Church Changes Service To Attract Family

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 10

Church Changes Service To Attract Family

Changes to the style and time of morning worship have been made by St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Upper Riccarton, in an attempt to include family groups, rather than individuals, in the worship of the congregation, and to allow all members to take a more active part in the service. The new service which will be held at 9.30 a.m. on February 4, will last about 50 minutes and will be attended by everyone from standard three children upwards. Two teaching periods will be included, one for children and one for Bible class and adult groups, as well as a short study period at the end of the service for separate age groups. The new programme will, repl’ice the old system of independent Sunday schools, Bible classes and adult wor-i shop. The 11 a.m. service will I be discontinued, but children

, up to standard two will attend (the normal Sunday school. [ The publicity officer for the (church (Mr F. J. Boyd) said I yesterday that by this method [children would be able to see [and perhaps understand | something of the adult 1 church and its sacraments. I Adults would also be able Io continue their religious j studies. St Mark's would be the second Presbyterian church in Christchurch to adopt this method, he said. The other church, St Stephen’s, at Bryndwr, had been using the method successfully about one year and a half. The programme had also been used in churches in Auckland for several years, he said.