Implications of new, shortened Sunday meeting schedule

[Scott Lloyd]

An email has been sent out to Church members with a link to more information about the new, shortened Sunday meeting time. Here’s the link:

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/general-conference/16435_000_FAQ.pdf?lang=eng

 

Among resources are details about the schedule for sacrament meeting, Sunday School and priesthood and auxiliary meetings. There is also a Q and A with more information. 

Some interesting things I’ve gleaned:

— No more “opening exercises” in priesthood meeting as such, which means Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holders will not meet together as in the past. This also means no more opening hymn or prayer in priesthood meeting. 

— No more opening hymn or prayer in Relief Society, although there can occasionally be a hymn sung to go along with the lesson. 

— No more “sharing time” in Primary, but there will still be singing time. 

— The monthly council meeting in priesthood and Relief Society meetings, implemented only a couple of years ago, is discontinued. The lessons for the two meetings per month will focus on general conference messages; suggestions will be given in the May and November Church magazines. 

— Young Women will no longer meet together. They will assemble in their individual classes. 

— The Gospel Principles (used to be called Gispel Essentials) class is discontinued. Full time and ward missionaries will teach investigators and new members at other times but not during Sunday School. 

— Optional courses, such as family relations, temple prep and missionary prep, will no longer be held during Sunday School, though at the bishop’s discretion, they may be held for individuals and small groups at other times. 

— Teacher council meetings will be held quarterly, scheduled during the second hour. 

— Family gospel study and home evening may be held on Sunday or at a time in the week that best suits the family, but the Churchwide practice of closing Church meeting facilities on Monday evenings will continue. 

— Sunday School lessons will have to be combined to accommodate fewer class periods and will be aligned with the Come Follow Me curriculum for families and individuals. 

— Sacrament meetings are being shortened by 10 minutes, but with the sacrament being the focus, will still include opening and closing prayers, opening and closing and sacrament hymns, and talks. Ward choirs may still perform during the meetings. 

— Suggested starting times for multiple wards in a building with overlapping schedules are 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. Stake presidents can adjust times as needed. 

Edited October 7, 2018 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

One possible problem I foresee pertains to the hymn book revision that has been announced.

The Church has called for submissions of new hymns. But from what I can tell, there will be less opportunity for hymn singing in the Church than ever before now that the block of Sabbath meetings is being shortened to two hours. When will we be expected to learn all these new hymns that will be compiled in the revised hymn book? As it is, roughly one-third if the hymns in the current hymnal are never sung, this because of local leaders’ reluctance to select hymns for singing that are not already well known. 

Edited October 7, 2018 by Scott Lloyd

[sheilauk]

We have 5 YW and around 8 YM,  I don't think they will be meeting in individual classes.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

One possible problem I foresee pertains to the hymn book revision that has been announced.

The Church has called for submissions of new hymns. But from what I can tell, there will be less opportunity for hymn singing in the Church than ever before now that the block of Sabbath meetings is being shortened to two hours. When will we be expected to learn all these new hymns that will be compiled in the revised hymn book? As it is, roughly one-third if the hymns in the current hymnal are never sung, this because of local leaders’ reluctance to select hymns for singing that are not already well known. 

The hymns are available on lds.org to learn now, so most likely can be learned with the new hymn book. Good part of one’s personal study. 

[Glenn101]

The new policies and practices that are coming down to us all will take some getting used to. How well they work will depend, as it always does, on just how well individual wards and branches, and individuals implement them.

[randy]

3 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

One possible problem I foresee pertains to the hymn book revision that has been announced.

The Church has called for submissions of new hymns. But from what I can tell, there will be less opportunity for hymn singing in the Church than ever before now that the block of Sabbath meetings is being shortened to two hours. When will we be expected to learn all these new hymns that will be compiled in the revised hymn book? As it is, roughly one-third if the hymns in the current hymnal are never sung, this because of local leaders’ reluctance to select hymns for singing that are not already well known. 

 

1 hour ago, Calm said:

The hymns are available on lds.org to learn now, so most likely can be learned with the new hymn book. Good part of one’s personal study. 

Music is such and important part of the Sacrament service....and to be perfectly honest, IMO....when the opening hymn is so difficult to sing or so unfamiliar..it seems to suppress the spirit.  I really wish the opening hymn would be a very familiar and beloved hymn that the entire Ward can sing with vigor and enthusiasim.  Redeemer of Israel, High on the Mountain Top, Spirit of God,...ones that we all love to sing. I think if the Wards were to follow the example of General Conference...all would be well.    It just sets the mood and invites rather than suppresses the spirit.  Just my two cents from the left side of the chapel....5 rows back ..against the wall....

[JulieM]

4 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

An email has been sent out to Church members with a link to more information about the new, shortened Sunday meeting time. Here’s the link:

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/general-conference/16435_000_FAQ.pdf?lang=eng

 

Among resources are details about the schedule for sacrament meeting, Sunday School and priesthood and auxiliary meetings. There is also a Q and A with more information. 

Some interesting things I’ve gleaned:

— No more “opening exercises” in priesthood meeting as such, which means Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holders will not meet together as in the past. This also means no more opening hymn or prayer in priesthood meeting. 

— No more opening hymn or prayer in Relief Society, although there can occasionally be a hymn sung to go along with the lesson. 

— No more “sharing time” in Primary, but there will still be singing time. 

— The monthly council meeting in priesthood and Relief Society meetings, implemented only a couple of years ago, is discontinued. The lessons for the two meetings per month will focus on general conference messages; suggestions will be given in the May and November Church magazines. 

— Young Women will no longer meet together. They will assemble in their individual classes. 

— The Gospel Principles (used to be called Gispel Essentials) class is discontinued. Full time and ward missionaries will teach investigators and new members at other times but not during Sunday School. 

— Optional courses, such as family relations, temple prep and missionary prep, will no longer be held during Sunday School, though at the bishop’s discretion, they may be held for individuals and small groups at other times. 

— Teacher council meetings will be held quarterly, scheduled during the second hour. 

— Family gospel study and home evening may be held on Sunday or at a time in the week that best suits the family, but the Churchwide practice of closing Church meeting facilities on Monday evenings will continue. 

— Sunday School lessons will have to be combined to accommodate fewer class periods and will be aligned with the Come Follow Me curriculum for families and individuals. 

— Sacrament meetings are being shortened by 10 minutes, but with the sacrament being the focus, will still include opening and closing prayers, opening and closing and sacrament hymns, and talks. Ward choirs may still perform during the meetings. 

— Suggested starting times for multiple wards in a building with overlapping schedules are 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. Stake presidents can adjust times as needed. 

I wasn’t able to listen to conference yesterday, so I’m trying to catch up and understand the change.  Thanks for posting this!

One question I have is if there’s only on class period now, how will they still have Sunday School?  I assumed it was what was removed and that it would be RS, Priesthood, YW, and primary classes.

ETA:

Nevermind!  I’ve been reading the other thread and now understand the new schedule  

Edited October 7, 2018 by JulieM

[Doctrine 612]

38 minutes ago, JulieM said:

I wasn’t able to listen to conference yesterday, so I’m trying to catch up and understand the change.  Thanks for posting this!

One question I have is if there’s only on class period now, how will they still have Sunday School?  I assumed it was what was removed and that it would be RS, Priesthood, YW, and primary classes.

[Duncan]

I can't recall if I posted this earlier but I hope our Bishop still uses the WML, it's better to have 2 people do two callings than one person doing 2 callings. 

[CV75]

I think remembering the explanations given for the changes will help everyone realize the intended purposes as they work with new, simplified processes and procedures. The new schedule and curriculum address the challenges faced by saints in all kinds of conditions in all part of the world.

For example, having half the 2nd and 3rd hour classes in the month may not yield any less absorption of gospel doctrine for the passive learner, but will likely increase it for those who take on more initiative in the home.

I think the relatively short-lived introduction of councils into the third hour, which isn't included in the new meeting format (except for maybe 5th Sundays), gave people enough of a taste to apply it in their homes and for leaders to use it in assigning problem-solving groups.

[Rain]

4 hours ago, sheilauk said:

We have 5 YW and around 8 YM,  I don't think they will be meeting in individual classes.

I uderstand this to mean that there wouldn't be opening exercises in YW with all of them before they separate into classes like they do now, not that they will change the classes. Our priest and teacher's quorum meets together for the same reason - lack of members. 

[JAHS]

1 hour ago, JulieM said:

No more “opening exercises” in priesthood meeting as such, which means Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holders will not meet together as in the past. This also means no more opening hymn or prayer in priesthood meeting. 

— No more opening hymn or prayer in Relief Society, although there can occasionally be a hymn sung to go along with the lesson. 

Those two things would take up time from the class discussion time. And a prayer would have just been said at the close of Sacrament meeting which could cover for the next hour.

[bluebell]

27 minutes ago, Rain said:

I uderstand this to mean that there wouldn't be opening exercises in YW with all of them before they separate into classes like they do now, not that they will change the classes. Our priest and teacher's quorum meets together for the same reason - lack of members. 

That's what I'm understanding it to mean as well.  Our ward has about 30 YW but even still, occasionally we'll end up with only 1 laurel on a Sunday or something similar.  When that happens in the future we'll continue to combine classes.

Edited October 7, 2018 by bluebell

[MorningStar]

7 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

One possible problem I foresee pertains to the hymn book revision that has been announced.

The Church has called for submissions of new hymns. But from what I can tell, there will be less opportunity for hymn singing in the Church than ever before now that the block of Sabbath meetings is being shortened to two hours. When will we be expected to learn all these new hymns that will be compiled in the revised hymn book? As it is, roughly one-third if the hymns in the current hymnal are never sung, this because of local leaders’ reluctance to select hymns for singing that are not already well known. 

Ward choir! Which people should have more energy and time to attend!  

[Tacenda]

I don't go as often anymore, but in my mind, I'd imagine that each hour will feel very hurried in order to come under in time.

[carbon dioxide]

I think people should remember that though there is no official opening hymn in say Relief Society, there is not an outright ban on it.  I am sure if the sisters want to sing a hymn, nobody is going to be talked to.  Hymns can bring in the spirit and be productive.  There simply is no requirement to have a hymn.

[JAHS]

19 minutes ago, carbon dioxide said:

I think people should remember that though there is no official opening hymn in say Relief Society, there is not an outright ban on it.  I am sure if the sisters want to sing a hymn, nobody is going to be talked to.  Hymns can bring in the spirit and be productive.  There simply is no requirement to have a hymn.

And as is the case for many policies that are given for the general use of the entire church, stake presidents have the authority to make adaptations according to the needs of his paticular stake and according to the inspiration that he receives as he leads the stake. 

Edited October 7, 2018 by JAHS

[ksfisher]

20 minutes ago, carbon dioxide said:

I think people should remember that though there is no official opening hymn in say Relief Society, there is not an outright ban on it.  I am sure if the sisters want to sing a hymn, nobody is going to be talked to.  Hymns can bring in the spirit and be productive.  There simply is no requirement to have a hymn.

“Relief Society meetings will not begin with an opening hymn”

The instruction seems pretty straightforward.  

[Scott Lloyd]

9 hours ago, Calm said:

The hymns are available on lds.org to learn now, so most likely can be learned with the new hymn book. Good part of one’s personal study. 

Do you really expect very many people will bother to learn them on their own? I don’t. 

And if my past experience is any indication, there will still be inertia on the part of local leadership in selecting new or less familiar hymns for congregational singing.  

[Scott Lloyd]

On 10/7/2018 at 10:24 AM, MorningStar said:

Ward choir! Which people should have more energy and time to attend!  

And with less pressure on the meetinghouse from a shortened schedule, perhaps there will be more availability of time and locations on Sunday for choir rehearsals. That was a particular problem I had when I was ward choir director. 

With 10 minutes less for sacrament meeting, though, there will have to be an effort made to free up time for choir performances. And some speakers will have to accustom themselves to staying within the allotted time, as time will be more scarce than ever now.

Edited October 8, 2018 by Scott Lloyd

[bsjkki]

4 hours ago, ksfisher said:

“Relief Society meetings will not begin with an opening hymn”

The instruction seems pretty straightforward.  

This is great! So many times in Relief Society the opening exercises take half the time. More time for the lesson is a good thing. 

[Teancum]

12 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

An email has been sent out to Church members with a link to more information about the new, shortened Sunday meeting time. Here’s the link:

https://www.lds.org/bc/content/ldsorg/general-conference/16435_000_FAQ.pdf?lang=eng

 

Among resources are details about the schedule for sacrament meeting, Sunday School and priesthood and auxiliary meetings. There is also a Q and A with more information. 

Some interesting things I’ve gleaned:

— No more “opening exercises” in priesthood meeting as such, which means Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood holders will not meet together as in the past. This also means no more opening hymn or prayer in priesthood meeting. 

— No more opening hymn or prayer in Relief Society, although there can occasionally be a hymn sung to go along with the lesson. 

— No more “sharing time” in Primary, but there will still be singing time. 

— The monthly council meeting in priesthood and Relief Society meetings, implemented only a couple of years ago, is discontinued. The lessons for the two meetings per month will focus on general conference messages; suggestions will be given in the May and November Church magazines. 

— Young Women will no longer meet together. They will assemble in their individual classes. 

— The Gospel Principles (used to be called Gispel Essentials) class is discontinued. Full time and ward missionaries will teach investigators and new members at other times but not during Sunday School. 

— Optional courses, such as family relations, temple prep and missionary prep, will no longer be held during Sunday School, though at the bishop’s discretion, they may be held for individuals and small groups at other times. 

— Teacher council meetings will be held quarterly, scheduled during the second hour. 

— Family gospel study and home evening may be held on Sunday or at a time in the week that best suits the family, but the Churchwide practice of closing Church meeting facilities on Monday evenings will continue. 

— Sunday School lessons will have to be combined to accommodate fewer class periods and will be aligned with the Come Follow Me curriculum for families and individuals. 

— Sacrament meetings are being shortened by 10 minutes, but with the sacrament being the focus, will still include opening and closing prayers, opening and closing and sacrament hymns, and talks. Ward choirs may still perform during the meetings. 

— Suggested starting times for multiple wards in a building with overlapping schedules are 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon. Stake presidents can adjust times as needed. 

These are wonderful developments. I am all for it!

[Teancum]

12 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

One possible problem I foresee pertains to the hymn book revision that has been announced.

The Church has called for submissions of new hymns. But from what I can tell, there will be less opportunity for hymn singing in the Church than ever before now that the block of Sabbath meetings is being shortened to two hours. When will we be expected to learn all these new hymns that will be compiled in the revised hymn book? As it is, roughly one-third if the hymns in the current hymnal are never sung, this because of local leaders’ reluctance to select hymns for singing that are not already well known. 

If there is less time for Hymn singing that will be sad. 

Even given the fact that I am an evil apostate I love the music of the LDS church. Maybe its because I love music so very much.

[Teancum]

58 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Do you really expect very many people will bother to learn them on their own? I don’t. 

And if my past experience is any indication, there will still be inertia on the part of local leadership in selecting new or less familiar hymns for congregational singing.  

I sure agree with this.

[Scott Lloyd]

On 10/7/2018 at 6:26 AM, randy said:

 

Music is such and important part of the Sacrament service....and to be perfectly honest, IMO....when the opening hymn is so difficult to sing or so unfamiliar..it seems to suppress the spirit.  I really wish the opening hymn would be a very familiar and beloved hymn that the entire Ward can sing with vigor and enthusiasim.  Redeemer of Israel, High on the Mountain Top, Spirit of God,...ones that we all love to sing. I think if the Wards were to follow the example of General Conference...all would be well.    It just sets the mood and invites rather than suppresses the spirit.  Just my two cents from the left side of the chapel....5 rows back ..against the wall....

There was a time when those beloved hymns you mention were not well known. Every hymn is new initially and must be learned. There is a great deal that is beautiful and potentially enriching that we miss out on by singing the same limited selection of hymns over and over again. 

If the Church were to do as you suggest above, there would be no need for a revision of the hymnal, and plans for it may as well be scrapped now. 

Edited October 8, 2018 by Scott Lloyd