The church I grew up in was a wonderful and diverse place. The ministry team was so keen to cater to the needs and preferences of the parishioners that there were five different services each Sunday.

The morning would begin with an 8 am Holy Communion. The service centred around liturgy and a short sermon with no hymns in sight. This was followed by the 9:15 Choral Communion; Robed choirs would sing liturgical refrains as the minister travelled through the little red book with a short sermon and a couple of hymns for good measure. The 11 am Family service invited the Scouts and Girl-Guides each month for a procession which carried the cross from the parish halls to the altar at the front of the beautiful 16th-century building.

The 6 pm evening service catered for those more accustomed to informal worship and life-application bible teaching, before the youth service commenced where guitar amps could be dialled up to levels the 9:15 attendees would staunchly disapprove of.

Catering for such a diverse range of styles and preferences was an incredible amount of work for the ministry team. The director of music at the church coordinated a wealth of musical expressions for fans of Wesley, Kendrick, Redman, and Hillsong all in one day.

I respect churches who can strike a balance for all-age worship and I also respect churches who run multiple services for different age groups and traditions. Regardless of our preferences and persuasions, we are the family of God.

One of the highlights of the services was sharing The Peace. The minister would initiate with a call and response before inviting the congregation to share the peace with these words, a handshake or a hug.

May The Peace of the Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Grace is taken from 2 Corinthians 13 and would usually be prayed as a close prayer by the minister.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

In an increasingly individualistic society, corporate times on worship and human interaction are both rare and valuable. Taking a moment to invite blessings over other parishioners and those attending the service reminds us that we were created to gather together as part of a wider family.

So as you listen to this song, and share it with people you know, may God’s blessing fall on you.