As part of my new role at FRS I’ve been meeting with some of the leaders of the FReSH  ‘alternative’ services that have been running now for a good number of years.  During this time, there’s been a  solid nucleus of members committed to these more informal approaches to Shabbat morning services – which has been great for those involved, and enjoyable too (on the whole!) for those who have dipped into them now and again. Yet it has been very much a minority interest. But as part of Miriam’s (and Council’s) ‘Vision’ for the community, there is a wish to expand these kinds of services so that more of you might feel tempted to come along and try something a bit different. So plans are underway to move in this direction...

You never quite know what to expect from a FReSH service. (The letters stand for Finchley Reform experimental  Shabbat Service, by the way). Different leaders have different styles – you may get more discussion, or singing, or study, or a topical theme, depending on who is leading. You may get a lay leader – or a  guest rabbi. But whatever you get, the style of the service will be rather more personal  and participatory than we usually manage in the more formal main services.

So what’s changing? Firstly, between now and the summer we will be offering FReSH services slightly more often than in the past  - so you will have to keep an eye out for when they are. Secondly, the service leader hasn’t always been advertised in advance, and we are trying to change this. And thirdly, in the longer term we are aiming to offer many more of you the possibility (with a bit of help from me, if you need it) of planning and leading a service designed by you, and expressing your own interests.  Anyone who thinks they might like to have a go at this – let me know! Otherwise we will have to come and find you...

 Sometime I hear that people think these services - or, perhaps, those who go to them - are a bit weird. Maybe there’s some truth in that – if we go by the dictionary’s definition “of strange and extraordinary character”. But that’s part of FReSH’s  special appeal – for who of us does not value our own idiosyncrasies, the traits that make us extraordinarily and uniquely who we are?

FRS is a diverse community – and the days of one-style-fits-all are over. Or should be over. Part of the new ‘Vision’ is to recognise that on a Shabbat morning we can offer (space permitting!) a variety of ways to express our religious and spiritual needs and yearnings. From the autumn onwards we hope to be moving in this direction, with FReSH  ‘reFReSHed’ and offering new opportunities for being together in the New Year and beyond.

NEXT FRESH SERVICES:

October 17th - FRESH 'Small Hall Service' 10.30
Service leader: Rabbi Howard Cooper
An opportunity to come to an informal Shabbat service based around the first Torah portion of the year, Bereshit. The theme will be 'In the Beginning: Chaos, Creation and Creativity...' and we will have time together for discussion and reflection, study and prayer.
All are welcome.

November 7th - FRESH - leaders: Alan Langleben and David Rose
November 21st - FRESH - leader: Rabbi Howard Cooper
December 5th FRESH - Leader: Brian Humphreys (plus guest)
Dec 19th - FRESH Hanukkah Shabbat -
January 9th FRESH leader: Janet Berenson