Good News!

RESULTS OF SURVEYS: WORSHIP AT ST MARY’S – SUMMER 2020 We were really pleased how many of you took the time to respond to our surveys – thank you! We had 56 response forms from people who were already ‘regulars’ at St Mary’s before lockdown. As one form may be from a couple or family, we estimate the number of people covered by responses to be 80+ in total. That is a good response rate. We had 3 response forms from people who had only joined us online since lockdown. Many comments were received, with a wide cross-section of views. This summary seeks to express a range of those views and to help us all understand each other and how we might go forward as a Church. Direct quotations are indicated in italics and are not attributed, however should any individuals be identifiable, please be sensitive when discussing with others. EXISTING MEMBERS Profile of respondents: Most respondents (31) were over 70 years of age. 11 were between 45 and 69 years. Another 11 were between 17 and 44 years. One was 16 years or under and 2 preferred not to say. Of those responding, 30 forms came from people who attended Church as an individual; 16 from those who came as a couple and 8 from those who came to Church as a household or bubble of more than two. Families with children: Of the respondents 7 told us they brought children to Church with them; 6 of those brought children of primary school age and 3 brought children of secondary school age. Attendance at services if we were to open for worship in September: Around two thirds of respondents were ready to return to services. More people than usual were considering attending the Wednesday Communion service. Those saying that they would not attend public worship yet, the following reasons were given: - ‘still be happy to use ‘Phone-in’ services’ - ‘we are still unsure of September being too early’ - ‘I would like to enjoy the organ and the choir and hymns’ - ‘we prefer formal service of communion and to keep to on line worship for other services’ - ‘I am concerned that if we move too quickly to get back together for any events we are putting everyone at risk. I am quite happy to worship via zoom and Facebook. I do not feel I need to take communion at this time’. - ‘unsure how much we'll be able to participate in services with no children's activities, so we might come some weeks but probably not as regularly as before lockdown.’ - ‘don’t want to take up places if space is limited and someone else can’t go’ The activities you would like to see continue longer-term: 21 forms asked for phone-in services to continue; 21 for online Sunday services to continue; and 25 for online night prayer to continue. What you hope might change in our services, after the experience of lockdown: We had a wide range of differing (and sometimes competing) views. Some (7) hoped for no change, just a return to things as they were. Other comments included: - ‘More parishioners would be drawn to the Church and God’ - ‘I like having readings in advance to read and think about’ - ‘As social distancing will be in place ….I think the services will be more devout and prayerful’ - ‘A critical review of how we worship on a monthly cycle ranging from very formal to very informal.’ - ‘Get those screens in! Hymns and songs could be on this media.’ - ‘A bigger variety of services to appeal to wider audience. We need to encourage more young families into the church.’ - ‘No robes for clergy, don't mind robes for choir, more from Music Group, less formality.’ - ‘Go back to formal attire e.g. cassock worn for services’ - ‘Services need to be a little shorter.’ - ‘More informality and more variety in the music……….. without Communion, on more than one Sunday a month. Our "traditions" can and do create barriers.’ - ‘Mix of old and new approaches’ - ‘It would be great to continue streaming/recording services, even when we can meet in person’. - ‘We need a variety of styles of worship to suit all.’ - ‘More creativity and flexibility in the service structure’. - ‘More participation in the services by the lay congregation such as music, prayers, and reflections.’ What you have really been missing that you hope we will return to: Here there was much more unity in the responses with three areas coming up consistently: Holy Communion; fellowship (in worship and in conversation); music/singing. In addition several people specifically mentioned Sunday Club. Your ideas about what more we could be doing to keep our community together online or in other ways: Several people said they could not think of anything, and many people were full of praise for what had been done during lockdown (thank you!). Areas we might be able to work on included: - Exploring ways in which we could help the congregation connect with each other (“pairing and sharing?) so as not to lose the benefits gained during lockdown – ‘ if we are a "church family" then we need to look after each other’. - ‘Continue with online coffee mornings. Something similar in the evenings for people who are working. More encouragement for people to contribute on the Facebook group’. - ‘review and extend our pastoral work’ and ‘include families, not just the older and housebound’ - ‘offer more for children and younger families online’ - ‘reducing cliques over coffee’ (when we are allowed to return to it) - whether we can hold outside socially distanced events (within legal limits) A small number of people offered to help in some way. NEWER PEOPLE All 3 of the respondents were individuals and were in the 45-69 years age bracket. They had all had pastoral contact with St Mary’s in the past and had found that online services enabled them to participate in worship. All 3 indicated a desire to try out services in the Church building, but also wanted online services to continue. One had tried the 10am service in the past but found it overwhelming. One expressed a desire to know more about the Christian faith.