Church of England uses ‘trendy’ Post-it notes in new service celebrating the role of godparents sparking anger from traditionalists

May 1, 2016 by

by Jonathan Petre, Mailonline:

The Church of England has been accused of ‘dumbing down’ after drawing up a new service in which worshippers use Post-it notes, clap like football fans and move their fingers like ‘twinkling stars’.

The new liturgy will be used in hundreds of churches for the first time today to celebrate the role of godparents.

But in an outspoken attack, the former Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, said it reflected the Church’s ‘now familiar desire for being trendy’.

And he slammed the loss of reverence and the creation of an atmosphere he likened to a game of ‘bingo’.

In the suggested liturgy for the Church’s first Godparents’ Day, which can be used at Holy Communions, worshippers are urged to write their thoughts about godparents on notes to stick on a ‘memory wall’ and to tie ribbons to a ‘prayer tree’.

At the opening of the service, they are told to act like a football crowd and, in response to the call ‘God is great!’ perform ‘a double clap with an arm raise’ as they shout out ‘Let the people praise you!’

The vicar is told to repeat this ‘as often as feels right’ and then to ‘encourage everyone to shout Hallelujah really loudly!’

The congregation is asked to touch their feet and put their hands over their ears during prayer asking for God’s help ‘during life’s journey’.

They are then invited to draw a heart shape over the front of their bodies, and think of members of the community such as teachers or social workers.

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