Breakfast Church at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Bushey Heath
On the first Sunday of the month we meet half an hour earlier than usual and have our breakfast and worship in the church, so we start at 9 o'clock. It all began when a member of one of our house groups made the suggestion after they'd been watching a First Expressions DVD about reaching out to people in fresh ways.
We had a test run to see if it worked and rather ambitiously laid on a full cooked breakfast, but since then it's been pared down to a help yourself buffet. For the third session we asked everyone to invite a friend or neighbour, which was not as successful as we had hoped, but we did get some new faces. It now seems popular with young families and adults who feel comfortable coming to a more informal type of service but don't come at other times. The numbers are certainly the same, or often higher, than the normal attendance. As with most things news of it was is best passed on by word of mouth.
The benefit lies in the more relaxed style of worship. Families feel welcome and at ease, the youngsters are more involved with linked activities provided for them and some elderly people living alone have said they look forward to having company whilst eating breakfast. We sit with different people, catch up with the week's news, families, and people's health and hear views and ideas on whatever the worship is about. New faces don't find the set up so intimidating as they might in a formal service. The congregation seems less passive and more willing to respond.
Of course, as with any change, there have been downsides. A small number of regular worshippers don't like the format and don't feel they have 'been' to church or worshiped properly. Some don't approve of eating in church. And, it goes without saying, it need commitment and hard work from the volunteers.
The pattern has slowly evolved. We started out in the church hall for breakfast and worship. Then one Palm Sunday we processed with our Palms as part of the worship into the Church and sang a hymn. People liked being back in church, so we did that more and more until we had the breakfast set up and worship in church, which involves more physical work in getting ready but is worth it. We now have breakfast first and then lead into worship rather than breakfast going on throughout. It's been a growing process trail and error.
The chairs in the church are moved and tables put up after the previous Sunday service, if possible. Two people have volunteered to oversee the laying up of the tables, table clothes and flowers etc and the buffet tables at the sides. They also do the shopping and get to church early on Sunday to prepare it. If they are unavailable we have others on standby. Everyone helps to clear, wash up and put away at the end.
We have juices, tea/coffee, fresh fruit salad, cereals, yoghurt, rolls, salmon, salami,
cream cheese, cheeses, croissants, toast and jams. Every time we hold breakfast church
we put a board outside which says 'Welcome to Breakfast Church -
The duty steward opens with a welcome and any notices. The preacher says grace and we help ourselves and others to breakfast. We sing hymns, say prayers, have Bible readings and share thoughts, have discussions, times of reflection on the theme chosen by the preacher. The children might be asked to act out a Bible story, make art and craft things, paint, draw, build things etc. For example, one of our Harvest Projects was to pay for a new boat for Lake Victoria Children's home in Uganda. Our contacts had returned to thank us and present photos and an update. We had a 'brick built' boat at the front and the children drew and coloured fish, that they used to dramatise the story from John 21 where the disciples were told by Jesus to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. We sang related hymns; ‘Trust and obey’ – ‘I will be your anchor’ – ‘I will make you fishers of men’.
More recently we were asked to consider our relationships with God and Jesus. Did we feel they were equal? Did we need to work on one or both? Who did we feel closest too? It raised lots of thoughtful responses and again there was time for reflection and discussion.
On another occasion we were asked how we reflect our faith to others. On this occasion the children painted themselves and 'printed' a reflection.
We have reviewed it and sought people’s opinions at regular intervals, for example at Church Councils and our Annual General Meetings and the general feeling is positive. People want it to continue. Hopefully we will remain open to change in the future and who knows what we might be led to do.
More details from www.samcbh.org.uk/breakfastchurch.html