Important Update – Change of Time for the 11am Service
18 May 2025
Dear St Christopher’s Church Family
I am writing to share with you an important update regarding the time of our Sunday 11am Service. After thoughtful discussion and prayerful consideration, the Vestry has decided to move the start time of our second service from 11am to 10.30am, effective from 15th June 2025.
Why this Change? Over recent months, we have listened to feedback from many of you, particularly families with young children, who have found the 11am start time challenging. An 11am service, even when it runs smoothly, usually finishes around 12 noon, and often a bit later. This can be inconvenient for families needing to get home and prepare lunch, or for those with Sunday afternoon plans. Moving the service to 10.30am addresses this concern by allowing us to finish by 11.30 or 11.40, giving families more flexibility with their Sunday schedule. We believe this adjustment will make it easier for more people to worship with us and stay for fellowship without feeling rushed.
What Will Remain the Same?
Our 9am Traditional Service will continue at its regular time. Moving this service earlier was considered but found impractical, as it would create unnecessary difficulties for that congregation.
The morning tea between services will still take place, offering a valuable time for fellowship between the two congregations.
The heart and spirit of our worship together will remain unchanged, as we continue to seek God’s presence, encourage one another, and grow in faith together.
What Will Be Different? We recognise that this earlier time will slightly shorten the preparation window for our 11am music team. To ensure a smooth transition, we propose the following practical adjustments:
Rehearsals Outside of Sunday Morning – We encourage the music team to make full use of other days in the week for their main practice, reducing the pressure on Sunday morning.
Punctual End to the 9am Service – The 9am service will aim to finish by 10am to provide ample time for the next team to set up.
Efficient Movement Between Services – To avoid congestion at the church entrance, I will position myself in the foyer, rather than at the church door, to greet people as they leave the 9am service. We kindly ask those attending the 9am service to move promptly and refrain from making extended conversations in the church entrance. The morning tea time in the hall (or another time) will be more conducive for such conversations. This simple adjustment will help ensure a smoother transition for our 11am service.
Looking Ahead We have seen this approach work effectively in other churches, and we are confident it can work for us as well. We appreciate your understanding, flexibility, and support as we make this change for the benefit of our entire church family.
Please feel free to share your thoughts with me or the wardens as we prepare for this change. Let us continue to pray that God will bless our gatherings and that our fellowship will be a place of spiritual growth, joy, and encouragement for all.
