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Our Sunday Services

Morning Service

Begins at 10:30am

Suitable for all ages. Children and young people go out to their own groups at about 11am.

Worship is normally lively and the teaching seeks to be friendly for all hearers.

All-Age Service

Begins at 10:30am but this service is normally shorter. All-Age services take place 7 or 8 times a year and are usually more lively and contain a message suitable for all ages.

Evening Service

This starts at 6:30pm and contains worship that is modern and reflective. Teaching is of a more ‘solid’ nature and there is greater freedom for open prayer and testimony.

Transform Service

Starts with a drink at 7:45pm. This service is contemporary in its worship and its style of teaching. There is always a time during each service for group discussion and the teaching seeks to be applicable to real life situations often using current news stories as the launch for the evenings teaching

Traditional Service

A service that does what it says on the tin. Traditional songs and hymns and a short message. 3pm on Sundays every other month.

Despite what you may have heard, our church is not full of really strange people... we have some who are mildly strange, some who are particularly strange and some who are fairly normal. However we do understand that it might be a little daunting for those who have never attended a service before.

So this is our attempt to give you some idea of what to expect.

Arriving

If you are still nervous about coming along, please contact the church office and we will arrange for someone to meet you and show you around. If you don’t yet know where we are click here for directions and parking information.

As you go through the front door someone will greet you in the main foyer. The front hall is on your left (this is where refreshments are served), and immediately ahead of you is the ‘sanctuary’. You will normally be given a sheet detailing the week’s news from the church (see this week’s) as you enter.

We don’t give out any books as all the songs we sing are projected onto the screen at the front. People have commented how easy this is to see - but there are large-print sheets and braille books available too. There is an induction loop available and at many services we also have the joy of a ‘signer’. Bible passages are also projected onto the screen but Bibles can be picked up from the door.

The church is totally suitable for wheelchair users, not a step or narrow door in sight!

Seating

You can choose to sit on any seat that is vacant unless the row is reserved (this is normally only for family and close friends on days when we have baptisms or infant presentations). The belief that God looks more favourably upon those who sit in the middle of a row rather than at the end is not explicitly supported by the Bible but rather was started by frustrated stewards who were trying to fit more people into the building. It does, however, have a long history, especially in Britain

If you are not sure what to do at any time - then the chances are no-one else will either! We basically keep things fairly simple - we normally stand to sing and sit for everything else! However you may prefer to remain seated throughout the service. We invite you to join in with the singing - but feel no obligation to do so - or even to like the music!

Sermons

Our sermons (or messages) often make full use of the church’s media equipment, with illustrations and photographs as appropriate. We tend to run a series of sermons across several weeks: if you happen to come in in the middle, and want to catch up on what you missed, our sermons are online; CDs are also available. However each message will also make total sense on its own!

All of our teaching is rooted in the Bible. We primarily use the NIV (New International Version), but dip into other versions on occasion. Copies of the NIV are available in the church to borrow for the service, so don’t worry if you don’t have one. Some people prefer to listen rather than read, anyway.

Communion

Communion is usually towards the end of the service on the first Sunday evening and third Sunday morning of the month, we do not place any restrictions on those taking part. You do not need to be christened, confirmed or baptised; you just need to have a relationship with Jesus. Only you know if that is the case: if you are unsure, just let the tray of bread and wine pass you by, no-one will think anything of it.

Timing

Most morning services last around 80 minutes or a little longer if communion is involved. Evening services are less pressured for time and their length varies more, typically between 70 and 100 minutes. Transform begins soon after 8pm and will finish by 9:30pm. However if you need to leave any service ‘early’ or arrive ‘late’, no-one will complain and many will not even notice as the door to the church is at the back!

Children

If you have children with you they can either sit with you or join many other children, usually ‘down the front’! During Sunday morning services (except all-age services) the children and young people leave for their own activities part way through. However, if you prefer to keep your children with you or they would rather not go, no-one will force them to.

Offering

You are not expected to contribute to the work of the church (that’s our responsibility) so don’t feel any embarrassment in allowing the offering bags to pass in front of you without putting anything in. Many church members give through their bank account, so others will be allowing the bags to pass by too!

Toilets

Should you need the ‘facilities’, toilets are in the corridor alongside the main sanctuary - these include a toilet for the disabled and baby changing facilities.

Refreshments

At each service refreshments are served - in the morning in the front hall and in the evening in the foyer, whereas Transform begins with refreshments served in The Link

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.