Worship

The monthly pattern of worship in the Congregation is as follows …

                        9.00am             10.00am           10.30am           11.15am           12noon

1^st Sunday              Old Parish           Cortachy           Memus             Old Parish           Prosen

2^nd Sunday             Old Parish           Cortachy                                  Old Parish

3^rd Sunday              Old Parish           Cortachy           Memus             Old Parish           Prosen

4^th Sunday              Old Parish           Cortachy                                  Old Parish

5^th Sunday              Old Parish           Cortachy                                  Old Parish

average

attendance                       51                            22                          15                          146                          11

for 2006 to date

… and this pattern is achieved through the commitment to an internal team ministry.  Typically, Malcolm and Linda lead the services (complemented by pulpit supply) and they are supported by a team of over 8 organists and many willing volunteers.

The Kirk Session is conscious of the need to steward resources wisely and while the rural sanctuaries are relatively inexpensive to maintain they have set targets of average attendance of 20 at Cortachy and 10 at Memus and Prosen. 

In addition to Sunday morning services, the Congregation offers a regular Wednesday evening service and also joins other denominations in the Community to provide monthly Community Worship in 6 complexes.

There are also monthly healing services, monthly songs of praise in the summer, multi media services, family services, special services, end of term school services and of course baptisms, weddings and funerals. 

The philosophy that underpins the provision of worship is an attempt to meet as much of the collective need of the Congregation as resources allow. 

The service at 9.00am is quiet and reflective in style and uses spoken imagery. The preaching focus is on working through Books of the Bible.  In recent times some 15 months were spent studying the Book of Acts.  From the Old Testament, the Book of Haggai and 1^st and 2^nd Kings were studied and at the present time the Book of Revelation is under the microscope.

The 10.00am service also works through Books of the Bible but tends more towards the traditional Kirk Service in music.  The services in Memus and Prosen offer a combination of worship in rural settings as well as providing a focal point for the local communities.

The 11.15am service is the typical traditional Kirk Service with a Sunday School and Crèche as well as a flexible approach to content that will respond to local needs and opportunities.

Malcolm and Linda offer similar approaches to Worship which seek to engage the congregation in the process of worship. Typically services seek to identify and build upon the positive in life, faith and action.

Services in the Old Parish and Cortachy use CH4, while CH3 and SGP are used at Memus and Prosen.  The Congregation also holds the CCL Licence and this provides the opportunity for the inclusion of a wide range of other music styles.

In terms of technology, the Congregation has laptop computers as well as a digital projector and OHP projectors.   There are loop systems in the Old Parish and Cortachy and all Old Parish Services are digitally recorded and tapes / CD’s made for those who are unable to attend.  The Congregation also maintains a web site and this includes a section where one can listen again to extracts from services.

At the present time only the 11.15 service makes regular provision for young people although the ministers believe that they reach many young people through their school chaplaincy roles.  There is a Sunday School and Crèche at 11.15 and the Congregation also has an active BB Company.  The recent work done by Linda in the West Angus Area Ministry identifying and visiting families and organising special family services augurs well for the future.

Holy Communion is celebrated monthly at 9.00am and quarterly at 10.00am, 10.30am. 11.15am and 12noon.   In addition we celebrate Holy Communion on Good Friday and Easter Day.

The Ministers seek to develop the spirituality of the Congregation through the style of prayers and the focus of sermon; through occasional courses, for example a workshop on Benedictine Spirituality in 2005; and also through pastoral conversation with individual members.

In terms of confidence that worship engages with the community in a positive way one of our members wrote …

Yes, we are a very inclusive church.   The ‘message’ and prayers focus on life today and individual situations, whilst relating it to the gospel and the relevance of where we are at in our lives.  Through our worship you would get the message that people are valued and respected, a sense of unconditional positive regard.

Looking to the future the following areas are worthy of attention …