"During the 40 days, the following comment was left on this blog. I didn't leave it, but I do think it expresses what I think is the "feel" of the decisions we made:
"The "bedrock principle", the "main thing", the "core idea" has to this: "Glorifying God in your ordinary life". If this was the theme of the teaching it would be easy-listening for newcomers (as we look at different aspects of an ordinary life - waking up, going to work, caring for a family, retiring, finding your calling, getting a good night's sleep). Every time, the preachers would make it clear that to succeed in an ordinary life we need the power of God, and show the non-Christian how to "plug in" to the power-station power of the Holy Spirit. And it would always be relevant for Christians too..."
"One year in to Rolling Worship, my fear is that this focus might be lost as all the worship elements from Church on the Common (traditional hymns and robes, even in the supposedly "informal" sections, sermons on religious topics rather than on ordinary life, unwillingness to get to know the other members of the church) are quietly brought back in. The simple fact - as I think Andy hinted at the AGM, though he was expressing himself a lot more graciously than I was feeling at the time! - is that if we hadn't changed, our numbers would have kept declining. You ask any of the new people who've started coming to church in the last year why they're here, and I bet none of them will say "because we're so Anglican" or "because we sing old hymns!" They'll say "because it's lively" and "because it's welcoming" and "because it isn't the way churches used to be". Don't let anything endanger this new life."
A church member
"The "bedrock principle", the "main thing", the "core idea" has to this: "Glorifying God in your ordinary life". If this was the theme of the teaching it would be easy-listening for newcomers (as we look at different aspects of an ordinary life - waking up, going to work, caring for a family, retiring, finding your calling, getting a good night's sleep). Every time, the preachers would make it clear that to succeed in an ordinary life we need the power of God, and show the non-Christian how to "plug in" to the power-station power of the Holy Spirit. And it would always be relevant for Christians too..."
"One year in to Rolling Worship, my fear is that this focus might be lost as all the worship elements from Church on the Common (traditional hymns and robes, even in the supposedly "informal" sections, sermons on religious topics rather than on ordinary life, unwillingness to get to know the other members of the church) are quietly brought back in. The simple fact - as I think Andy hinted at the AGM, though he was expressing himself a lot more graciously than I was feeling at the time! - is that if we hadn't changed, our numbers would have kept declining. You ask any of the new people who've started coming to church in the last year why they're here, and I bet none of them will say "because we're so Anglican" or "because we sing old hymns!" They'll say "because it's lively" and "because it's welcoming" and "because it isn't the way churches used to be". Don't let anything endanger this new life."
A church member
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