Over the past couple of weeks we’ve shared our service plan for the summer. We are going to be running things differently over the 7 weeks of the school holidays (2nd July to 13th Aug inclusive) using the same format as we did for the summer holidays last year, with a few additions which take into account some of the helpful feedback we received last year.
Why are we doing this?
The main reason we are doing this is we want to give our 0-18 volunteers time over the summer to have a break and be refreshed. Historically, 0-18 volunteers would have all the school holidays off through the year but, due to a lack of volunteers, they are now only released from serving during the 3 family services (Christmas, Easter and Pentecost) and the summer holidays.
The other team we want to give time off to is our setup team. By running a church family service, this team do not need to clear and setup all the various rooms for 0-18 and so can be released from serving over these 7 weeks.
With many of the church family taking holidays over the summer, we want to give you a variety of options which will help you continue to press in for more of Jesus, grow in your faith, and stay connected as a church family over the summer.
We will do this through: services and socials.
Services
Each Sunday we have 4 services and you are welcome at any/all of them.
The services are as follows:
8:45am - Traditional Communion Service in the Church Building, Ladycroft.
This is a liturgical service with hymns, communion and a talk from our main service speaking team. We are going to be looking at ‘The Names of God’. Anyone is welcome to come to this service, which will finish at around 9:45am.
10:30am - Church Family Service in Balerno High School.
This is a shorter service, around 1 hour, and we are also going to be looking at ‘The Names of God’. The service will be similar to recent church family services and will include worship led by our main service worship team and youth and include a live talk. We have designed this service to have something for everyone and we see this as a great opportunity to come together as the whole family of God .
10:30am - Adult Service at St Margaret’s Academy Livingston.
This service will be the ‘usual’ St Mungo’s 10:30 service with worship, word and ministry. The talk will be the same as at the 8:45am Balerno service looking at ‘The Names of God’. There will be no 0-18 provision, but there will be a room available for younger children and their carers and ‘busy bags’ with some relevant activities for young children.
6:30pm - Evening Service in the Church Building, Ladycroft.
*Starting on Sunday 9th July
Our usual evening service schedule is paused for the summer. Every Sunday will have the usual worship and renewal prayer ministry, as normal, but every Sunday will also have a talk. The series is going to be ‘God’s Character’ and we are excited to welcome guest speakers from within the congregation come and share with us.
Children are welcome at all the venues, but please note that there will be no formal 0-18 provision at the 8:45, Livingston or evening services. Our recommendation is that if you are bringing children, then you join us at Balerno High School for our church family service.
The dates that this program will run is from 2nd July – 13th August inclusive for the morning services and 9 July - 13 August for the evening services.
Socials
We know that with many people away at different points, and the change to the summer services program it is easy to feel disconnected from the church family. We are planning opportunities through the summer for us to gather informally together as church family and help maintain connection with each other.
The first event is on Sunday 2nd July when we are inviting everyone to Gullane Beach for the afternoon.
There won’t be any official invite, or organised activities, but several members of staff and some House Groups are heading out and we’d love you to join us. If you have a spare seat in your car, or you need a lift then pop a message on the Facebook Community page or ask if anyone from your House Group is going.
At other points through the summer we’ll put out invitations to other informal socials that we’re doing; for example Dave is planning a Big Night In and hopefully a cycle in the Pentlands.
We also want to encourage you to put out invitations on Facebook, in your House Group WhatsApp, or anywhere else you can think of as we create opportunities for connection through the summer. The principle we use for Social Sundays applies: what are you doing anyway that other people might also like to join in with? It isn’t about creating extra work, it is all about being family.
If at any point in the summer you are feeling disconnected or if you have any questions or clarifications on the services then please email: enquiries@stmungos.org
