Event: A very traditional Nine Lessons and Carols (utterly gorgeous, as it turned out, with wonderful choral and congregational singing).
Member of congregation (sotto voce to his wife while waiting for the service to begin): I always forget just how boring this service is.
What can anyone do against this sort of attitude? If there had been a convenient wall nearby I'd have knocked my head on it - or possibly his!
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God's on holiday.
(Why borrow a cat?)
Adrian Plass
Posts: 544 | From: Tregaron | Registered: Dec 2001
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daronmedway
Shipmate
# 3012
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Arethosemyfeet:
quote:
Originally posted by daronmedway:
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
I think that it important not to fall into the trap of "there will be lots of people at the services, so we must preach the gospel and challenge people."
If you have lots of infrequent attenders and visitors, don't drive them away.
You think that's what the gospel does? Really?
If you call people to repentance before they have belief then, yes, you will drive them away.
Nonsense. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin, two aspects of the same spiritual reality: turning from sin and turning to Christ.
Posts: 6976 | From: Southampton | Registered: Jul 2002
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by andras:
Scene: University College Chapel - very much on the High Church side of things.
Event: A very traditional Nine Lessons and Carols (utterly gorgeous, as it turned out, with wonderful choral and congregational singing).
Member of congregation (sotto voce to his wife while waiting for the service to begin): I always forget just how boring this service is.
What can anyone do against this sort of attitude?
Accept that not everyone finds the same things engaging that you do? It's really no different to asking "how can you possibly not love football!?!"
[ 23. December 2013, 11:37: Message edited by: Karl: Liberal Backslider ]
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Boogie
Boogie on down!
# 13538
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by andras:
What can anyone do against this sort of attitude? If there had been a convenient wall nearby I'd have knocked my head on it - or possibly his!
You don't need to do anything - one person's 'utterly gorgeous' is anothers 'deathly boring'.
I love nothing better than a walk round the reservoir for an hour or so, even today - rainy cold and very muddy. Others would disagree strongly. Should I say they have a 'dreadful attitude'?
Not at all - each to their own.
In fact, maybe it's your attitude which needs a bit of work?
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Garden. Room. Walk
Posts: 13030 | From: Boogie Wonderland | Registered: Mar 2008
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
Mind, Boogie, it's symptomatic of one of the problems that I've hinted at (with swears) in the Decline of Western Church thread - I think many of those on the inside don't know how dull and weird the whole thing looks from the outside.
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Beeswax Altar
Shipmate
# 11644
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Posted
I've yet to find an organist who shares my love of The Holly and the Ivy. The first one had never heard of it. The second more or less humored me. The current one will have nothing to do with it. You would think a song that mentions the "playing of the merry organ" and the "sweet singing of the choir" would be favorite of church musicians.
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Losing sleep is something you want to avoid, if possible.
-Og: King of Bashan
Posts: 8411 | From: By a large lake | Registered: Jul 2006
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
Do nothing except what you have to. (and what your significant other tells you apparently).
Fly Safe, Pyx_e
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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Ricardus
Shipmate
# 8757
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by daronmedway:
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar the Grouch:
I think that it important not to fall into the trap of "there will be lots of people at the services, so we must preach the gospel and challenge people."
If you have lots of infrequent attenders and visitors, don't drive them away.
You think that's what the gospel does? Really?
It depends what "preach the Gospel" means. If it has the implication "agree with us or go to Hell", then yes, it is a turnoff. Not only is it a threat, but if your audience don't believe in Hell, it's an empty threat too.
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Then the dog ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail. -- Tobit 11:9 (Douai-Rheims)
Posts: 7247 | From: Liverpool, UK | Registered: Nov 2004
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Ricardus
Shipmate
# 8757
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Beeswax Altar:
I've yet to find an organist who shares my love of The Holly and the Ivy. The first one had never heard of it. The second more or less humored me. The current one will have nothing to do with it. You would think a song that mentions the "playing of the merry organ" and the "sweet singing of the choir" would be favorite of church musicians.
The traditional one or the June Nixon setting?
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Then the dog ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail. -- Tobit 11:9 (Douai-Rheims)
Posts: 7247 | From: Liverpool, UK | Registered: Nov 2004
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by daronmedway:
Thank everyone, preach the incarnation and grow a thick skin.
This. Absolutely this.
And collaborate wherever and whenever you have people to collaborate with. Give the skilled, talented and prayerful people around you a full chance to show what they can do. Accept the gift of their ministries.
I am so blessed to work with an extraordinary and diverse team of chaplains - paid and voluntary, lay and clergy, ecumenical and multifaith. The run-up to Christmas is extremely busy, because the secular organisation we work for barely pauses for breath, while we're doing the "Christmassy stuff" that's expected of us and make sure from our point of view that it's very definitely all about the Incarnation. But every one of the team works hard, people's skills complement each other, and because of that everything gets done.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
Posts: 9779 | From: Manchester | Registered: Sep 2003
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Poppy
Ship's dancing cat
# 2000
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Posted
The thing I find weird is that people as the exit the building after a great carol service; choir were in tune, candles made the cavernous church look lovely, the favourite congregational carols were sung with gusto, and then the unchurched won't look me in the eye as they leave. I'm happily saying 'take care it's slippy out there' or 'Good Evening' and I'm completely ignored. I may as well be invisible.
Same happens at funerals - well not the carols and candles bit but the being completely ignored by a significant number of the congregation.
Which is odd really.
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At the still point of the turning world - there the dance is...
Posts: 1406 | From: mostly on the edge | Registered: Dec 2001
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Poppy:
... the unchurched won't look me in the eye as they leave. I'm happily saying 'take care it's slippy out there' or 'Good Evening' and I'm completely ignored. I may as well be invisible.
Same happens at funerals - well not the carols and candles bit but the being completely ignored by a significant number of the congregation.
Which is odd really.
No, because they're probably convinced that if they make eye contact you'll start talking about Jesus and try to convert them and push them to commit to coming regularly. There is a lot of anger out there at that side of Christianity; I've never tried to convert anyone in my life but I find I can't even mention religion without people getting immediately, and unjustifiably defensive. (So I don't.) The "lunatic fringe" and those street preachers who bawl out messages about either loving Jesus or burning in Hell are, unfortunately, often pretty much the only exposure to Christianity many people get.
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Beeswax Altar
Shipmate
# 11644
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ricardus:
quote:
Originally posted by Beeswax Altar:
I've yet to find an organist who shares my love of The Holly and the Ivy. The first one had never heard of it. The second more or less humored me. The current one will have nothing to do with it. You would think a song that mentions the "playing of the merry organ" and the "sweet singing of the choir" would be favorite of church musicians.
The traditional one or the June Nixon setting?
The fast one...
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Losing sleep is something you want to avoid, if possible.
-Og: King of Bashan
Posts: 8411 | From: By a large lake | Registered: Jul 2006
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andras
Shipmate
# 2065
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
quote:
Originally posted by andras:
What can anyone do against this sort of attitude? If there had been a convenient wall nearby I'd have knocked my head on it - or possibly his!
You don't need to do anything - one person's 'utterly gorgeous' is anothers 'deathly boring'.
I love nothing better than a walk round the reservoir for an hour or so, even today - rainy cold and very muddy. Others would disagree strongly. Should I say they have a 'dreadful attitude'?
Not at all - each to their own.
In fact, maybe it's your attitude which needs a bit of work?
Well, yes, maybe - I'll willingly admit that some things are like Marmite - you love it or you hate it. But then, since the person in question only comes once in a blue moon, I'd have to ask why he chose to come to something he clearly hated; and, knowing his wife quite well, I'm quite certain she wouldn't have pressured him to come.
I suppose that I'd sort of assumed that people who come to carol services and almost nothing else must like carols - the music, the atmosphere, the readings, whatever; clearly I'm wrong!
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God's on holiday.
(Why borrow a cat?)
Adrian Plass
Posts: 544 | From: Tregaron | Registered: Dec 2001
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Enoch
Shipmate
# 14322
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
quote:
Originally posted by andras:
Scene: University College Chapel - very much on the High Church side of things.
Event: A very traditional Nine Lessons and Carols (utterly gorgeous, as it turned out, with wonderful choral and congregational singing).
Member of congregation (sotto voce to his wife while waiting for the service to begin): I always forget just how boring this service is.
What can anyone do against this sort of attitude?
Accept that not everyone finds the same things engaging that you do? It's really no different to asking "how can you possibly not love football!?!"
Well put ![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif)
quote:
Originally posted by Beeswax Altar
I've yet to find an organist who shares my love of The Holly and the Ivy. The first one had never heard of it. The second more or less humored me. The current one will have nothing to do with it. You would think a song that mentions the "playing of the merry organ" and the "sweet singing of the choir" would be favorite of church musicians.
Even though I like that carol, I think your organists have a point. I don't think it goes well on the organ. If you want to get it in, and have a band/mini-orchestra that is looking for an opportunity to get involved, try and get them to do it.
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Brexit wrexit - Sir Graham Watson
Posts: 7610 | From: Bristol UK(was European Green Capital 2015, now Ljubljana) | Registered: Nov 2008
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rolyn
Shipmate
# 16840
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Poppy:
....the unchurched won't look me in the eye as they leave. I'm happily saying 'take care it's slippy out there' or 'Good Evening' and I'm completely ignored. I may as well be invisible.
Same happens at funerals - well not the carols and candles bit but the being completely ignored by a significant number of the congregation.
By doing this these folk are indirectly saying -- yes, I've come to Church , yes I might even have got something out of it , but Hey, hands off my soul , it's not up for grabs.
A perfectly normal human response . I cast my mind back to being unchurched myself before the age of 41. Nevertheless hard for a church leader to take I'm sure.
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Change is the only certainty of existence
Posts: 3206 | From: U.K. | Registered: Dec 2011
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Horseman Bree
Shipmate
# 5290
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Mind, Boogie, it's symptomatic of one of the problems that I've hinted at (with swears) in the Decline of Western Church thread - I think many of those on the inside don't know how dull and weird the whole thing looks from the outside.
Just chiming in to say that The Nine Lessons service is the one that I am least likely to attend. It is all about the performance and virtually nothing about the Incarnation, despite the reading of the boringly-familiar lessons. What's the point, apart from entertainment?
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It's Not That Simple
Posts: 5372 | From: more herring choker than bluenose | Registered: Dec 2003
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
A lot of the no-eye-contact, don't-talk-to-me thing is just being deathly shy. That's particularly hard to get over when you're an infrequent or brand new attender.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
The Nine Lessons service is the one that I am least likely to attend. It is all about the performance and virtually nothing about the Incarnation, despite the reading of the boringly-familiar lessons. What's the point, apart from entertainment?
We only have Seven lessons (not sure why, but it's tradition); however I insist on including a couple of brief reflections or poems and a short sermon as I do want to get people to think a bit (although it's not the time for a Gospel rant).
Generally this goes down quite well.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Mudfrog
Shipmate
# 8116
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by andras:
Scene: University College Chapel - very much on the High Church side of things.
Event: A very traditional Nine Lessons and Carols (utterly gorgeous, as it turned out, with wonderful choral and congregational singing).
Member of congregation (sotto voce to his wife while waiting for the service to begin): I always forget just how boring this service is.
What can anyone do against this sort of attitude? If there had been a convenient wall nearby I'd have knocked my head on it - or possibly his!
We share a Methodist Church. Sunday 15th was the Salvation Army's carol service - no liturgy, only 3 readings from Luke, a children's talk and traditional carols, though not just the usual suspects - we had What child is this, for example. The 'modern' carol was A Starry Night.
Noisy in parts, reverent in others, friendly and warm.
Last night was a very wordy Methodist 9-lessons-and-carols-lite with (just) 7 carols and the entire Nativity from Mt and Mk PLUS a 'humourous' prose reading about Joseph that only the reader's wife found amusing.
Before it had even started I got a complaint from one of our SA members. I turned on her and in all seriousness called her 'Sister Miss-a-Blessing' - and the kind of person who says, Bless me if you dare!'
She apologised. But only because I hugged her about 5 minutes later.
At the end of the service that was conduced with no introductions to anything - and therefore no verbal contact between pulpit and congregation - and which included a 15 minutes sermon (!! - in a carol service??) I went up to the poor woman and told her I had been more bored than she said she was going to be.
No wonder churches are half empty with only the long-suffering faithful in them.
[ 23. December 2013, 23:38: Message edited by: Mudfrog ]
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"The point of having an open mind, like having an open mouth, is to close it on something solid."
G.K. Chesterton
Posts: 8237 | From: North Yorkshire, UK | Registered: Jul 2004
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Hairy Biker
Shipmate
# 12086
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Poppy:
The thing I find weird is that people as the exit the building after a great carol service; choir were in tune, candles made the cavernous church look lovely, the favourite congregational carols were sung with gusto, and then the unchurched won't look me in the eye as they leave. I'm happily saying 'take care it's slippy out there' or 'Good Evening' and I'm completely ignored. I may as well be invisible.
Same happens at funerals - well not the carols and candles bit but the being completely ignored by a significant number of the congregation.
Which is odd really.
not at all odd. They simply don't know what's expected of them, so they don't do anything. I've been going to church for almost 20 years and I still don't know what to say to vicars when I leave after the service.
Posts: 683 | From: This Sceptred Isle | Registered: Nov 2006
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Pomona
Shipmate
# 17175
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Posted
I fail to see why a carol service shouldn't have a sermon - it is possible for sermons to be good, you know! Midnight Mass will have a sermon but is you know, rather popular....
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Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? [Ecclesiastes 7:13]
Posts: 5319 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2012
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Leorning Cniht
Shipmate
# 17564
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Hairy Biker:
I've been going to church for almost 20 years and I still don't know what to say to vicars when I leave after the service.
In a strange place, I say "Good Morning, Father!" and shake his hand. At home, our priest and I will usually exchange a few words about the children, holiday plans etc.
Posts: 5026 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2013
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Haydee
Shipmate
# 14734
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Posted
I find 'thank you' generally works quite well.
Posts: 433 | Registered: Apr 2009
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seasick
...over the edge
# 48
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Mudfrog:
Last night was a very wordy Methodist 9-lessons-and-carols-lite with (just) 7 carols and the entire Nativity from Mt and Mk PLUS a 'humourous' prose reading about Joseph that only the reader's wife found amusing.
How fascinating! Which bits of Mark's story of the Nativity did the service include? ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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We believe there is, and always was, in every Christian Church, ... an outward priesthood, ordained by Jesus Christ, and an outward sacrifice offered therein. - John Wesley
Posts: 5769 | From: A world of my own | Registered: May 2001
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Mudfrog
Shipmate
# 8116
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by seasick:
quote:
Originally posted by Mudfrog:
Last night was a very wordy Methodist 9-lessons-and-carols-lite with (just) 7 carols and the entire Nativity from Mt and Mk PLUS a 'humourous' prose reading about Joseph that only the reader's wife found amusing.
How fascinating! Which bits of Mark's story of the Nativity did the service include?
LOL woops! ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif) ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
Well, Methodists are very creative.
Please replace the M with an L.
To be fair, I did enjoy the carol service; it's nice to listen to the majority of the story thoughtfully read and you can't go wrong with the carols at all - except when some of them are changed to make them PC.
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"The point of having an open mind, like having an open mouth, is to close it on something solid."
G.K. Chesterton
Posts: 8237 | From: North Yorkshire, UK | Registered: Jul 2004
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Marvin the Martian
Interplanetary
# 4360
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Mudfrog:
...a 15 minutes sermon (!! - in a carol service??)
You were lucky. The carol service I went to at my in-laws church included a 45-minute fundie-evangelic sermon, featuring altar call and prayer for healing.
One dreads to think what their normal services are like...
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Hail Gallaxhar
Posts: 30100 | From: Adrift on a sea of surreality | Registered: Apr 2003
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leo
Shipmate
# 1458
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Jade Constable:
I fail to see why a carol service shouldn't have a sermon - it is possible for sermons to be good, you know! Midnight Mass will have a sermon but is you know, rather popular....
A sermon is compulsory at Midnight Mass because it is a solemnity.
Sermons are not compulsory and seldom necessary at a Service of the Word. Let the Word speak for itself.
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My Jewish-positive lectionary blog is at http://recognisingjewishrootsinthelectionary.wordpress.com/
My reviews at http://layreadersbookreviews.wordpress.com
Posts: 23198 | From: Bristol | Registered: Oct 2001
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Robert Armin
All licens'd fool
# 182
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Leorning Cniht:
quote:
Originally posted by Hairy Biker:
I've been going to church for almost 20 years and I still don't know what to say to vicars when I leave after the service.
In a strange place, I say "Good Morning, Father!" and shake his hand. At home, our priest and I will usually exchange a few words about the children, holiday plans etc.
"Lovely sermon vicar," seems to be the norm - whether it has been or not.
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Keeping fit was an obsession with Fr Moity .... He did chin ups in the vestry, calisthenics in the pulpit, and had developed a series of Tai-Chi exercises to correspond with ritual movements of the Mass. The Antipope Robert Rankin
Posts: 8927 | From: In the pack | Registered: May 2001
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
I like that episode of Father Ted:
Parishioner: And that Sermon? What the feck was it about?
Fr Ted: Well, it was...
[Parishioner ignores him, shakes his head and walks off muttering in despair]
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Callan
Shipmate
# 525
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by daronmedway:
Thank everyone, preach the incarnation and grow a thick skin.
This generally works on the other 364 days as well, in my experience.
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How easy it would be to live in England, if only one did not love her. - G.K. Chesterton
Posts: 9757 | From: Citizen of the World | Registered: Jun 2001
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Karl: Liberal Backslider
Shipmate
# 76
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Posted
Real advice: Put your Christmas service times up on the noticeboard and/or your website. Should be obvious, but clearly isn't to the Rector in my parents' parish.
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Might as well ask the bloody cat.
Posts: 17938 | From: Chesterfield | Registered: May 2001
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Dogwalker
Shipmate
# 14135
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Posted
To add to what Karl said: after you post the service times on the noticeboard, website, or wherever, get SOMEONE ELSE to check your work.
I found about a week ago that I'd put the wrong service time on the parish website. It's the least attended Christmas service, the website has been correct for several days, and I'm still worried someone will show up an hour early and be frustrated.
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If God had meant for us to fly, he wouldn't have given us the railways. - Unknown
Posts: 155 | From: Milford, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2008
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