A Local Arrangement (LA) is a service of worship where there is no allocated minister or local preacher available to take responsibility for leading worship. If approached positively and with appropriate support and encouragement, Local Arrangements are an opportunity for building up the congregation and releasing new gifts and creativity for the glory of God.
New to local arrangements? Here are two helpful guides:
Local Arrangements: locally-led worship at its best unpacks what Methodist Standing Orders say about Local Arrangements and offers suggestions for encouraging people to get involved and be creative
Don't Panic!! The step-by-step guide to local arrangements offers some top tips, and links to other helpful resources
Traditionally there have been a number of services written by Methodist local preachers and ministers which are made available for use in particular situations in local churches. A selection of services are reproduced below for those who wish to use them:
Themed services
Special Sundays
Times of crisis
Storms and picnics (Gospel of John, chapter 6)
The Vine
Reflections for church meetings
Themed services
The services in this section were all contributed by Christine Odell. They focus on a range of topics and themes.
Our Calling – the four Methodist 'Our Calling' priorities:
Christian discipleship:
The Christian journey:
God's people in the Old Testament
The early Christian community:
Jesus - teacher, healer, saviour
Our post-Easter experience:
Starting again – the Christian journey: post-Easter
The world around us:
Lighten our darkness. a service for January / February
Special Sundays
A number of the posts for Special Sundays gathered on Singing the Faith Plus include worship materials that you may find useful. Many of these can be used at any time of the year, to suit you. E.g. for Bible Sunday; Global Relationships Anytime Sunday; JMA Commissioning; Mission Sunday.
Times of Crisis
Faith in Crisis. How to we hold on to faith in times of crisis?
Storms and Picnics
A series of services focusing on the 6th chapter of John's Gospel and using images from the Methodist Modern Art Collection
Introduction to Storms and Picnics
Congregation prayer and hymn sheet (to be used each week)
Week 1 Order of service Sermon Image
Week 2 Order of service Sermon Image
Week 3 Order of service Sermon Image
Week 4 Order of service Sermon Image
Week 5 Order of service Sermon Image
Week 6 Order of service Sermon Image
The Vine
The Vine resources are fully-scripted Local Arrangement services available every Sunday, edited by Tim Baker and developed by Twelve Baskets. Find out how your circuit can subscribe to these resources here: www.theworshipcloud.com/thevine
Reflections for church meetings
Now available online
". . . It also seems to be true that the more time given to listening to God, the more quickly a meeting goes."
The Work of God in This Place offers questions and thoughts under a range of themes, all designed to help us integrate our committee discussions and decisions with conversation about, and with, God. Singing the Faith Plus contributed hymn suggestions for each theme, together with inspiring images for this attractive publication.