Westminster Presbyterian Church

Minutes: Worship Committee Meeting: Thursday, 7:00 pm, 4/17/07: Room 6 (lower level)

Opening Prayer:  Harriet Vander Meer

Members present: Bill Owens, Joel Jones, Alex Thornburg, Joe Chrisman, Pamela Quin, Margo LaPerre, Walt Pridham, Rod Johnson, Carol Wright, Harriet Vander Meer

Approve Minutes: 3/29/07 Meeting

I.                     Examen: Evaluation of Holy Week and Easter Sunday

Lenten Season and Midweek Vespers service:

Chapel good location; good arrangement; good time, consider a beginning time of 6:45; prayer practice was a learning and appropriate theme; do services again next year, not necessarily with the same theme. Averaged 20 people for each service.   

Holy Week services:

- Palm/Passion Sunday: Passion theme made the content of the service less celebratory; too somber; too much passion - enough time for joy? One response: “Well now I don’t need to come on Good Friday;” “Holy Week Redux”- possibly tried to do too much in one service; beatitudes theme of persecution could have been included more dominantly to tie the day to the Lent season; confusion about the use of palms; they seemed almost unnecessary in the service since they were not emphasized; needed more emphasis on the kingship of Jesus and victory he brings; reevaluate for next year.

- Maundy Thursday: April 5: 7:00, Fellowship Hall: good, beautiful setting, wonderful atmosphere, liked the washing of hands part of the liturgy,  possibly intermingle with more worshipers, use more people to do the readings with planning, preparation and contact people beforehand, choir’s contribution gave another dimension to the service, tree of life added to the atmosphere of the worship service; use one loaf on two trays and less wine in the cup. Recommended doing the service again next year. Approximately 65 people attended.

- Good Friday: April 6: 7:00, Sanctuary: beautiful service of readings, meditation, music and candles; service was a bit long but each part was meaningful. Lighting was effective with just one light left on the tree. Tenebrae service recommended again next year; 86 people attended.

Advertising in the Wisconsin State Journal for Advent and Holy Week:

Expensive – about $600. for the two holiday seasons, Advent and Holy Week. Usually one half of the ads have incorrect information. Report from John Tarr indicated that he has talked with the people and our bill will be discounted due to the errors. We will continue discussion about whether to continue using that venue or do a direct mailing to our membership. People of the congregation do like to see our ad in with all of the other churches so we will work hard at trying to get the information correct.

Easter Sunday:

Communion: Reviewed the new procedures for served communion and intinction. The week of communion, each server and the liturgist need to receive information on the service, serving instructions and their responsibilities. A follow up call toward the end of the week is necessary to see if everyone is clear on what is expected.

It was reported that one member chose to not receive communion on Easter because it was by intinction. It was recommended that we discuss with the congregation why we have communion by intinction and also possibly offer the cups to those who wish. We will continue this discussion. Next communion service is May 3; reviewed procedures and talked about the #1 server being responsible for organizing the servers on Sunday morning so that Alex will not have to do that.

Procedures at the beginning of the service are disorganized and confusing. Leaders in the service need more instruction: acolytes, liturgist and choir. Alex expressed concern that the Worship Committee was anxious about the details of the worship service. We discussed the fact that worship was a strength of the Westminster congregation and that worship was a strength because of their tradition of working out the details of every part of the liturgy. We discussed the fact that we could live with mistakes as long as every effort was made for preparation and planning in advance to avoid mistakes.

Prior to Sunday morning, directions for the Liturgists must be reviewed. If the liturgist wants to change anything in the service, he/she must discuss and get approval from Alex before Sunday morning. 

It was reported that worship committee members received negative feedback on the fact that an earth day announcement was made in the middle of the Easter service.

Mother’s Day – Baptism: review role of Session, sponsors and their responsibilities, the baptism procedures, and follow up visits. Update on brochures for Baptism, Weddings and Funerals.

II.        Report/Review:  

- Church Cancellation Policy – discussed, approved and will send a draft of the worship service cancellation policy to Session

- Summer schedule

                                                                May 27 – Pentecost – Looking into using Balloons and red cloth

June 3: Trinity Sunday: 10:45 worship service

June 10 - summer schedule: 9:30 worship service

Fall date for winter schedule – Rally Sunday will be Sept. 9

Next meeting: Worship Schedule for the remainder of the 2007             

III.            Briefly looked at budget items but will discuss them at our next meeting.

IV.           Recommendations and Action items:

                -  Approve a worship service cancellation policy.

-  Approve a change in the worship schedule for June 3 to 10:45 to accommodate a collaborative worship service with Christ Presbyterian church at 9:00.

-  Approve the summer worship schedule and date for Rally Sunday and beginning of winter schedule.

Date of next meeting: Tuesday, May 22, 2007  - 7:00 pm, Room 6

Closing Prayer: Alex Thornburg