Worship

The service is led by the Vicar and centers around the sharing of bread and wine, Jesus’ body and blood, at God’s table.

As we gather we’ll be encouraged to reflect on our lives and in the stillness confess our sins, our wrongdoings, wrongsayings and wrongthinkings, we’ll hear the assurance of God’s forgiveness. We’ll hear some passages from the Bible, after which we’ll hear the sermon. We’ll then declare our faith in God and pray for the needs of the world. After this, before we come to God’s table, we are encouraged to make peace with one another, we do this by shaking hands, a sign of friendship and goodwill.
At this point the Vicar will then move to the table, placing upon it the bread and wine, and prays a long prayer, giving thanks for all that God has done for us in Jesus and asking God to meet with us now. At the end of this prayer we are invited to share the bread and wine and come up to the altar rail to receive the bread and drink from the cup of wine. Some choose to kneel at this point, others prefer to stand. If you’re not sure where you’re at with God, you can either stay in your seat or, if you bring up one of the service books, the Vicar will offer to bless you instead. After Communion we are sent out to live for Jesus in the world.

There is usually the offer of tea and coffee after the service, to chat together and encourage one another, which all are welcome to stay for, we’d love to get to know you.

Holy Communion is often thought of as the heart of Christian worship. As we gather around God’s table we look back, we look up, and we look ahead.

We look back to Jesus’ death on the cross and his command to share this meal in remembrance of him. We remember his death for our sins so that we could come back to God, marvel again at the amazing love and mercy of God in giving his Son so that we could be called his children. Through the cross, as we share at his table, we receive his healing and forgiveness. And we rejoice that Jesus rose again, that he lives forever, inviting us to share in his risen life.

We look up to God, trusting in him to strengthen and sustain us as we live for him, knowing that Jesus is there with us at the table. As we share the bread and wine we are fed on Jesus’ body and blood as food for the pilgrimage of this life. And we do so together, communally (which is where the name Communion comes from) as a reminder that we don’t go it alone, but instead are part of God’s family, the Church, as we journey on together, supporting and encouraging each other.

And we look ahead to when Jesus will return. As we share in the simple meal of bread and wine we do so as a foretaste of the great heavenly banquet when Jesus returns and all is made new, when heaven is united to earth and God is united with his people. When at last, in the words of 1 Corinthians 13, we will see Him face to face.

The service is normally led by one of our worship leaders, sometimes the Vicar. It’s a simpler form of worship than Holy Communion, structured around passages of the Bible

As we gather we’ll be encouraged to reflect on our lives and in the stillness confess our sins, our wrongdoings, wrongsayings and wrongthinkings, and we’ll hear the assurance of God’s forgiveness. We’ll read passages of Scripture together, reminding us of God’s goodness and saving love. Sometimes we have some time of stillness so that people can offer their own prayers and praises out loud from the congregation. Once again we’ll hear God’s word read after which we’ll hear the sermon. We’ll then declare our faith in God and pray for the needs of the world before being sent out to live for Jesus in the world.

There is usually the offer of tea and coffee after the service, to chat together and encourage one another, which all are welcome to stay for, we’d love to get to know you.

However you’re comfortable. Some people choose to dress more smartly, others in jeans and a t-shirt. The important thing is to come as you.

Absolutely! We’d love to welcome your family along to worship. They’re welcome to sit with you in the pews and take part in the service but we also have an area set aside in one of the side areas for craft, drawing and creating where you are welcome to sit with your children should they want something to occupy themselves.

Absolutely not. We’re a friendly bunch so someone nearby will likely say hi and introduce themselves. But we want those joining us to feel relaxed and comfortable so will never ask you to stand up, say or do anything which would make you uncomfortable.

We tend to sing a mixture of modern worship songs and more traditional hymns. These are led by the organ but sometimes we use recorded music too. Some songs will be familiar, others less so but they’re easy enough to pick up. Whether modern or older, they’re all focused on praising God for all he has done for us in Jesus.

We tell people about Jesus by preaching the Bible. Week by week we want to know Jesus better, love him more deeply, and follow him more faithfully. The sermon is where we are helped to do this practically, hearing what God is saying to us through a particular passage. They are usually an extended talk lasting around 10-15 mins. It may seem a little odd, but we believe that God’s Word isn’t static but is living and active, that he longs to speak to us through it so that, week by week, we are growing in our faith.

The short answer is no, we don’t charge for worship or to attend a service.

During services we usually take up a collection which we refer to as an offering, someone will come round with a plate into which people put their offering of money. At Communion this happens during the hymn as the Priest prepares the Communion Table, at Morning Prayer it’s taken during the last hymn. We encourage our regulars to give financially as part of their following of Jesus but it’s not a charge to attend, if you’d like to give towards what we do you’d be very welcome to, but we won’t be checking amounts or whether you do put anything in.
And if you don’t feel able to give, or only a small amount, you won’t be the only person not putting something in the plate or just putting a little in, lots of people give by direct debit so it just passes them by.

At Christenings and Weddings we will usually remind people there’s a plate by the door should they wish to give, but again this is completely optional, we just find it easier to remind everyone rather than individuals having to ask where to give.

On each seat on the pew is a set of books. A booklet with the words of the service, a hymn book and a Bible. Before each hymn the number will be announced so you can find it, and before each reading the page number given so you can follow along in the Bible.

The words of the service are provided so you can read along and join in with the responses in bold, don’t feel you have to say these if you’re uncomfortable. For example we wouldn’t expect you to join in with declaring your faith in God if you’re not sure what you believe yet. Join in with as much or as little as you feel comfortable. No-one is checking.