New Chair of the Liturgical Issue 44 Dec 2014 £2.50 Commission and President of Praxis

In this issue t was announced at the end of the English liturgical history as the place summer that the Rt Revd Robert where the English Hymnal was compiled New Chair 1 I Atwell, of Exeter, is to be the new (Vaughan Williams, the musical editor, Training Post 1 Chair of the Liturgical Commission. was a local resident) and where Percy Music News 2-3 Events 4 He will take up the role in January Dearmer was the incumbent. Things Reports 5 2015. Bishop Robert has long taken an have, of course moved on a bit since The Books 5 and 7 interest in pastoral liturgy. His recent Parson’s Handbook! With a background Lay leadership of worship 6- 7 writing includes Peace at the Last: of university chaplaincy, religious life, Colin’s Column 8 leading funerals well (Canterbury Press, parish ministry, and bishoping in the Liturgical Commission 8 2014) and The Good Worship Guide: dioceses of Chester (where he was leading liturgy well (Canterbury Press, ) and now Exeter, 2013) – as well as adressing Christian Bishop Robert brings many-sided What is Praxis? spirituality and prayer. He is one of experience and wide-ranging interests to the authors of the new Pilgrim course. his new role. See www.praxisworship.org.uk Before becoming a bishop, he was for And the Chair of the Commission is Praxis was formed in 1990, several years the Vicar of St Mary’s, also the President of Praxis. sponsored by the Liturgical Commission, the Group for the Primrose Hill, a church celebrated in Renewal of Worship (GROW) and the Alcuin Club to provide and support liturgical education in the . A new training post:

Praxis News of Worship is copyright RSCM and Praxis © Praxis 2014. Material for inclusion should be sent to the editor, Praxis and the Royal School of Church Music together are creating an exciting [email protected] new post that will increase the availability of training in worship and music right We reserve the right to edit material across the country. The advert is as follows: and make no guarantee to include material submitted. The views expressed are not necessarily those of Head of Ministerial Training Praxis or the Praxis Council.

Contact praxis@praxisworship. In partnership with Praxis, the RSCM seeks to appoint a person to train org.uk ordained and lay ministers in the sphere of worship and music. Creating the

For general enquiries, affiliation and programmes and resources for this mission, the post holder will forge and programme information, contact develop effective links with ministerial training bodies. The ideal candidate will Praxis, 19 The Close, Salisbury, be an excellent communicator who will nurture leaders of imaginative worship SP1 2EB, 01202 296886, praxis@ praxisworship.org.uk within strong liturgical principles and in a wide range of styles. The post holder may be lay or ordained. Relocation to Salisbury is not required. Affiliation The work that Praxis does is This is a full-time post; salary indicator: £35,000. See www.rscm.com/jobs supported mainly by affiliation. If for job descriptions and how to apply. If you have any questions relating to you are not an affiliate, why not consider becoming one? applying for this post, please contact [email protected] or 01722 424848. Closing date: 5.00 pm on Friday 9 January 2015

Page 1 Music News - Anne Harrison Training musicians practical and creative skills in leading Spirituality series. They will explore aspects worship.’ of the interaction between theology and n some Church of England dioceses, Sam Hargreaves is also leading two music in worship, looking at questions such Iofficial authorisation is available for Youth and Worship Intensive Weekends as what theological insights go into shaping musicians who follow a particular course at the London School of Theology in worship – whether big Christmas and Easter of study and training in leading worship. 2015 (Friday 6 to Saturday 7 February, services or regular Sunday worship – and Salisbury, for example, has a Diocesan and Friday 6 to Saturday 7 March, each how music nuances and expands theology, Certificate in Church Music, with funding with an optional visit to a youth service in with the belief that in worship, theology from the Tindall Trust (www.salisbury. the London area on the Sunday). Youth and music should be in dialogue so that the anglican.org/worship/music/dccm). workers and worship leaders are invited to music expresses good theology and gives it join LST students to explore the challenges wings. Sheffield and potential of inviting young people to Those wanting to participate should Sheffield Diocese has run the Worship 4 worship God. Some reading will need to be contact the Cathedral (events@ Today programme for worship leaders and done in advance. For more details see Sam’s durhamcathedral.co.uk). Coffee will be musicians, developed by Helen Bent, since website, http://engageworship.org/events/ provided; bring your own lunch or eat in 2007 (www.sheffield.anglican.org/worship- YouthAndWorship. the Undercroft restaurant. Although the 4-today). On successful completion of Holy Trinity Brompton event is free, a donation of £10 towards the course students are authorised by the expenses is welcome on the day. Bishop at a Celebration of Lay Ministries From Holy Trinity Brompton, South Service alongside new Readers, Pastoral Kensington, comes the Worship Central ‘Sing for joy’ at Scargill Workers, Parish Evangelists, and Children Course, a seven-session programme and Youth Leaders. To enable wider use, the examining theological and practical issues ospel musician Anna Weister material has been published: find out more around leading contemporary worship. GAndersson will be leading a weekend from the Church House Publishing website A promotional video from Tim Hughes of choral singing in North Yorkshire at (www.chpublishing.co.uk/features/worship- and Al Gordon can be seen online (www. Scargill House (where she is a member 4-today). worshipcentral.org) where you can also of the community) from Friday 20 to download a guide to running the course in Sunday 22 February 2015. MP3 files will RSCM your own context and the leaders’ notes for be available in advance to those who book For musicians looking outside their own the first session, giving a helpful picture of in, so that they can learn this ‘healing and diocese for training, various options and what is involved. life-giving’ music at home – whether or not styles are available, including events and Tim Hughes also runs the Academy they have previously sung in a gospel choir programmes such as Church Music Skills in London (set up in 2011), along with – before working together on expression run by the Royal School of Church Music Daniela Hogger, Tom Read and some of the and dynamics and reflecting on the (www.rscm.com). Their new Strengthen Worship Central Team. Students train with ‘encouraging lyrics’. See the Scargill website for Service short residential course in St Mellitus Theological College as part of (http://scargillmovement.org) for booking Salisbury will run twice in 2015: Tuesday the programme (www.stmellitus.org). information. 14 to Thursday 16 April, and Tuesday A month later at Scargill, from Friday 15 to Thursday 17 September. This is Theology and music 20 to Sunday 22 March, Roger Jones and designed not just for musicians but for a team from Christian Music Ministries Anglican clergy and Readers, with a focus urham Cathedral and the Music (www.cmm.org.uk) will be leading a on managing parish music. Practical help is DDepartment of Durham University weekend for musicians and other leaders of offered in choosing suitable materials and are hosting a study day early in 2015 with worship entitled ‘Worship Works’. There establishing good working practices. (See the title, ‘Putting theology into musical will be opportunities for ministry, while the article on p 3.) practice’. To be held on Saturday 24 January the teaching topics include leading and in the Prior’s Hall, Durham Cathedral, London School of Theology planning worship, prophetic worship and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the day is aimed healing in worship. Roger and his colleagues London School of Theology (www.lst.ac.uk) at anyone interested in the relationship have also published a ‘workbook for groups, runs programmes at Certificate, Diploma between theology and music, whether choirs and congregations’ with the same and Degree level in music, theology and from the perspective of practice in the local title. worship. Staff include Sam Hargreaves, church or academic study. Carey Luce and Geraldine (Latty) Luce, Professor Bennett Zon from the Studying with one of the modules exploring music University Music Department will be in ministry and worship leading: ‘This module the chair, with speakers including Durham’s congregational song covers a range of issues concerned with Precentor (David Kennedy, a former chair egistration begins on 31 January initiating, developing and maintaining an of Praxis), the Cathedral Organist (James 2015 for the third biennial Christian effective music and worship team, planning, Lancelot, who is also an active member of R Congregational Music Conference, to be creating and leading acts of worship in a Durham Diocesan Liturgical Committee) held from Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 August at variety of contexts, and choosing music for and Rosalind Brown, hymn-writer and Ripon College, Cuddesdon. The multi- worship. A series of regular Worship Labs author of a number of books including disciplinary conference’s subtitle, once give students the opportunity to develop How Hymns Shape our Lives in the Grove again, is ‘Local and Global Perspectives’, Page 2 More Music News with the aim of bringing together scholars pieces have been sung at the Catholic World Strengthen for Service and practitioners to explore the varying Youth Day in Brazil and at the Anglican cultural, social and spiritual roles which Caribbean Provincial Congress in Barbados. offered by RSCM congregational song plays in the life of Find more information about ‘Lift up your Christian communities around the world. hearts: A Caribbean Liturgical Celebration’ his is a short introduction to the Among the main speakers will be a on composer Judy Bailey’s website (www. Torigins, history and development of professor of liturgical studies (Teresa judybailey.com/liturgy). worship and music in the Western Church, Berger from Yale Divinity School), an designed not just for musicians but for ethnomusicologist (D Timothy Rommen, Hymn-singing challenge Anglican clergy and Readers, with a focus also from the USA), Anglican theologian on managing parish music. Practical help Carol Harrison (recently appointed as the he choir of St John the Baptist Church, is offered in choosing suitable materials next Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity at TKeynsham, set themselves an ambitious and establishing good working practices. It Oxford University) and Methodist scholar fundraising challenge in preparation for a majors on the practical application of this Lester Ruth (currently Research Professor tour to Holland in 2015, aiming to sing knowledge to contemporary church life, and of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity 500 hymns in 500 churches across the explains how things fit together. The course School, Durham, North Carolina). Joseph Diocese of Bath and Wells in five days. follows the route of studying the Jewish J. Palackal, of the Christian Musicological Choir members and friends were sponsored antecedents, learning the vocabulary of Society of India, will be among those to sing a hymn in each church, where they currently used items with Common Worship bringing an Asian perspective. also prayed for the worship of that place as the core, and then moving into practical Some of the papers presented at the and its local mission. Ten per cent of all the tasks – how to manage music in a parish, first conference, held in 2011, have been money raised was given to the Diocesan how to design a bespoke act of worship for published by Ashgate with the title Christian Fund for Church Growth, which provides a particular constituency of worshipper, and Congregational Music: Performance, Identity support for a range of projects. so forth. Worship takes place frequently and Experience (edited by Monique Ingalls, Forty singers began the challenge as a during the course and this offers the Carolyn Landau and Tom Wagner). One full choir at Wells Cathedral at 10 a.m. on opportunity to demonstrate monastic, chapter is by Mark Porter, who recently Wednesday 29 October before travelling in parish and community styles of worship completed a doctorate at City University small teams to as many of the 567 churches with music from a wide provenance, and based on research carried out at St Aldate’s in the diocese as possible. At 5 p.m. on to explore the various functions of music Church, Oxford, and who is one of the Sunday 2 November the choir reunited to from the simple chant of Compline to the organisers of the 2015 conference. sing a hymn at their home church, bringing very personal nature of improvised music to the total number of churches visited to illustrate the Eucharistic Prayer. All this is Resound Christmas CD 509. Keynsham’s Music Director, Roger squeezed into 48 hours. Peach, while acknowledging that some had One lay participant in the September hile it is relatively easy to find new wondered occasionally whether reaching 2014 course, Jackie Robbs, had this to say: Wchoral repertoire for Christmas, their target was going to be possible, said ‘The ‘Strengthen for Service’ course is finding new seasonal worship songs can the warm welcome received at many of the aptly named and works on a number of be more of a challenge. For fresh ideas, churches had been a huge encouragement. levels. First of all it tests your physical consider the twelve tracks from Resound There was moving appreciation from some stamina. The central day starts with Worship on their new CD, Christmas Songs, of the smaller places of worship involved, Morning Prayer at 7.30 and doesn’t end also available as a digital download. Further and the initiative also drew members of the until 9.30 with Iona-style night worship. details, including audio samples, are on the choir and congregation together. Secondly, the course stretches your mental Resound website (www.resoundworship. One ten-year old who sang in over 100 capacity. Throughout I felt I was having org). The recording opens with Joel churches during the challenge said, ‘The to operate in a higher gear as I absorbed Payne’s ‘In the beginning’ – based on John best bit was singing in the Bishop’s Chapel new material and dredged up knowledge 1 – while other songwriters include Judy because I felt part of something very special. that had long been dormant. Thirdly, and Gresham. The five days were really fun and I loved most importantly, the course increases your RESOUNDworship.org is the song visiting all the churches!’ confidence in leading worship. The times project of the Jubilate Group of writers; Roger Peach will be working alongside of worship encouraged us to listen to each resources for Advent and Christmas are Roger Jones at a choral day for conductors other and pool our gifts and experience. The listed on the Jubilate website (www.jubilate. and singers in Birmingham on Saturday tutors clearly have a passion for music and co.uk), including seasonal hymn texts by 7 February 2015, under the auspices of for worship and the successful interaction Christopher Idle and a call to worship by Christian Music Ministries (www.cmm.org. of both: and their implicit aim was to pass John Leach based on the Magnificat. uk). Repertoire from CMM, the RSCM all this on for the glory of God and the and the Jubilate Group will be sampled and advancement of his kingdom.’ Caribbean liturgical music available for browsing. For further details of "" Rosemary Field is RSCM Deputy the event, to be held at St Andrew’s Church, Director (Education and Voluntary new Communion setting which Barnt Green, B45 8NR, contact the CMM Networks). Ais being taken up by a number of office ([email protected]). Anglican churches in the West Indies uses music in Afro/Caribbean style. Some of the

Page 3 Events Pastoral Care and Worship in an Responding appropriately in a variety of The day will help churches plan worship Emergency pastoral situations, from parish pastoral care to commemorate key events from the and hospital calls to major incidents and final two years of World War 1. Our Saturday 28 February 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. emergencies. speakers will focus on ‘What it means to Derby Diocese Contact Sheila Townsend 01865 208277 remember’, ‘War: Church and Clergy’ and St John’s Church, Walton, Chesterfield [email protected] ‘Women and the Home Front’. We plan S42 7LT Act Justly… to share some local church thinking from Speakers: Bridget Nichols, John Williams. across our region and to create an act of This day introduces the Common Worship Saturday 25 April 2015 10 a.m.- worship which will incorporate images and Pastoral Ministry Companion, and looks at 4.00 p.m. Praxis Southwest music as well as words. how clergy and lay ministers can respond Cullompton Community Centre, Devon Contact [email protected] appropriately in a range of situations from Speaker: Bernadette Farrell (composer and hospital calls and parish pastoral care to organiser for London Citizens) Make a splash! Jumping into the major incidents and emergencies. In this event we will be making waters of baptism! Contact Fiona Bennett 01332 388670 connections between the liturgical life of [email protected] Thursday 5 November 2015 the assembly and its task of ‘doing justice’. 10.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. Praxis South Music and Liturgy Contact [email protected] St Michael’s, Cornhill, London, Thursday 5 March 10 a.m. - 3.15 p.m. Making Way: Labyrinths and EC3V 9DS Praxis Midlands Sacred Moments Speakers: Sandra Millar, (Head of Projects St Chad’s RC Cathedral, Birmingham and Development for the Archbishops’ Speakers: Andrew Maries (worship Saturday 25 April 10.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. Council) and Anders Bergquist (Liturgical consultant, the Keynote Trust), Jon Payne Praxis Yorkshire Wakefield Cathedral Commission). (RSCM Birmingham) Speakers: Andi Hofbauer, (Precentor of What does a baptism mean to a family An opportunity to explore the role of Wakefield Cathedral) and Helen Bent, that brings a child to church to be ‘done’? music in supporting and communicating (Bishop’s Adviser in Music and Worship, The Baptism Project followed on from the liturgy. This is an interactive day to explore Sheffield Diocese) highly successful Weddings Project, and a range of styles and approaches to music Praxis Yorkshire and Wakefield Cathedral Sandra Millar will talk about its progress. in worship, and consider the place of music offer a day of walking and praying the Anders Bergquist will detail the thinking in the worshipping communities we serve. labyrinth in and around the cathedral and behind the new baptismal texts and how Contact [email protected] sharing ideas for creating Sacred Moments. they are designed to make the service more Workshops will make use of the Wakefield accessible. Contact [email protected] All Age Worship for All – is it labyrinth and give opportunity to create 01202 296886 possible? different Sacred Moments inside and outside the building. Contact Vasey Lecture Thursday 12 March 10 a.m. - 3.45 p.m. [email protected], 01709 363850 On Monday 23 February 2015 at 7.30 Praxis Northwest p.m. the Rev Canon Dr James Steven William Temple Church, Wythenshawe, Liturgy for the Unchurched will give the annual public liturgy lecture M22 0DU Friday 8 May 10.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. in memory of Michael Vasey in the Speakers: Gill Ambrose and Susan Witts Praxis South Southwark Cathedral chapel of St John’s College, Durham. His All-age worship exists in many forms, from Speakers: To be announced subject will be ‘Anabaptist Daily Prayer: Messy Church to a Service of the Word How to communicate with the A 21st Century Synthesis of Liturgical where children may or may not always be ‘unchurched’ and the renewal of baptized and Evangelical Traditions’. James is the present; from lay-led worship in village Christians have become primary concerns Academic Dean and Programme Leader churches to parade services in suburbia. for almost every Christian denomination. for the MA in Christian Liturgy at Sarum There may be babes-in-arms to 90 year olds, How can we address this in the words of College, Salisbury, and Canon Theologian life long worshippers and first timers. This our liturgies and how we perform them, of Gloucester Cathedral; he was a student day is designed to help us think through so that someone with limited or no church of Michael Vasey at Cranmer Hall. how we might create all-age worship that experience will not be confused or perhaps can engage with all those that might attend. even embarrassed? Contact Laing Lecture Contact [email protected], [email protected] 01202 296886 The following day, Tuesday 24 February, 01524 32106 sees the London School of Theology’s NOT all over by Christmas When the Phone Rings: Pastoral 2015 Laing Lecture delivered by Dr John Commemorating World War One: Witvliet (director of the Calvin Institute Care and Worship in an 2016-2018 of Christian Worship in Grand Rapids, Emergency Thursday 8 October 10 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. Michigan) at the college in Northwood. Saturday 14 March 10.30 a.m – Praxis Midlands His books include Worship Seeking 3.30 p.m. Oxford Diocese St Chad’s RC Cathedral, Birmingham Understanding: Windows into Christian Speakers: Bridget Nichols, David Speakers: Maggie Ross, Michael Snape, Practice (Baker Academic 2003). Further Wilbrahams. Andrew Wickens details will be posted at www.lst.ac.uk.

Page 4 Reports

Worship in the Winter of Life - hymns and prayers from their youth. He opportunities actually to talk about death, Praxis Midlands challenged people to think about making dying and funerals. their relatives’ spiritual history known to We then had a very thought-provoking + people attended this event at their carers. What hymns, readings and talk from the Stuart Thomas, Rector 50Birmingham Cathedral on 30 prayers are special to them? Andy Metcalf, of Frimley, on what a funeral is from a October. Canon David Winter, in a a full-time chaplain to Methodist Homes Christian perspective. After lunch Richard humorous and insightful keynote address in Leamington Spa, helped us reflect on Putter, of Leverton’s Funeral Directors, that celebrated old age rather than its how to challenge and stimulate older people offered a light-hearted view of funerals difficulties, demonstrated that the church is whose minds are still functioning well but from his perspective, but also some serious well placed to help older people face up to who may not be able-bodied. Spiritual ideas on how clergy and funeral directors daunting questions such as the purpose of themes relating to Christ as Shepherd, can work together more effectively by more life, the need to know where we are going, as Wounded Healer and Holy Fool were immediate communication. The day ended well as problems of loneliness and facing up fruitful discussion starters. Robin Rolls, with a session from Anders Bergquist, from to death. The church is a community called director of the Outlook Trust, addressed the the neighbouring parish of St John’s Wood, to offer a spiritual home to all ages, and as subject of evangelism with older people. His giving his experience of putting together a God’s family, it must recognise the many suggestion of ‘holiday clubs’ for seniors rang good funeral. positive things the elderly bring, and find a bells for some delegates. Overall the day was well spent in giving place for them to belong. David asked how Evaluation forms indicated that those us food for thought in what is an extremely well our worship and our preaching (not who came were given new insights and important area of our mission and pastoral just at funerals) help us all to face death with left better equipped for building up an ministry. hope. He ended by quoting the atheist Brian undervalued and challenging area of "" Jane Manley is Vicar of St Paul’s Cox, who has said that ‘what makes infinity ministry. Ruislip Manor and Dean of Women for the bearable is love’, capping it with his own "" Richard Curtis, Tony Leighton and Anne Willesden Area. phrase ‘but what makes infinity glorious is Horton, Diocese of Leicester God’. The address drew a lot of responsive Funerals and how to improve questions and comment: mid-week, daytime them - Praxis South services and activities offer the lonely and BOOK newly-bereaved a place of belonging; the n 5 November, over 100 people, glorious paradox that is the first sentence of Oclergy, ordinands and readers-in- training, gathered at St Mark’s, Hamilton the funeral service; ways in which church Alcuin/GROW Joint Liturgical communities can combat the assumptions Terrace to discuss funerals and how to of the lonely elderly that they are ‘not enhance and improve this area of ministry. Study wanted’; how church members can keep The day began with an inspiring No. 78, Further Essays in Early Eastern hope alive for housebound and ‘drugged’ talk by Sandra Millar, Head of Projects Initiation: Early Syrian Baptismal Liturgy, elderlies; how to help those asking ‘why and Development for the Archbishops’ SCM–Canterbury Press, 2014, £7.95 Council. Sandra took us through the ABC doesn’t God just take me home?’; if the In the latest Joint Liturgical Study, by Paul young find church a good place to be, they guide to funerals: Attract, Build and Care. Bradshaw and Juliette Day, Paul Bradshaw are more likely to ‘come back’ when they How can we continue to ‘attract’ people investigates the relationship of anointing get older; and the opportunity Advent offers to have a Christian funeral; how can we candidates for baptism to the actual the whole church to reflect on the four last ‘build’ understanding; how we can ‘care’ immersion of them in water, running his things. and build an ongoing relationship? enquiry across three centuries from the The keynote talk was followed by a short Over 160,000 funerals a year are conducted second to the fourth, and across the whole act of worship devised in a care home by Church of England ministers, but we of Syria. He gently queries conclusions of situation. In the afternoon, four workshops need to rethink, refocus and realise that previous authors, particularly those which were offered. Catriona Foster, Pastor of we are now in a competitive market. The have been propounded with a confidence Older People at St John’s, Harborne, Church is not the only body conducting that has outrun what the evidence (under outlined many ways in which their church funerals; we need to focus on the pastoral careful inspection from Paul Bradshaw, aims to be ‘a good place to grow old in’. details and to pay attention to the aftercare the advocate of ‘splitting’) has warranted. From a ‘drop in,’ all the way through of families. While we all know it is good to Juliette Day, on the other hand, has gone Senior Alpha, courses based on Pilgrim’s visit the bereaved after a funeral, restraints to a particular set of lectures of a single Progress and on gardening, the elderly are of time are usually against us in parish life, author in a single city at a single time – encouraged to belong, feel valued and resulting in the neglect of this important namely the Catechetical Lectures of Cyril grow in faith. David Primrose, Director ministry. However, Sandra gave us some of Jerusalem, delivered by him in 351. She of Transforming Communities, Lichfield very simple and effective ways of keeping combs the lectures in order to put together Diocese, spoke about creating dementia- in touch, helping families to still feel a reasonable construction of the baptismal friendly worship. He said that many elderly supported, and to know that we are there rite for which Cyril was preparing his people brought up with an experience of for them: ideas included Death Cafes and catechumens. church can, despite dementia, remember Grave Talk groups, which could give people

Page 5 Lay leadership of worship

On Ascension Day 1866, Reader ministry in 2004, looked for a commitment to World and was re-founded largely as a means to complete three portfolios (Preaching, Bible worship: Reader extend the effectiveness of the traditional and Spirituality) at Level 4 HE. Following parochial system to new pioneering work a review earlier this year these training ministry on the boundaries between Church and requirements have been streamlined such world. From that point onwards the role that participants are now asked to: ore than ever today we need people of the Reader has evolved to mirror the • attend an introductory preaching course who can take what’s going on in M liturgical role of the clergy, particularly • submit a 1500-word essay/reflection the world around and reflect on it with a in the last seven decades. For instance, in (evidencing thought about the nature of theological perspective, and people who can 1941 Readers were allowed to read the preaching and its good practice) put into words what they know of God and epistle, but not the gospel, to administer • submit three sermons with constructive his love and share it outside the church. I’m the chalice but not the paten and to preach feedback from congregation, clergy and convinced that a renewed Reader ministry at Morning and Evening Prayer but not at other preaching colleagues. is ideally placed to join other ministries Holy Communion. In 1969 Readers were The point has not been to reduce the in making, refreshing and sustaining authorized to read the gospel and to preach learning of preachers in the diocese, but to disciples of Christ. Readers (or Licensed Lay at Holy Communion, and the ministry underline the vital importance and personal Ministers or Catechists) are not clones of was extended to women, around the time responsibility of ongoing development the clergy. that the blue scarf began to be used. We and reflection in all forms of ministry. The Readers are called to the ministry of the have dressed-up and clericalized pioneer aim all along has been to ensure that our word, to engage people in conversation lay ministers so that many have come to preachers have good foundations of skill about God and with God, to lead them see leading worship and preaching as the and knowledge in essential areas, and to to Christ and to equip them to share the whole of their ministry, functions they encourage a life-long approach to learning good news of God’s kingdom; they also share with their ordained colleagues; some (which often ask about when it lead worship, teach and preach, building have allowed themselves to be re-defined as comes for authorisations to be renewed up the Church in Christ’s name. So Reader lay-clergy! every few years). ministry is by no means restricted to As authorized lay ministries diversify, Some have asked, ‘Why not just leave it leading worship and preaching. Readers I value the pioneering lay ministry of the to local training and assessment?’ However, bring the word of the Lord to the world word represented by the Anglican reader. it has always seemed appropriate that there and they bring a lay perspective to the "" Bishop Robert Paterson is Chair of the should be some level of diocesan oversight, Church and its hearing of the word. They Central Readers’ Council and Vice-Chair of since people are preaching with episcopal are lay theologians: lay because they are the Liturgical Commission. authorisation. PCC approval is required rooted outside the system and should before authorisation is given and local be encouraged not to become church ministry teams can be great places to learn office-holders. That’s not because these are Lay preaching in the from each other. So it is very much seen as a under-valued but because the job of a lay Diocese of Oxford partnership between diocese and parish. theologian, for most of the time, is to be Has it worked? We think so! Yes, some out there in the world, away from church- ay participation in leading worship has have slipped through the net and some have centred activities and involved with people been encouraged in Oxford diocese L found preaching may not be for them. But and issues that may not even benefit the now for many years – much as in many many others have known the satisfaction church directly. other parts of the country. One particular of completing worthwhile training which Stephen Cherry commented that ‘there innovation, now in its tenth year here, has may even have stretched them a little, and was a very sad Reader in the TV series, been the development of a scheme under are now ministering with the full support of Rev. … What was sad about Nigel [the which the bishops authorise lay people both local church and diocese. to preach in their own benefice without Reader] was that he was so churchy and "" Phil Cooke is the Coordinator of so much wanted to be a vicar. The tragedy needing to become fully-fledged Licensed the Local Ministry Programme Courses, was that he did not see that his churchiness Lay Ministers (though some do go on to Department of Mission, Diocese of Oxford. was precisely what would undermine his train as LLMs in due course). ministry if he were ever ordained.’ He was The potential has been evident and, a lay person unable to celebrate the lay-ness increasingly, demand too – whether Lichfield’s experiment of his ministry. If that joke is understood by through a theological commitment to n September 2013, a two-year experiment people outside the worshipping life of the shared ministry, or the stark functional Istarted in the Diocese of Lichfield Church but not by some within it, we are in challenge of needing to service multi-parish giving permission to congregations to try trouble. benefices. But how to release these people different styles of worship, and to invite Readers are theologians because they to fruitful service in a way that encourages people not licensed as clergy or Readers have been trained in ‘God-talk’ – to study and affirms local ministry while still to lead worship. This initiative was the and pay attention to God in Scripture, to retaining an appropriate level of equipping result of a lot of discussion in the diocese understand the teaching of the Church and accountability? Still going strong, about gathered worship, and several and to help people apply that in practice. this initiative continues to encourage the different concerns about the suitability and Theology as God-talk is for all, and theology ministry of an ever-growing number in their sustainability of the worship we offer. is effectively communicated only by desire and discerned call to tell the story Inevitably, one of the questions was someone on fire. of God. The original scheme, launched Page 6 Lay leadership of worship about resourcing worship. Like other Lay Leaders of Worship supervision with a guided reflection by dioceses and denominations, we face the LLW, and the challenge of fewer priests, and the in the Diocese of St • some reading. problems that are created by serving large Albans So far the feedback from the pilot phase numbers of parishes. So we considered has been positive. We await to see how how it might be possible to continue to e are continually exploring ways to the Scheme evolves. Further details about offer public worship frequently, and in a Wfulfil our diocesan vision of Living the Scheme can be found on the diocesan way that honours God and builds up the God’s Love. As part of this commitment we website: www.stalbans.anglican.org/ community. One response to this challenge are seeking to enable worship which takes ministry/lay-leaders-worship/ " has been an initiative in the Diocese of place every Sunday at the same time in " Jeanette Gosney is Parish Development Arras, in northern France, where they every parish/church, irrespective of the size Officer in St Albans Diocese. have developed ‘Sunday services without of congregation. priests’. The had Some parishes in the Diocese find it experience of the Diocese of Arras and its hard to maintain a weekly Sunday service work, and had been impressed by the way at a regular time because of a shortage of in which people meet for Bible study and licensed leaders – clergy or Readers. As a worship during the week, and out of this result, services may not be held at all on encounter prepare worship for the coming some Sundays, or they take place at varying Sunday. Such an approach also seemed times throughout the month, which makes to address the question of whether our it difficult for occasional worshippers to attend. Alternatively, services may be led by worship connects with people today, and lay people who, however willing, have had whether it is offered in a way that enables little training and may feel ill-equipped to people to encounter God and engage with BOOK lead, whether it be a service of Morning or the great mysteries of faith. Evening Prayer or an all-age service. A third consideration is providing a way The Lay Leaders of Worship scheme, which The Latest Grove Worship into Reader ministry that starts by doing has been piloted in the Diocese during it. It doesn’t suit everyone to do a course Booklet autumn 2014 and will be rolled out fully in first; some people need to be involved in How to Distribute Communion. W220, 2015, is designed to address this situation. It the work and then participate in training as Trevor Lloyd helps parishes across the Diocese to discern their ministry develops. and affirm the gifts of lay people as local Lay Published in August, Trevor Lloyd’s helpful In reality, feedback indicates that there Leaders of Worship (LLWs) and provides booklet is another in the intermittent series has been a fairly small take-up of the training for them, on completion of which of ‘How to…’ Grove publications. If you experiment. It seems to have been most they receive a letter of permission from the naively thought you simply pick up paten useful for parish groups starting new Bishop authorising them as LLWs in their or chalice and go along a row administering worship events such as café church, but the local parish church. it, then this will cure you of your naivety provisions of the experiment seem to affirm LLWs are, of course, not Readers, though – Trevor will here find and solve for you the permission for worship to be led by lay some may discern a vocation to a licensed the dozen or two problems you may well people. Churches that have always involved ministry as a result of exercising this more encounter as you embark on this ministry. a large number of lay people in leading limited ministry. The intention is that The booklet should be a valuable aid for worship continue to do so, and, of course, they lead worship on an occasional basis those starting out on this ministry, and churches that rarely have a service that is only in the parish or parishes where they is also a guide to any PCC considering not eucharistic do not find this permission regularly worship. Where possible, they are nominating lay people to fulfil the ministry. particularly helpful. encouraged to lead worship with another We are now half way through the period LLW, or to share planning and leading initially allocated for the experiment, and within a parish worship team. They are we hope it might be extended. Whilst it not permitted to preach, although training hasn’t yet changed the life of the Diocese, or is given to enable them to offer space for even made big ripples in it, we do feel that reflection on God’s Word in place of the Praxis News of Worship on it is one way of being open to what God is sermon. They are also not authorised to the website doing in the Church today. By supporting take funerals or to take services of Public people to take risks in worship, we hope Worship with Communion by Extension Last year’s issues have now that some new ideas, practices and patterns and do not preside at services of Holy will emerge that will renew and sustain the been uploaded and are freely Communion. life of the Church. The training has three elements: available on the Archive section For more information see: www.lichfield. • six sessions (on two Saturdays) covering of the Praxis website: www. anglican.org/ourdiocese/leading-worship. the basics of understanding and leading "" Lindsey Hall is Director of Lay praxisworship.org.uk/archives. worship, after which the LLWs write html. Development in the Diocese of Lichfield. short reflections, • two services led in their own parish under Page 7 Colin’s Column Liturgical Commission

have this autumn remembered that which I vow each Easter to recall he Liturgical Commission met at St Columba’s I– namely, that I have some comment to make on the extraordinarily TWoking on 15-16 October, under the presidency of inflated concept of a ‘Chrism eucharist’. Lest you think I am fussed about its Acting Chairman, the . This nothing, let me begin with some history. was the first meeting in a new pattern, spread across two The use of oils in the Church of England’s worship was permitted more densely-filled days rather than across the usual three. in the new Canons in 1969, where Canon B37 allowed that the local The new pattern brings a gain in efficiency of business, at clergy should anoint the sick with ‘oil consecrated by the bishop of the the cost of halving the number of occasions for worship – diocese or otherwise by the priest himself in accordance with such form of which has been an important part of the Commission’s life. service.’ (There was no form of service, so the Canon in effect permitted As the Commission finds itself less busy with the drafting any form of ‘consecrating’ the oil to be used.) There was no other in the and revision of texts, and more concerned with liturgical Church of England’s formularies, and all the years I was on the Liturgical formation, it becomes less important to have opportunities Commission (i.e. 1964-86) the Commission absolutely declined to to ‘road-test’ material at a very early stage, but it will still mention oil even as an option in relation to baptism and confirmation. matter that the Commission continues to pray together in a Oil has become so much part of the story that no-one seems to recall that variety of idioms. (apart from the two instances of anointing the sick) literal anointing does The Commission may have prayed less, but it studied not occur in the New Testament – and the rare instances of believers being hard. Significant time was spent in small groups, working on described as ‘anointed’ are clearly highly metaphorical. However, oil at Juliette Day and Ben Gordon-Taylor’s Alcuin guide to The baptism and ‘chrism’ at confirmation (where, in the Roman Church, it is Study of Liturgy and Worship (Alcuin Club/SPCK, 2013), the substance of the rite) were bound to attract Rome-orientated Anglicans and seeing whether some of the content could be adapted – and in 1977-78 the Catholic Group on General Synod said they would into a training resource on the Transforming Worship block the whole initiation package for the ASB unless the Synod allowed website. The Commission was given updates on the renewal them to write into the notes that oil might be used. That provision is how of the website, and on the usual range of its partnerships oil still appears today in Common Worship Christian Initiation – the oiling (JLG, Praxis, etc.). is incorporated into the signing with the cross in baptism and added in ‘Christian Initiation: Additional Texts in Accessible without change of text to confirmation. So the use of oil has no distinct Language’ – the main text-based concern of recent meetings meaning assigned to it in either of those spoken texts. – has now passed beyond the Commission into the General From that addition of a ‘Note’ in the late 1970s, there came an urgent Synod, where it is currently in its Revision stage. All the request from a section of the Church of England for the bishop to ‘bless’ Commission could do was to reflect on the Synod debate the oils (as was done on Maundy Thursday in the Church of Rome). There last July, in a conversation that will be helpful to those exist stories of relatively private services in side-chapels where bishops Commission members who find themselves on the Steering provided such oils for the connoisseurs. There were even stories (in the and Revision Committees. days of the Navy’s supposed blockade of Smith’s Rhodesia) of oil being The Commission was joined by and Kat smuggled across frontiers! But by the early 1980s the bishops had been Campion-Spall from the Transformations Group for a prised out into major cathedral events, and found they enjoyed gathering fascinating discussion of the language and imagery that their clergy for the oiling service on Maundy Thursday. Since Vatican II are used of God in the Church of England’s modern- the Roman Church had included a renewal of ordination vows within their language liturgy. The Transformations Group was set up by rite, so that even those clergy who were not using oils had a genuine place the Archbishops’ Council to engage with a wide range of within the rite. organisations in the Church of England, to help them to Nevertheless the rite itself magnified the oils. The Roman pattern look afresh at their work in the light of the perspectives and provided the renewal of ministerial vows on the way to the blessing of experiences of women in ministry. For the Commission, this the oils. Times and Seasons in its ‘commended’ rite has the same structure means looking again at the ground rules which the General (and has more pages than the evening’s true Maundy Thursday liturgy). Synod laid down for its work at the start of the Common But to those who view oiling baptismal and confirmation candidates as Worship process – broadly, to be as inclusive as possible in otiose, and are free, following the Canon, to consecrate oil for the sick language about human beings and the church, and to retain themselves (and Pastoral Services half encourages this), there is no climax the traditional terms of relationship in language about the in the praying over the oils (sometimes with dubious theology – I could Trinity. Ultimately, it will be for the Synod to take decisions comment further on the Times and Seasons texts). As a first step let bishops in this area. It will also be for the Synod to decide when (and precentors perhaps?) ask themselves whether to revise inherited texts and whether it wants to revise the existing Common Worship (whether T & S or not), so as to make the renewal of ministers and their Calendar. Fairly numerous suggestions arrive for additions ministries the climax of the central part of the rite (leading to the Peace), and upgradings to the existing list of holy women and men: and deal with oils en passant as a minor feature. The enjoyment factor the Commission looks at all of them carefully, but can only which spread the Maundy Thursday morning practice to virtually every store them for the time being, until the Synod decides to diocese in the land has involved an uncritical adoption as normal of a reopen the calendar. somewhat exaggerated sectional interest – and all this can be brought down Finally, the Commission was warm in its appreciation to size without imperilling either the seriousness or the enjoyment. of Robert Paterson’s interim chairmanship. The Bishop of (And by all means be in touch with me – I have both anecdotes and texts Exeter will be in the chair when the Commission next meets up my sleeve ready for deployment.) in January. "" is a former . "" Anders Bergquist is Vicar of St John’s Wood and a member of the Liturgical Commission.

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