In the belief that life with Christ reduces crime, Mount Zion AME church is expanding its schedule of worship to allow even weekend workers to attend services.

The Rev. Trevor Woolridge MP said the church was making the expansions to "facilitate persons whose employment routines don't allow them to attend church during the traditional hour.

"We want to encourage those people to attend church before work in their work clothes or come after work.'' This Sunday and each thereafter there will be an early morning worship at 8 a.m. followed by Sunday School for adults and children at 9.30 a.m.

And main morning worship will be held at 11 a.m. Evening worship will be at 7 p.m.

"Here at Mount Zion we administer to both the spiritual and earthly needs of our membership,'' he said.

"In recognition of the demands contemporary society makes on all of us, we are, through the expansion of our schedule of worship, attempting to facilitate employment routines while continuing our efforts to reach out to our community and offer the saving grace of Jesus Christ,'' he said.

Rev. Woolridge added he church subscribes to the belief that "a lifestyle which includes the saving grace of Christ and fellowship in the church reduces crime, immoral living, and improves the life of those who follow Christ's teachings.'' He also said that the church's out-reach programme includes plans for Boy Scouts and the Girls Brigade, a nursery, vacation bible school, men's and women's fellowship groups and an after-school tutorial service which the church hopes to get underway in September.