When OXCI first began it was Cliff, Hayley and the boys who made sure that the hall was laid out and ready for the Sunday service every week. Lee and I would often be around to help, as would others, but invariably the Wisharts would have it all done by the time we got there on a Sunday morning. Then after a year or two the set up was moved to every Saturday afternoon so that the worship team could have a chance to practice without the time constraints of a Sunday morning and with the opportunity to engage in worship and prayer themselves. More people became involved with the set up at that stage, but the only people who would always be there were the Wisharts.

At that stage Trevor and I were taking turns to come in on a Saturday, with Trevor coming from Bicester and myself from Banbury. The organisation was still not ideal. Then in late 2007 I moved my family to Kidlington to become part of the community we were trying to reach. This gave me the opportunity (once Cliff had offered it) to take over the set up completely; with Trevor taking over the audio-visual responsibilities. We continued to meet on Saturday afternoons with Greg joining the team to help and for a while things went well. However, too often set up time would run into worship practice time and the pressure began to mount.

What we really needed was for the worship and set up teams to be completely separate and to meet at different times. So recently the change was made that the worship team would meet during the week to practice, without the sound equipment, and the set up team would do their thing before the meeting on Sunday mornings. So far so good; Greg and I get there at eight on Sunday mornings and we are done within the hour. The worship and sound teams come in at nine and do a final practice and check before the Sunday prayer meeting.

Thus far the set up team consists of myself and Greg with others sometimes joining in to help. We do need just one more person to join us so that we have a bit of backup but he/she needs to be prepared to come every Sunday at eight, except for the odd day off – that’s what it takes to be on the team. So if there is anyone who is keen, who has it on their heart to serve the Church and realises the blessing there is in doing that, then give Greg or myself a call and let us know. At the moment we have chairs, tables, signs, audio and visual equipment to put out so there will be enough to keep you busy. Don’t be obliged to join us, but if you feel you have a calling to serve the Lord in that way, we would love to have you.

Love

Bren

Copyright Oxford Church International 2008

Together we can!

Registerd Charity Number: 1123454