A gathering for the young and old that includes a Kids Program for Creche, Sparks (ages 3-5), Embers (years K-2), and Flame (years 3-6).
The Glenbrook 9am Gathering needs to be led well - there are great opportunities we have with those who come, and great restrictions that need to be considered given the time restraints. This gathering must finish by 10am.
Please note - that this gathering is also our LMAP Church Online gathering which is live streamed out each week on YouTube at LMAPTV.
Glenbrook 9am has the following distinctives:
Prayer is done by the gathering leader and sprinkled throughout the gathering. Rather than one large prayer time there is prayer to introduce the bible reading, prayer for our church, and prayer for the world.
There is:
- either a kids spot or a mission/ministry profile, but never both
- usually 3 songs
- an interlude to allow kids and parents to get settled with kidschurch
other gathering specific information can be found below:
A standard gathering for GB9am looks like the following:
Welcome / Song / Family Prayer and Praise / Mission Spot or Kids Talk / Musical Interlude while Kids Leave / Regathering / Prayer for our Church+Community / Prayer for Ministry of God's Word / Bible Reading 1 / Bible Reading 2 / Song / Bible Talk / Corporate Response / Song / Prayer for the World / Close with Blessing
Please set the scene and the tone in a way that makes newcomers feel welcome, and our committed church family feel connected. Suggestions:
Introduce yourself (eg, say your name and your involvement in church. This is both personal and relational)
Point us to the Glory of God (through a Psalm, Welcome, or doxology etc)
Kick us off in prayer
The prayer should include Praise/Thanksgiving/Adoration - using a Psalm is good - and this is also a place to pray for Current events in the life of our church/society
After the first song include the family prayer and praise. The current family prayer and praise should be in elvanto.
Use this opportunity to 'regather' everyone once the kids have settled, including a welcome for those who are new etc. For those on the livestream, encourage them to take this time to comment in the chat or send someone a message.
If you have been asked to make a brief announcement for Ministry Matters, include them here.
Prayer points for our church/community can be found here. 'Week 1' refers to the first Sunday of the month, and so on.
This is a place to pray for our link missionaries and for God's glory to be known in all the world.
Pray specific prayer points for our link missionaries, but you can also pray generally and briefly for the other missionaries who have an association with our church:
Week 1: Compassion (and Adam + Avril Friend in Madagascar) + one bible verse prayer on an unreached people group
Week 2: Sandifer's (and Taylor's in Tanzania at Munguishi Bible College) + one bible verse prayer on an unreached people group
Week 3: Elyard's (and Andrew+Bec in the Middle East) + one bible verse prayer on an unreached people group
Week 4: Grivas-Allison's (and Atwood's working with university studies in the South Pacific) + one bible verse prayer on an unreached people group
Week 5: Unreached People's
Check gathering box for special instructions or handouts.
Foyer
Place Welcome Flags (there are two) and Sandwich Boards outside
Turn on lights
Open both sets of doors on Raymond Street
Place ‘Kids Church’ flags at the entrance to the hall
Clean-up – remove any items on the bench or tables that should not be there.
Check Tables and Seats in the foyer are inviting.
Welcomers
Ready handouts (in the gathering box).
Have pre-printed labels ready
Have Welcome brochures and Welcome Afternoon tea postcards ready
Note: If the person is clearly a Newcomer, it would be helpful to take some time to give some more direction (e.g. Kids Church, Bible, Parents Room, Toilets, introduce to/sit near a member in a similar demographic)
Record the names of any newcomers on the Newcomer Notes clipboard
Head count (during the Kid’s Spot)
Seek out Newcomers after the gathering – invite to Morning Tea, introduce to other members.
Mark roll (by the end of gathering, but not during welcoming) - tick/add
Please put the completed Checklist and the Marked Roll back in the box for the office.
Click here for dishwasher instructions.
After Gathering Tidy – give the Foyer/Auditorium a quick tidy (e.g. replace Bibles, clear up items left behind including lost and found)
Feedback - Notes for Ministry Team/Office (e.g. is there anything we need to know – Newcomers names, something needs fixing, brochures running out etc.)
Handover – to the incoming 10.30 am Sunday Gathering team.