[st uriel's] Format change for Sunday evenings.

[Rev Fr Tim Mansfield]

Hi all,

We had a discussion last night at the Sophia Cafe study group about
our current weekly format. I think we agreed that it was good to get
time to talk, study and get to know each other better, but some of us
miss the opportunity to pray and worship together as well.

We also wondered whether a reading group might be off-putting for
casual visitors who may not be keeping up with the assigned reading.

So, the assembled group agreed to a little fine tuning of our current format.

>From next week on each week will be structured like this:

6:00pm   A brief service
7:00pm   Sophia cafe

The service might be a Sophianic Eucharist or Johannite Vespers or
other short services like a Sophia Service. I'll announce the service
each week.

The service will always be finished by about 7pm, so if you're not
into liturgy, arriving at 7pm means you can join in with the
discussion at Sophia Cafe. If you're not into study and discussion you
only have to commit an hour of a Sunday evening for a shared
experience of prayer.

Sophia Cafe will shift a little so that it always begins with a short
5-10 minute presentation of the topic for the week by a member of the
community followed by discussion. As usual, we'll provide tea and
snacks.

Some weeks in place of talking about a text, we might try a simple
prayer practice or a style of meditation.

I'll announce what's on the cards each week along with the style of
service. This new format means that no matter what week you have time
to drop in, there's always prayer, discussion and informal community.

I'm delighted by the chance to give more space for the members of our
emerging community to express their gifts and I feel that the
congregation is developing a sound way to meet together which helps it
cohere but also keeps it open for newcomers.

I'd be delighted to see you there, whether it's just for one visit, as
an occasional visitor or as a regular member of our congregation. Come
just as you are, stay as long or as little as you like.

Yours in Love and Light,

Tim+