Vestry Representative: Phyllis Bailley

Goal: (read meeting minutes)
The responsibility of the Worship Ministry is to plan, organize, nurture, evaluate, and provide support for the worship programs for Trinity-on-the-Hill with guidance from the Vestry Representative and the Rector.

We consider all aspects of the worship at Trinity on the Hill, to try to ensure that our services glorify God and help to shape faith and kindle devotion amongst all the members of our diverse flock.
Many elements make up a service of worship. Our meetings, which occur once every two months or so, cover the liturgy (for example the rite and the readings to be used on a particular occasion), the music (Choir Master and Organist attend), the presentation, decoration and service of the Altar and Sanctuary (the particular responsibility of the Altar Guild) and the involvement of various age-groups (the Youth Minister and a Christian Education representative also attend). In a typical meeting we try to cover the items listed below in what we hope is a prayerful and considered fashion; afterwards, we work to implement the decisions in our various capacities as clergy, musicians, Altar Guild members, youth leaders, educators and members of the congregation.

1) Planning and feedback. We discuss the services to be held over the next quarter, including special festivals such as All Souls, Christmas and Epiphany. Comments and suggestions that we have received about worship over the previous quarter are shared and noted.
2) Improvement and refinement. Periodically, we review the services at 8:00am, 10:30am, 6:07pm and 9:00 pm. Questions considered include "should there be more congregational music?", "do we need more choir music?", "could there be more silence in our services?", "are there better forms for the prayers of the people?", "where is the best place for the notices?" and so on.
3) Involvement. We try increase the involvement of various age-groups in our worship. Our recent focus has been on children and youth. Developments included the Lent Cross Liturgy (in which ToTH children constructed symbols of Christ's Passion that were used at the 10:30 am service and at Stations of the Cross), the "family" evening services for Epiphany, Good Friday and Ascension, the Pentecost procession of banners, the parade of acolytes on Trinity Sunday, and the "all age" Compline held during Summer 2005. We also restarted the Children's Choir; they now sing weekly at the 10:30 service.
4) New directions and outreach. We recognize that our existing patterns of worship do not fulfill everyone's needs, and so we consider the introduction of new and different types of service. A relatively recent consequence of this was the introduction of 9:00pm Compline in September 2005.

1) Pray for us and our ministry. Ask that we may be guided by God in our planning and in the day-to-day running of the worship, and pray for new activities such as the Compline Service (may it draw in those at present outside our traditional worshiping communities) and the Children's Choir.
2) Tell us what you think. Which parts of the services work well? Which parts could be improved? Are there ways in which you feel that you could be more involved? We are very grateful for suggestions and comments. Please contact John Singleton.
3) Help in the service of the sanctuary. Become a member of the Altar Guild (see the Altar Guild flyer), a reader or lay eucharistic minister (contact Fr Kelly). Encourage one of your children to be an acolyte (contact Robin Lucido).
4) Contribute to the music. The Children's Choir is always seeking members; if you have K-6th grade children, please tell them about it and encourage them to come along (contact John Singleton). The Adult Choir welcomes new members of High School age upwards (contact: Joe Cox). Do you play a musical instrument? We would like to use alternative forms of music occasionally, especially during the Summer. The offer of solo instruments or an instrumental group is always received with interest (contact John Singleton). The Generations Band is always eager to meet new musicians (contact Sue-Ellen Kelly).

Worship Ministry Chair: John Singleton
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 'phone 661-2666 (after 8 pm).