Two new resources now up on my Web site:
We’re going to start an Extended Family Group here at First Unitarian in New Bedford, and I’ve put up forms, FAQ’s, and other material about this multigenerational group. I believe Extended Family Groups would be a great supplement to a small group ministries program. Link
In going through the hard drive of my old computer, I came across a description of an alternative worship service I was involved in at First Parish in Lexington (Mass.) five years ago. It was a weekly evening worship service, and it was so-called “circle worship.” Yes, Virginia, there is more to alternative worship than “Soulful Sundown” and youth worship. Link
well done, we have an alternative service at my church started this year that we call simply 2nd Service. One way to cut back on the time commitment is to rotate and enroll new service leaders. We have 5 regular members of the team, although one is a youth and has less available time and experience. One member is a pagan Minister and she does an earth centered pagan service about once a month, usually one or two of us on the team will do a sunday, we try to enroll a lay leader or worship associate to do services, and have guests. What this means is that isntead of spending all that time once a week you have an entire month to get a service together. Sometimes we worhip in a circle, sometimes we use the sanctuary, we leave it up to each service leader to decide.. and when the weather warms, we may even do outdoors services.
I agree completely that every alternative service does not need to look like Soulful Sundown.. really all you need is a couple dedicated people and see where it goes after that.
I’m very intrigued by your Extended Family program – but the very first question on your application form threw me right into “Oh, well, that’s that, then” was about hosting 10-12 people in my home for a meal. We simply don’t have that many chairs, much less a table to put everyone around!
I know there are creative solutions to this issue, but as a mom of two small kids, I don’t know that I could find the energy to put them into place.
I wonder if the program would garner more participation if there were something in your literature about contingency plans for apartment living, or if those questions were at the end of the form rather than the very beginning.
But other than logistical issues, the program sounds wonderful. Another symptom of having younger kids when looking at chalice groups is the thought of having to arrange childcare, etc, in order to meet regularly. Seems to make more sense to involve the whole family.
Jamie — Based on my experience, I’d say having three regular worship leaders (exclusive of guest worship leaders) for an alternative worship service is a minimum number. You’re lucky to have five!
Jess — Thanks for the feedback on your reaction to the question on the Extended Family Group form. The point of the question was to make sure there’s at least one household in each group that can host the whole group at their home. When I set up Extended Family Groups at the Berkeley church, I told people the point of the question at the orientation meetings. And yes, one of the reasons to do an Extended Family Group is to allow households with small children to participate in some kind of small group ministry. Hope all this helps — hope this will help you set up an Extended Family Group in your congregation — feel free to email me for more info!