Worship & Music Listening Session Minutes

Strategic Planning Committee

Saint Michael and All Angels

Sunday, May 15, 2005 ~ 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

The meeting was attended by approximately 20-25 parishioners. A few came in and out and therefore an exact number is not available.

The general topics that those in attendance were asked to consider and discuss were:

1.   What is the role of worship in our lives?

2.  What “parts” of a service contribute to create a meaningful worship experience and the specific role that music plays?

3.  What would be the impact on us personally if certain parts of the worship service were substantially changed or eliminated?

4.  How effective is SMAA at providing a meaningful worship service for us personally? What would we change? What would we keep the same?

Virtually everyone in attendance made at least one comment. Many made several comments. Most comments dealt with topic #4 above and virtually all comments dealt with what that person felt needed to be changed. The list below comprises most comments made.

·     The discussion began with a comment that the 11:00 am service in the Church was by far the most meaningful worship service to this person. The traditional Anglican service – both the liturgy and the music - is essential and creates the most meaningful worship experience for him.

·     The 8:40 Church service should offer a more Anglican liturgy.

·     The changes made to the 8:40 Church service last year disenfranchised a large number of people who were used to and wanted a classical Anglican service but whose schedule didn’t allow them to attend the 11:00 Church service. This person wanted the 8:40 Church service to change back to “what it was”.

·     There are serious “identity” problems with the 8:40 church service and it should be more like the 11:00 Church service. A following comment was that the 8:40 Church service is now like a service you have to “graduate from”.

·     A comment was made and agreed to by numerous other people present that the optimum worship experience is one where everything in the service leads to the climax of the service – the Eucharist. They felt that traditional Anglican music and liturgy has for centuries played the key role in achieving this.

An additional comment followed that anything added to the service beyond the liturgy itself tends to ‘water down’ and diminish the meaning of the liturgy. There was widespread agreement with this comment.

A follow up comment was made by one person that they had attended a service where all announcements, commissionings and any business outside of the liturgy (even the ‘passing of the peace’) was conducted prior to the service starting – so as not to interrupt the flow of the worship service.

·     A comment followed that SMAA had historically been seen as a place where every attention was given to detail and everyone was seeking the ‘highest common denominator’. This person felt that the standard had been lowered in an attempt to appeal to a broader crowd and that in their opinion it was not working. Reference was again made to the changes made at the 8:40 Church service – which in this person’s view had failed.

·     A comment was made as to the fact that SMAA has no female ushers. A follow-up comment mentioned that even St. Thomas in New York had female ushers.

·     A comment followed regarding Saturday night’s Taize service. This person very much liked the service but would like to see more variety in the selection of songs. A responding comment was made that an attempt had been made to vary the songs for this service but there was a lot of negative feedback as a result. The comment was also made that the soloist was too folksy and not spiritual enough.

·     Following this, a comment/question was raised as to what was driving this whole “strategic planning” process. This person questioned why these meetings were being conducted and what the real purpose behind them is. A comment followed from someone else that in their opinion the problems being discussed were due issues of leadership from the top and not at the staff level. They stated that the leadership of the church should hire the best people possible to do certain jobs and then empower them fully to do those jobs. This person felt there was too much micro-managing from the top.

·     A comment was made that SMAA has a problem keeping parishioners after confirmation when they tend to take a ‘hiatus’ until they get married. They return for their wedding and then are gone until they have kids – and only then do they tend to return on a more permanent basis.

·     A comment was made that this person thought SMAA offered more church services on any given Sunday than any other parish in the area, and that perhaps reducing the number of services offered would result in greater focus on those being offered. This person felt this would improve the overall worship experience for more people. A follow-up comment agreed with this especially as it respects the Christmas services. The point was made that a crowded service in itself adds to the worship experience and offering too many services diminishes this potential impact. A further point was made that as the number of services offered increase, the budget constraints of the Church as a whole increase again diminishing the potential funds available for any particular service.

·     An additional comment was made by one person that they would like to see the church not spend any more money on balloons for a Church service. They also felt the services sometimes seem like a ‘commercial’ – all of which are further distractions from the meaning of the liturgy.

The discussion came to an end when most attendees had to leave to attend the 11:00 service.