Despite the old Church Times cartoon (two clergymen, one saying to the other, "Of course we worship the same God; you in your way and I in His"), the Church has long (if not always) sought to express its worship in new ways, conveying the message of the gospel in different ways for different times, different people.
On the Wednesday evening of Easter Week, something over 40 people came together in All Saints for a service of alternative worship, largely organised by one of our student members, Helen Stocker, who is about to go into her 4th year at St Mary's studying theology. It was entitled 'A Meditative Eucharist', with much silence, symbols instead of words, music from Taizé and from nChant, a Christian music group Helen sings with at home. Most of the chairs had been cleared, leaving an open space in the centre of the nave.
Particularly moving was the silent Confession, when participants each took a stone and laid it at the foot of a cross before washing their hands. More alternative worship is planned for the new academic year.
Alternative worship, and related matters, often arise in the conversations had in the group of students (including Helen) who are interested in the possibility of ordination and which meets in the Rectory every few weeks during term time. It is partly from the existence of this group that the Meditative Eucharist came into being.