Untitled Document

Further background or understanding the philosophy on any of the following ideas can be obtained by additional discussion with Father Max.
Lent to Easter	• Lent - Study Books for current and previous are available at http://www.grassroots.com.au • One night during Lent maybe a set of Stations of the cross could be purchased or made and placed around the church. A suggested service - pdf • Holy week the evening or morning services could be varied. Monday - Tenebrae - pdf Tuesday - Stations of the cross Wednesday - Compline Thursday - Seder meal, feet washing and stripping of the altar - A Suggested service - pdf Friday - Service of symbols - A Suggested service - pdf Ecumenical walk on Good Friday Easter Eve - Lighting of the first flame of Easter at sometime between 7.30om and midnight Easter Day - Sunrise Mass at lakes edge where possible and breakfast to follow.
Healing Service	This is best held monthly (or weekly if enough interest) and normally a non sacramental service. It is based on the Sydney Cathedral model Trained lay groups within the congregation can administer the laying on of hands, or people could come to the altar rail. The priest prays with them and anoints them.
Prayer Group	The prayer group is a dedicated group of parishioners who are always available where additional prayer is needed. They receive the weekly prayer sheet mostly via Email. Those not on email receive it at church on Sunday. The coordinator sends this out on Friday or Saturday. Also twice yearly a special prayer booklet could be provided for the entire congregation (Works over a 30 day cycle) Sample of congregation daily prayer booklet - pdf Sample of weekly prayer sheet to prayer group members - pdf Sample of congregation prayer slips that were placed in the special prayer box in the Narthex of the church. - pdf
Parish Directory	A full colour or B&W booklet could be produced annually and could include things like: • Photos of the parishioners • Mailing list with telephone/email/address contacts • Guidelines for all parish duties etc • Local contact points for hospitals, doctors, dentist etc
Sunday Music	This is a major problem in many parishes, but here are ways around it. If the parish can raise funds to purchase a better than basic electronic piano (Mid ranged priced piano around $5000) and have a good PA system with a CD player or access to an ipod your troubles are mostly over. This can double as an organ or a piano. There are excellent CD's (Traditional and modern [you need to be selective]) the congregation can sill along to theme. The piano can use pre-recorded disks and you would never know the person sitting behind the piano was not playing it. The only snag with CD's is you need to make sure the words that are being sung are exactly the same as the words the congregation have. As a result you need to print off a special book, add the words to the pewsheet or use a video projector which is much more flexible. It has been found the congregation sing more loudly to the CD’s than they do to just music on it’s own
Welcomers	Experts tell us that newcomers have made up their mind within the first 10 minutes of being at church if they plan to return. This makes the welcomers duty THE most important part of the service in keeping new parishioners. People are desperate for community, but community they see as genuine. A special team of people need to be trained for this task. It is believed that if you don’t get the welcoming right, there is little point in anything else. After all, studies show visitors make up their mind in the first 10 minutes if they plan to return. Welcomers at the door encourage visitors to go to the special visitors desk to have their name recorded on the computer (or a hand written sheet) and have a special name tag printed for them. They are given a copy of the visitors pack to give them some idea of what the parish provides and their outreach style. (Sample of main booklet in kit) - pdf The visitor's sheet is handed to the priest for the notices who welcomes any visitors and encourages people to stay for the cuppa. The welcomers seek out new comers and introduce them around, being friendly but not pushy. In the following week a letter is sent out to the visitors from the parish priest thanking them for sharing with the parish and offering to assist them in any way the parish is able. A survey is included in the hope they will fill this in with their impressions, together with the envelope also includes a special promo pen and self addressed envelope.
PA Duty	There is a belief that if the parish priest has something worth saying in his/her prepared sermon, then they need to be heard. As a result, a effective PA/Lighting desk is needed with an operator at both services. Those on this duty (and video) need to be rostered once a month, and training is essential. Also needed are hand held remote mike(s) and Lapel mike(s) for the priest (other other speakers) to use as well as the fixed mikes. Modern media resources need to be impressive and frequently used in imaginative ways. This is so important if we are to relate more effectively with younger generations.
Home Groups	The home groups are a sign of attempts to achieve an active faith and a socially oriented parishioners who have a genuine desire to grow spiritually and know others better. One of the additional benefits of these groups is they can be organised so special social functions are held three times a year for their group. There should be an open invitation to other parishioners to attend, depending on their interests. This was a big help in the social interaction for the parish and means there was no longer a need to a social committee.
Kid's Church or Sunday School	This needs to be conducted within the family service. (Where possible the service should be weekly) A team of leaders are needed to take turns weekly to conduct the activity, and they need to meet at least bi-monthly to plan the activities mostly based on the Sunday readings. The service could be a cut down version from the prayer book (with some changes to prayers etc). Only one reading (normally the Gospel) and a kid's talk. After this they go to another area for a craft activity on the day's theme and this was brought in as a show and tell at the end of the service. Where possible, use of a video projector is the way to go as the service can be made more flexible for little effort or cost. If you are in an area with problems of a pianist etc, then there are some excellent CD's that can be sung along to. Also Computer styled disks that can be used in many of the new digital pianos. It is also good to use this service as an outreach tool which is non threatening to possible newcomers and as a result is good to include an outreach style at least once a month. These special services would be designed for newcomers and seen as having some community relevance. You are able to experience various suggestions with • Four books of ideas for kids church with activities that can be ordered on line
Special Family Service Outreach Themes	Suggestions for special Family Service themes could be: (Ask for additional details on any of these) • Saint Patrick’s Day • Pet Sunday - This is a real must annually - YouTube File ••• and also one recorded by Channel 7 , Channel 9 (You will need Quicktime Player) • Teddy Bear Service and Picnic (You will need Quicktime Player) • Service of memories • Australia Day Service • Anzac Day Service • Mothers Day • Commonwealth Games • Bikies Service • Re-newal of wedding vows and luncheon • Harvest Festival • Sids Red Nose Day with a clown on the day(not the Parish Priest) • Ballet Service or Celebration of Dance • Fathers Day • Breast Cancer Service
Teddy Bear Picnic Service Australia Day Service & Breakfast --- Babies & Toddlers Service ---- Cooking Chips in Church (Christian Salt theme) Breast Cancer Service --- Nurses Appreciation Sunday Wedding Re-newal of vows --- Bikies Service Harvest Festival - Congregation encouraged to come in everyday work clothes with a symbol to represent their job Pet Sunday is a major outreach event where animals are blessed in church followed by a free BBQ
Web (Internet) Pages	Any parish without a regularly updated web site is well behind the egg ball. Sadly some parishes set them up and then they are months and even years out of date. There is nothing that annoys new (younger) potential parishioners more than not being able to find info about the parish that is current. If your parish is seeking assistance in developing and or maintaining a web site you may like to check out this information. Click here.
Encouragement Awards	Popcorn award This is designed as an encourager and thank you to those who go beyond the call of duty. Angelic award is for a one off “Thank you” can also be used. It is important for parishioners to feel valued. Popcorn award is a fancy jar of popcorn with a certificate inside you can read plus a a carton of beer, large box of chocolates or flowers. Angelic award is a certificate with the person's face instead of the original face of the angel plus a glass angel.
Fruit of The Vine Display	Photos of parishioners could be placed on a leaf and then put on the special vine in the narthex or prominent position in the church. The point is to emphasise that we are all important and valued parts of the body of Christ in this place.
Men's Breakfasts	These are yet one way of involving the men of the parish in a non threatening and down to earth group. Best monthly, but at a pinch bi-monthly. The idea would be to have one month at the hall with a speaker and the following breakfast at an away location. Eg: Ford Geelong, Costers Food Market, Connex central control, Cruise ship in dock etc.
Sign Board Ministry	Sign boards are often under used. The church one would have the middle where you place promotions, catchy one liners etc. If there is a block of land or business in a prominent position in the town, then an additional one could be placed here. The sign or slogan would need to be changed weekly. Check out the sign board in Werribee that is at the traffic lights
Christmas Lighting Festival Outreach Initiative	This can be a major outreach event for the year. It is an excellent outreach opportunity as this style of presentation is what families are seeking at Christmas time. It can be as simple (eg: Festival of Christmas tree with religious decorations) or a much larger one as the Werribee parish undertake. Currently this attracts over 10,000 people to the 16 day event To see some of the photos from previous years click here To see a short movie of this event, click here
A Few Other General Ideas	• Drop in morning (Morning Melodies) – Held weekly and less frequently but on set days like 1st Tuesday, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays etc. Designed to collect elderly in pickups or wheel chairs if nursing homes handy. Most Nursing Homes have their own buses. There would be a planned, cuppa and chat,and this could lead on to a soup and sandwiches lunch. • Babies and Toddlers – This can be a great ministry to young families. Regular "Babies & Toddlers" services held as well. • Ski weekend at Falls Creek (Good bonding exercise) • Baptism Bears – Hand made bear presented to children on anniversary of their baptism if they continued to be involved with the church. • Cup Day Luncheon • Christmas in July Dinner • Parish Camp – Another great bonding opportunity • Australia Day Breakfast • Murder Dinner Game in parishioners homes	Morning Melodies (Drop in Mornings) Baptism Bears Murder Dinners
Faith Courses	Various 5 week special afternoon and or nights could be organised to encourage a deeper understanding of the faith and our putting it into practice. Some of the Video/DVD presentations worth using include: • Journeys • Life Stories 1 & 2 • Cut the clutter • Marriage Course • Friends for Life • Heroes • Introducing God • Alpha Courses
Sunday Promotion	One excellent way of telling the parish good news is to set up displays in the narthex for groups that come for baptisms, funerals, weddings etc. Often they are just browsing before a service and it seems a good idea to have something useful they can obverse and take in. This example is a light box combination that tends to draw people to it like a bee to a honey pot.
Cafe Live	Cafe Live is an outreach style of service. A meal is held first (in this case various pews were removed to allow for round tables) and this was followed by a "Concert Style - Sit, listen and sing". The band and singers, together with the use of lighting and multi media helped to create the atmosphere. People either sat at the tables for the service or moved further down the church an sat in the church pews.

Parish Tours	One great way to assist with bonding parishioners is to spend time away together. This can be achieved with a group from the parish, or by joining another Anglican Group. Previous tours have been organised to most parts of Australia (normally on Safari style). Other accommodated tours have been arranged to New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, USA, Israel, Africa, Turkey, Greece, Thailand and China. (The Israel tours was especially moving) Future tours and possibilities for organising a tour for parishes can be found on the Anglican Tours Website.

Further background or understanding the philosophy on any of the following ideas can be obtained
by additional discussion with Father Max.

Lent to Easter

• Lent - Study Books for current and previous are available at http://www.grassroots.com.au
• One night during Lent maybe a set of Stations of the cross could be purchased or made and placed around the church.
A suggested service - pdf
• Holy week the evening or morning services could be varied.
Monday - Tenebrae - pdf
Tuesday - Stations of the cross
Wednesday - Compline
Thursday - Seder meal, feet washing and stripping of the altar - A Suggested service - pdf
Friday - Service of symbols - A Suggested service - pdf
Ecumenical walk on Good Friday
Easter Eve - Lighting of the first flame of Easter at sometime between 7.30om and midnight
Easter Day - Sunrise Mass at lakes edge where possible and breakfast to follow.

Healing Service

This is best held monthly (or weekly if enough interest) and normally a non sacramental service. It is based on the Sydney Cathedral model
Trained lay groups within the congregation can administer the laying on of hands, or people could come to the altar rail. The priest prays with them and anoints them.

Prayer Group

The prayer group is a dedicated group of parishioners who are always available where additional prayer is needed. They receive the weekly prayer sheet mostly via Email. Those not on email receive it at church on Sunday. The coordinator sends this out on Friday or Saturday.
Also twice yearly a special prayer booklet could be provided for the entire congregation (Works over a 30 day cycle)
Sample of congregation daily prayer booklet - pdf
Sample of weekly prayer sheet to prayer group members - pdf
Sample of congregation prayer slips that were placed in the special prayer box in the Narthex of the church. - pdf

Parish Directory

A full colour or B&W booklet could be produced annually and could include things like:
• Photos of the parishioners
• Mailing list with telephone/email/address contacts
• Guidelines for all parish duties etc
• Local contact points for hospitals, doctors, dentist etc

Sunday Music

This is a major problem in many parishes, but here are ways around it.
If the parish can raise funds to purchase a better than basic electronic piano (Mid ranged priced piano around $5000) and have a good PA system with a CD player or access to an ipod your troubles are mostly over.
This can double as an organ or a piano.
There are excellent CD's (Traditional and modern [you need to be selective]) the congregation can sill along to theme.
The piano can use pre-recorded disks and you would never know the person sitting behind the piano was not playing it.
The only snag with CD's is you need to make sure the words that are being sung are exactly the same as the words the congregation have. As a result you need to print off a special book, add the words to the pewsheet or use a video projector which is much more flexible.
It has been found the congregation sing more loudly to the CD’s than they do to just music on it’s own

Welcomers

Experts tell us that newcomers have made up their mind within the first 10 minutes of being at church if they plan to return. This makes the welcomers duty THE most important part of the service in keeping new parishioners. People are desperate for community, but community they see as genuine.

A special team of people need to be trained for this task. It is believed that if you don’t get the welcoming right, there is little point in anything else. After all, studies show visitors make up
their mind in the first 10 minutes if they plan to return.

Welcomers at the door encourage visitors to go to the special visitors desk to have their name recorded on the computer (or a hand written sheet) and have a special name tag printed for them. They are given a copy of the visitors pack to give them some idea of what the parish provides and their outreach style. (Sample of main booklet in kit) - pdf

The visitor's sheet is handed to the priest for the notices who welcomes any visitors and encourages people to stay for the cuppa. The welcomers seek out new comers and introduce them around, being friendly but not pushy.

In the following week a letter is sent out to the visitors from the parish priest thanking them for sharing with the parish and offering to assist them in any way the parish is able. A survey is included in the hope they will fill this in with their impressions, together with the envelope also includes a special promo pen and self addressed envelope.

PA Duty

There is a belief that if the parish priest has something worth saying in his/her prepared sermon, then they need to be heard. As a result, a effective PA/Lighting desk is needed with an operator at both services. Those on this duty (and video) need to be rostered once a month, and training is essential. Also needed are hand held remote mike(s) and Lapel mike(s) for the priest (other other speakers) to use as well as the fixed mikes. Modern media resources
need to be impressive and frequently used in imaginative ways. This is so important if we are to relate more effectively with younger generations.

Home Groups

The home groups are a sign of attempts to achieve an active faith and a socially oriented parishioners who have a genuine desire to grow spiritually and know others better. One of the additional benefits of these groups is they can be organised so special social functions are held three times a year for their group. There should be an open invitation to other parishioners to attend, depending on their interests. This was a big help in the social interaction for the parish and means there was no longer a need to a social committee.

Kid's Church
or
Sunday School

This needs to be conducted within the family service. (Where possible the service should be weekly) A team of leaders are needed to take turns weekly to conduct the activity, and they need to meet at least bi-monthly to plan the activities mostly based on the Sunday readings.

The service could be a cut down version from the prayer book (with some changes to prayers etc). Only one reading (normally the Gospel) and a kid's talk. After this they go to another area for a craft activity on the day's theme and this was brought in as a show and tell at the end of the service.

Where possible, use of a video projector is the way to go as the service can be made more flexible for little effort or cost.

If you are in an area with problems of a pianist etc, then there are some excellent CD's that can be sung along to. Also Computer styled disks that can be used in many of the new digital pianos.

It is also good to use this service as an outreach tool which is non threatening to possible newcomers and as a result is good to include an outreach style at least once a month. These special services would be designed for newcomers and seen as having some community relevance.

You are able to experience various suggestions with

• Four books of ideas for kids church with activities that can be ordered on line

Special Family Service Outreach Themes

Suggestions for special Family Service themes could be: (Ask for additional details on any of these)
• Saint Patrick’s Day
• Pet Sunday - This is a real must annually - YouTube File
••• and also one recorded by Channel 7 , Channel 9 (You will need Quicktime Player)
• Teddy Bear Service and Picnic (You will need Quicktime Player)
• Service of memories   • Australia Day Service      • Anzac Day Service     • Mothers Day
• Commonwealth Games     • Bikies Service
• Re-newal of wedding vows and luncheon     • Harvest Festival
• Sids Red Nose Day with a clown on the day(not the Parish Priest)
• Ballet Service or Celebration of Dance      • Fathers Day     • Breast Cancer Service

Teddy Bear Picnic Service

Australia Day Service & Breakfast --- Babies & Toddlers Service ---- Cooking Chips in Church (Christian Salt theme)

Breast Cancer Service --- Nurses Appreciation Sunday

Wedding Re-newal of vows --- Bikies Service

Harvest Festival - Congregation encouraged to come in everyday work clothes with a symbol to represent their job

Pet Sunday is a major outreach event where animals are blessed in church followed by a free BBQ

Web (Internet) Pages

Any parish without a regularly updated web site is well behind the egg ball. Sadly some parishes set them up and then they are months and even years out of date. There is nothing that annoys new (younger) potential parishioners more than not being able to find info about the parish that is current. If your parish is seeking assistance in developing and or maintaining a web site you may like to check out this information. Click here.

Encouragement Awards

Popcorn award
This is designed as an encourager and thank you to those who go
beyond the call of duty.
Angelic award is for a one off “Thank you” can also be used. It is important for parishioners to feel valued.

Popcorn award is a fancy jar of popcorn with a certificate inside you can read plus a a carton of beer, large box of chocolates or flowers.

Angelic award is a certificate with the person's face instead of the original face of the angel plus a glass angel.

Fruit of The Vine Display

Photos of parishioners could be placed on a leaf and then put on the special vine in the narthex or prominent position in the church. The point is to emphasise that we are all important and valued parts of the body of Christ in this place.

Men's Breakfasts

These are yet one way of involving the men of the parish in a non threatening and down to earth group. Best monthly, but at a pinch bi-monthly.

The idea would be to have one month at the hall with a speaker and the following breakfast at an away location. Eg: Ford Geelong, Costers Food Market, Connex central control, Cruise ship in dock etc.

Sign Board Ministry

Sign boards are often under used. The church one would have the middle where you place promotions, catchy one liners etc.

If there is a block of land or business in a prominent position in the town, then an additional one could be placed here.

The sign or slogan would need to be changed weekly.

Check out the sign board in Werribee that is at the traffic lights

Christmas Lighting Festival Outreach Initiative

This can be a major outreach event for the year. It is an excellent outreach opportunity as this style of presentation is what families are seeking at Christmas time.

It can be as simple (eg: Festival of Christmas tree with religious decorations) or a much larger one as the Werribee parish undertake. Currently this attracts over 10,000 people to the 16 day event

To see some of the photos from previous years click here

To see a short movie of this event, click here

A Few Other General Ideas

• Drop in morning (Morning Melodies) – Held weekly and less frequently but on set days like 1st Tuesday, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays etc. Designed to collect elderly in pickups or wheel chairs if nursing homes handy. Most Nursing Homes have their own buses. There would be a planned, cuppa and chat,and this could lead on to a soup and sandwiches lunch.

• Babies and Toddlers – This can be a great ministry to young families. Regular "Babies & Toddlers" services held as well.

• Ski weekend at Falls Creek (Good bonding exercise)

• Baptism Bears – Hand made bear presented to children on anniversary of their baptism if they continued to be involved with the church.

• Cup Day Luncheon

• Christmas in July Dinner

• Parish Camp – Another great bonding opportunity

• Australia Day Breakfast

• Murder Dinner Game in parishioners homes

Morning Melodies (Drop in Mornings)

Baptism Bears

Murder Dinners

Faith Courses

Various 5 week special afternoon and or nights could be organised to encourage a deeper understanding of the faith and our putting it into practice.
Some of the Video/DVD presentations worth using include:
• Journeys
• Life Stories 1 & 2
• Cut the clutter
• Marriage Course
• Friends for Life
• Heroes
• Introducing God
• Alpha Courses

Sunday Promotion

One excellent way of telling the parish good news is to set up displays in the narthex for groups that come for baptisms, funerals, weddings etc. Often they are just browsing before a service and it seems a good idea to have something useful they can obverse and take in.

This example is a light box combination that tends to draw people to it like a bee to a honey pot.

Cafe Live

Cafe Live is an outreach style of service. A meal is held first (in this case various pews were removed to allow for round tables) and this was followed by a "Concert Style - Sit, listen and sing". The band and singers, together with the use of lighting and multi media helped to create the atmosphere. People either sat at the tables for the service or moved further down the church an sat in the church pews.

Parish Tours

One great way to assist with bonding parishioners is to spend time away together. This can be achieved with a group from the parish, or by joining another Anglican Group.

Previous tours have been organised to most parts of Australia (normally on Safari style). Other accommodated tours have been arranged to New Zealand, Alaska, Canada, USA, Israel, Africa, Turkey, Greece, Thailand and China. (The Israel tours was especially moving)

Future tours and possibilities for organising a tour for parishes can be found on the Anglican Tours Website.