Frequently Asked Questions Q: Will these changes result in an entirely different sort of service from what I am used to? A: No. You will still recognise it as the service you have been attending all this while. The initiatives proposed are evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Many are based on what has been tried to a limited extent and observed to have worked for the 11.15am service (e.g. interactive or participative prayer, small groups including children ministering together as “ushers”, the need for people to catchup and connect before and after service.) Q: Isn’t it irreverent for food and drink to be consumed in the Emmanuel Hall? A: Reverence should primarily be about the attitude and the state of the heart. We worship and carry out other corporate spiritual meetings in various settings, including in our small groups, during church camps, etc., where food and drink are consumed. However, to limit the area that needs to be cleaned, a partitioned area at the back of the Emmanuel Hall will be designated for the consumption of food and drink. Furthermore, to prevent distractions, food and drink will only be available during the time set aside for “Community”. Food and drink should not be consumed beyond the designated area or at other times. Q: There is already a refreshments area/iSunday Counter in the Plaza. Why not use these existing areas? A: Many worshippers at the 11.15am service, especially those who drive or are driven, bypass level one (and therefore the Plaza) completely in getting to and from the service. It is therefore more conducive to have these areas on the same level and as close as possible to the Emmanuel Hall. Q: Why not provide for lunch after service instead of refreshments before the service? A: Light refreshments are more conducive to mingling and making dynamic connections. For those who are already hungry before the service, the refreshments may help keep hunger pangs at bay during the service.
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