Trinity United Reformed 
and
Methodist Church 
Trinity United Reformed and
Methodist Church
An account of worship at a 10:30am Sunday Parade service at Trinity by a visitor.
Parade Service a good experience!
Earlier this year I was visiting in another part of the country. I expected to attend worship at the local URC on the Sunday morning with my host and was informed that it was to be a parade service. Now this church is quite large and also has an earlier morning service most Sundays. I was told that on that Sunday, because it was Parade, some of the main morning congregation, would choose to go to the earlier service instead. Now it's good to be a strong enough fellowship to offer a choice, but what a fine all age experience those folk missed.
We arrived early because my host had some business to attend to, so I was able to sit in the church and watch the preparations. A Scout was carefully rehearsing all the colour parties. There was not too much emphasis on marching in step, but lots of re-assurance about when and where to move. Another adult leader was showing a group of youngsters precisely which rows were their responsibility when it came to taking the collection. Again the young people could do a good job because they knew what was expected of them. Oh, yes, and the minister seemed to be moving half the contents of his house into various hiding places in the front of the church. I also noticed a projector set up facing the front end wall of the church.
The service began. The flags were presented. A couple of leaders were on hand to take them from the minister, who was thus relieved of the responsibility of what to do with them and where to put them, and perhaps more importantly, since the system was reversed at the end of the service, he didn't have to worry about getting the flags back to the right people! An opening hymn was sung from the hymnbook. Then the minister began putting a plastic covering over the carpet (thus pre-empting any complaints from the property committee!) and moving a table and a couple of chairs whilst at the same time looking for volunteers Every one was curious as to what he was doing and he had no difficulty in recruiting a girl and a boy, each aged about 10 years.
To he honest I can't quite remember what happened next, but it involved food and blindfolds and was very messy, and had the whole church in an up-roar. Then these youngsters were thanked for their help, and were asked to nominate an adult leader each to take part in the next demonstration. This one was less messy, but still involved glasses of water, and was certainty competitive. Some of the youngsters were on their feet shouting. What was it all about? It could have been competition and co-operation, but I think it was commitment - doing one's best.
Then, after a little clearing up, a change of mood. The minister got out a guitar and proceeded to teach a couple of songs, the words being projected onto the end wall of the church. Next came a Bible reading read by a girl who was perhaps about 14 years. The reading desk had a microphone and her quiet voice was easily heard. The appointed youngsters took up the offering. There was a traditional hymn, followed by a straight gospel talk from the minister, lasting about five minutes and using both the projector and various visual aids. Another song to the guitar and it was time for prayers, but what was the minister doing now? He had taken the vase of flowers from the communion table and was handing out single blooms throughout the congregation. As he invited these people individually to come forward and put their flowers back into the vase short specific prayers were expressed and the congregation was presented with a picture of each part contributing to the whole.
The service finished with another hymn, the blessing and the flags being paraded out. Coffee and cold drinks were then served in an adjoining room. Thank you, David Varcoe and Trinity Church, Harrow, for an enjoyable, meaningful and up-lifting service.
Gillian Bobbet
Reprinted from the Summer 2002 edition of Linkline the newsletter of the URC Guide & Scout Fellowship Gillian is a URC Minister living in Swaledale with oversight of Low Row URC and the Keld Centre. She is the editor of Linkline.