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My placement at St Silus Church Glasgow
As part of my training for lay readership, placements
allow me to gain experience of different worship patterns in the Episcopal Church. St Silus’s Sunday morning service
attended by approx 200 (mean age in 30s) has a praise band with singers to provide the music, everything you need
for the service appears on a screen at the front of the church so there is no need for liturgy or hymn books. The service
is very informal although each service has a distinct theme, the clergy just wear everyday clothes and children run around
everywhere. I was struck by the usefulness of the audio visual presentations which can range from cartoons or storylines
suitable for the children to artwork, film clips, adverts and photos which add to the theme of the service.
The Sunday
evening services are more varied and range from a mystical/spiritual service where the church is set up to provide an intimate
modern ambiance with coloured lights, drapes and cushions on the floor but it does reach out and regularly gets about a hundred
young people to worship. The highlight of some other evening services is a frank question and answer session on a set topic.
The congregation can text questions on subjects such as what do we believe about Heaven and Hell to the Christian view on
relationships. In sharp contrast to these services is a monthly traditional Matins service at one of which I was asked to
preach.
I was struck by the energy (buzz) in the church and the outreach and mission that goes on there. As part of
the Easter celebrations, I spent six hours on Sauchiehal Street polishing shoes (the Glasgow version of washing feet). People
were really interesting in why we were doing this but it took a lot of convincing that it was free!
I really enjoyed
my time there and was made very welcome. If anybody wishes to try the St Silus experience for a change then I would recommend
it.
Richard Evans
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