Integrating the survey into the liturgy

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Integrating the survey into the liturgy
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Worship Resources > Integrating the survey into the liturgy

Integrating the survey into the liturgy

Previous experience suggests that the most effective way to run the survey is to set aside 20 minutes in the middle of the service for people to complete it. Anyone who needs more time can complete it at the end.

Many churches have found that it is best placed during intercessions, with worshippers asked to commend to God the different aspects of church life which the questions explore. In this case, the survey forms (placed earlier on people's seats) would be filled in after prayer, and when completed presented with the offertory.

Others set aside time before the closing hymn and blessing, in which case participants could be asked to think about their answers in the light of their being 'Sent forth' to continue their part in God's mission.

Consider more carefully than usual how the time available may be best used

Fewer Lectionary readings could be used

Lengthy or highly repetitious songs could be avoided

Consider providing more stations than usual for the administer of communion

Instead of having verbal announcements, include them in written form on a pewslip

Suggestions regarding Prayers

While they may be used more widely, some prayers were prepared with particular faith communities in mind.

The first group of petitions were prepared for use in Catholic parishes. It is suggested that they are options in the place of the Prayer of the Faithful.

The prayer titled 'A Prayer regarding the National Church Life Survey' was prepared with Anglican parishes in mind. Some suggestions about its use are:

as a take-home prayer, printed in the monthly parish magazine and/or weekly bulletin for a month ahead of the survey, for people to pray themselves.
as a prayer to be used by the various parish organisations and groups, including leadership groups, during the month ahead of the survey
as a prayer to use on the actual day of the survey, before people actually start filling in their forms. (It could be a bridge from the actual service into the post-service form-filling period, for those who conclude the worship before doing the survey.